The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-04-18

CLAY STATUE CELEBRATIoN.-Wee extract a
few preliminary remarks in relation to this !
grand and exciting affair, from the Delta of
the 18th. To the splendors Of this scene our |
own citizens who have returned are enthuSl-
astic in attesting and their hearts swell with !
gratitude for the warm and cordial reception
they received
The Celebration Yesterday.
The celebration Yesterday of the birthday
of Henry Clay and of the Inauguration Of the
bronze statue of the great statesman at the
corner of Canal and Royal streets, eclpsed any
thing which has taken place in our city, both
in the magnitude Of the procession and the
brilliant display Of the Masonic, military and
civic associations which composed it. We
had, very naturally, from the preparations
which were reported to have been going on,
expected brilliant display, but we must con
fess that those expectations we are more than
realized.
At an early hour in the morning of as beau
tiful day as could have been heralded in for
so grand an occasion, had special agreement
been previously made with that invisible per-
sonaee the clerk of the weather, active pre-
variations were going on in the various armO-
|
Grand procession which was to form on Canal
street and move at II O'Clock. little later
in the day, the sound of martial music re-
sounded in the streets at intervals and bodies
of Masons with their gorgeous regalia, militia
nv companies with glittering uniforms, march
ing and countermarching, and civic societies,
with their handsomely decorated banners,
moved through the streets on their way to the
narticular localities allotted to them in the
programme of the committee. The streets
from one end OF the city to the other were
fairly alive with people on their way down to
Canal street, the center of attraction, dressed
in their gayest holiday attire, laughing and
talking, forgetful of business or household du-
ties, and apparently wholly absorbed in the
grand events of the day, the procession, and
the unwilling of the statue Of Harry Of the
West.
The balconies and windows upon Canal
street in the vicinity of the statue, were APP
propriat6 by invited guests Of the various pro-
prietors, early in the day, and long before the
procession formed. Standing at the base of
the statue and looking up and down almost
as far as the eye could reach, one blaze of
beauty was reflected from the front seats of
the verandas, which was flashed more bril-
liantly upon the observer as ever and anon
many paIaSols, which shaded fair compilations
from the rays of the morning sun, were raised
and lowered
The crowd of less fortunate ones in the
streets below was immense, and when the
procession moved, it was through an aisle
cleared foot by foot, by the mounted marshals
and aids, with flashing swords, on each side
of which a solid wall of human beings stood
in compact phalanx, swaying to and fro as oc-
caSion demanded.
After considerable difficulty, occasioned by
the dense crowd Of people, the divisions of the
procession took their places, and at about
quarter past eleven O'Clock the main body
took up the line of march down Royal street,
headed BY Grand Marshal Col. J. r. Walton,
accompanied by Hon. J. 0. Nixon, First as
sistant Grand Marshal and special aids splen-
didly mounted and caparisoned. Next in Or
der came the First Grand Division, consisting
of the military of our city and the volunteer
corps invited from abroad, under command Of
Brigader General John l.. Lewis. The Lou
sana Legion under command of Brigadier
General Paliry, came first in order, and pre-
sented quite fine appearance, and in point of
number exceeding the usual turnouts of the
Legion. Then came the companies forming
the First Brigade, with the Mobile Cadets,
splendid company of as fine volunteer soldiers
as one would wish to see, and the Mississippi
Rifles, from Jackson, Mississippi with their
striking uniforms and well drilled, fine look
ing men.
Then our own companies, the Washington
Artillery, the Continental Guards, the Lou
isana Crews, the Louisiana Rifles and the
City Guards, all Of whom presented in order
as fire an appearance as could be wished from
our uptown companies.
We omitted to mention the large number
Of Chasseurs-a-P Pied who were out yesterday,
in their attractive uniform, who were observed
by the crowds of strangers with considerable
curiosity, as they went marching along to the
quick ringing notes of the bugle.
Following the military came the Clay Monu-
81 mental Association, in carriages, with bust
of Henry Clay upon the front carriage and
the little Custodian figure peering up behind,
which was presented by the Mysticke Krewe
Of Comus.
The j ackson Monumental Association COM
posed Of the Hon. Jas. H. Caldwell Joseph
Genois and l.. Heyliger, in a carriage came
next and Immediately in advance of the grand
feature of the procession, the Masonic Frater-
nifty, headed by G. w. Race, Grand Marshal,
with an escort of Knights Templars, thirty in
number, all mounted upon white horses, and
| dressed in their magnificent costumes consist
ing of cooked hats with black plumes, white
u lneEiaa. shiEts zelsaks, with crosses upon
their arms. 1t would be impossible for us to
do justice to the magnificent display made by
the MasonS yesterday ; for the various gorge
Gus costumes and minor regalia would require
considerable study and examination to de-
scribe them at all accurately. The Entered
Apprentices Fellow Crafts, Master Masons.
Mark Masons, Past Masters, Most Excellent
Masters, Royal Arch Masons, and Royal and
Select Masters, passed in large numbers along
the line, followed by the escort to Grand Con-
sistory of Knights kadosh, 30th degree This
body of Knights Kadosh, with costumes of
black cooked hats and plumes and black vel
vet cloaks and crosseS-who were we learned
from Mobile was much admired, and was COM /
posed of as fine looking men as we have ever
seen. These were followed by the Knights
Rose CroiX, 18th degree, with brilliant rega-
lia and the members of the Grand Consistory
and members of the 33d degree, all decked in
splendid and appropriate regalia. Then came
the Rear Escort of the Knights Kadosh, fol. |
lowed by the Grand Lodge Of Louisiana Free |
and accepted Masons and the Rear Escort of
the Knights Templars.
Following the A1asons, came the Mayor of
the city, Hon. Gerard Stith, and the members |
the Common Council, in carriages Officers |
of the State parish and city. together with |
the Judiciary, came in order next, followed |
by ship agents and ship masters, with another /
attractive feature of the day, which was no
less than thirty-ton, full-rigged Ship with
colors flying upon an immense platform,
drawn dy six horses. The ship is beauty,
and was manned by officers in uniform, and a |
crew of some dozen men and boys, in real |
/ sailor toggery, who iurled and made sail with
rapidity. She was pierced for several guns,
and, along the route, kept up salute at inter-
vals sometimes giving broadside. Along the
hill ihoI 10, iofko h.
known sentiment of Henry Clay: "The COL
ors which float at our mastheads are the Gre
dentials of our seamen.' The ship in CUES
ton is a pleasure yacht, belonging to gem
tleman in the Third District, and was taken
| out of Lake PontchartraiQ for the occasion.
The Second Division, under command of
| Captain Charles d. Dreux, was composed
principally Of the Fire Department, who con-
sdering that many Of the members belong to
other societies, turned out in large numbers
| They were all dressed in their gayest attire,
and their numerous silver trumpets flashed
along four and five abreast.
| Another noticeable feature of the procession
was printing press, (the Pathfinder,) which
| was upon platform drawn by four horses.
and in active operation ali the time, printing
odes to Clay, and distributing them literally
to the multitude.
In the Third Division, under command of
Thos. j. Leeds, Esq, the Benevolent Asso-
citation Of the Sons of Louisiana were directly
in front, with their banners and regalia, fol-
lowed by the Young Mems Christian Assoca-
ton of New Orleans, and the Confederation
| of the same ASSOCIATION of tho Unitod States
and British Provinces. The young mems as
ISOLATION was directly in charge of Grand Mar
shall Robert Gribble, Esq, and his Aids, Dr.
H. S. Forward, r. ID. Gribble, mounted, and R.
G. Latting on foot, with the Chairman.
The Christian Brothers school was largely
represented, the pupils appearing much in
terested in the crowds of people through which
they passed. The Sons of Temperance, with
their regala and banners, came next in order,
| and fnrmad M small nnrtinn of the nrncassinr