Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-05-27

Ihe guests MoIc Accordingly luNitcu 10 A.
semble therein. After the gas chandelier
was lighted, Francis J. Smith, Esq, of this
city, stepped forward, and delivered the fol-
lowing address:
EREoR,-On behalf Of q committee OF my
fellOw-citizens, have the honor TO tender you
a cordial welcome. You come among Us unaer
peculiar, and perhaps, embarrassing ercum-
stances. -. -,
A little more than four years ago the bonds oil
friaDdship the social ana commercial relations
between the North and the south, were ruthless
Iv savered-the consequences are IannlSr 10 Us
All. If / were to attempt TO draw picture OF
ham the colOrs would b. Of red and black
va as typical OF the blood spilled, as the
bIsck would be Of the mourning consequent
INT turn away from the gloomy retrospect
1,t with sadness, 70 look 10 the future, which
Il full Of hope. Notwithstanding the horror
and confusion incident TO such state OF
things. let me assure you, there we've nun
Jreds here. who, though bound down under
the contemplation Of the corruption WRcn
,revailad and a sort of despOtism to which
tbsv were subjected, still chung tondly L
the hone that at 10 distant day, they would De
relieved OF both and again restored 70 the CON
ait on which makes nan ieel Tree, the rlght 10
think. speak and act, and still more 10 WoF'
sim Cod according TO the dictates OF Their own
conferences. Tie day has come, the letters
are off and now, as OF yore, we can resume our
associations peacefully. lAppiause.I l l.l'cl-
tata myself in feeling justified 10 say, that not
only here in this city, but from every quar-
ter of the STATE, there Is unmlstAAaple eVl'
5ance OF q cOnciiiatory spirit. mat pelhS
40. let us cultivate ana cherish kindly
faslings towards al who would respect laS
and order As the best means OF returning 70
tba- bappy nditiOn in which We were before
the unfortunate s.ihsm. II we cannot forget
h rs endeavor = forgive, that angry passions
uev ma hustled into silence. At early mo
behold the stars and Stripes gracefully waving
rom the Capitol OF this ancient Commonwealth
that banner upheld, the enjoyment OF life, Lib
erty and the pursuit OF happiness will ever be
secure Iapplaussl; and near BY look upon The
sta.pe OF the immortal WAsHISGrON-a name
which the prattling infant shall be taught to lisJ
IN praise. while the more mature aud the aged
w 4 continue TO revere as long IS liberty has
votary. Your elevated character affords ample
prestige OF your ability and disposition 10 dis
charge the tut es incumbent upon you; but great
r sponsibility Is generally attended with great
perplexity. Pardon me Tor suggesting thaL
nernlexed as YOU may happen to be at any time,
there would be nothing OF idOatry 10 the ehort
10 gain strength By catching inspiration nom
the sacred emblems referred to and 50 convenient
u you. [ApplAuse.l And now let me attempt
10 nav a psUper tribute 70 the military authorities
since tho occupation Of this city by the United
states forces. They came, they saw, they had
conquered q" aud yet there was nothing OF eNul-
tltion. Calm and dignided were the officers,
courteous and respectful were the private soldiers
They found this once beautiful city IN flames,
merriam, to give light 10 the retyeating parties
Who lad been so long in darkness lApplause.l
Promptly and energetcaly all the appliances
possi6.e for the extinguishmeEt Of the flames
were brought 70 bear. Inc flames cxtingUished
the Christian commission, The United States
Sanitary Commission, and the United States
American Union Commission follow, seeking
the hungry and looking Tor the SICK. Inc wants
of both have been assiduoUsly attended 10, and
IL IS not strange that discontent has been rem
dersd dumb-tounded, while all must be appTe'
cistiye Of such unparalleled magnanimity.
Let me speak now for the ladies. They are
/ ready 70 greet you. A number OF ourcity ladies'
attended here last night and are only prevented
from being here to-day by the unseasJna Olencss
of The weather. They all join US in extending
10 YOU a he Lty and a cOrdisi welcome.
In conclusion, 1 desire 10 say for those for
whom / speak, that the people who will be i'm
medistely around you will be eN or ready to stand
bv YOU In your efforts TO protect the Constitution
and enforce the laws-[appaussl-but your
friends are eager 20 shake you by the haud 10
whom have the honor 10 introduce Governor
PERPONT.
Gov. Pierpont responded as follows
Hp SMITH. AND GENTLEMEN | should not do
Justice 70 my own feelings were l 70 say that
were mot moved by the remarks you have just
made and by the circumstances with which we
o-e surrounded You allude 20 the period four
vosrs AGO. that severed the social and political
lies which hound this country together. i, as
An individual with tuat number who had the
sane thrObbings OF heart fIr my country and
nation. engaged earnestly in opposing this terri
Ne rebellion that has left its MARI 50 yisibly on
this city and all over cur State.
snDoose the same feelings that actuated my
mind aetuated the minds OF thOusands-yea,
sir twenties OF thousands, ffties OF thousands-
of my fellOw-citzens OF virginia. But they were
kapt back by combinations further South,
broupht within your lines aud placed in the del
irate pOsitions 70 which you have referred.
A far as / am personally concerned, The pO-
sition have occupied since this rebellion COM
nelced hiss been position entirely rnsOugnt
by me: for when l commenced Of posing this re-
bsllion had no more idea Of occupying the pO-
sit;on which how occupy than 1 had Of doing
sny other strange thing which never expected
TO do. -.-,
Mace me in this position. Thousands OF times
feeling that il Is deeply paintu. position-thOu-
s,n3s of times l have felt that would rather
Ia In any other position than tais. But as my
f.llow-citizens asked me 10 serve them, could
NOT IN otherwise than accept the trust. But |
bsVa acted sincerely with a view 70 the utlre-
TO do al in my power TO redeem present evil and
IN move 70 my fellow citizens that for the future
sbonld follow my former policy, which was to
stretch forth my hand and save all OF Virginia
mat / could lapplausel; for l saw that de.
st,ur,iye feud was abroad In our land. We have
saved Western Virginia; and saved also, step
bv stem Eastern Virginia, as far as we could ex
tsnd the p-otection Of that great and good Gov
eminent of ours around it. Great applause
Those who commenced this contest COM
menced with destruction, and have been destruc-
tive from its beginning up to the present time. This
CITY beautiful tor situation, attests to-day the
destructiVeness Of the men who inaugurated this
great rebellion; but The circumstances Otlenien-
CIV and mercy 10 which you refer on the part Of
the military the SanlAry and the Christian Com
rni.siD. 4 Il Ony one Of the circumstances that
have marked this great struggle. Turn back
fom N 3 3 enc OF desOlation turn back and
Won will see on the other side OF the Potomac
and the Ohio rivers prosperity has besied the
co.ntrv ana tn past four years have not dimin-
Ihed out increased il, and happiness and plenty
reigns in every part Of T.
You have seen the Christian and the Sanitary
Commission coming in and extending their kind
ness everywhere; you have scent the muniacence
of the Republic poured out on citizen and SOL
der. YOU have seen them 60 TO the SICK and
wounded and give 70 the rebel solder on one
| hand and the Union soldier on the other hand.
| Five or ten millions Of dollars have been CON
tributed by that people for this benevolent pur-
pose, and your people and our friends have been
/ alike the recipients Of that munifcence. Yet as
said this is bat one OF the strange thugs which
have marked the conduct Of our people in this
/ terrible civil war that has been raging
/ An our country yet this munidcenee on
/ the part Of the Christian Commission,
/ COS bat TO prove what are the feelings Of our
psOple in this respect, for as one OF the members
/ of the Christian Commission informed me that
where the Union and the rebel soldier laid side