Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-06-24
SERENADE TO HON. JOSEPH SEGAR-
HIS SPEECH on THE OCCASTO y.

Mo Of ElA II Wv 4 M W. alHNlNf y.
On Thursday night, between ) and g O'clock
several personal friends Of Hon. Joseph Segar
Senator elect from Virginia 20 the United state,
Congress, complimentsd that gentleman with a
serensde by the 4th Massachusetts, Basd, at III,
Monumental Hotel. The music attracted a con
siderable throug in front OF the hotel. After the
band h "a performed several airs, Mr.. Segar was
called for He came forward TO the portico on
9Th street and proceeded 10 address the assem-.
blage.
The following Is a sketch Of ais opening re-
marks,
Fellow citizens Blessed be God We cre fel.
lOw-citiZ9ns again. The time has boen when /
could not thus address you bat thank God ten
thousand times, We are fellOW-citizens once
more. From piney Maine % golden California
We are now again one people and not two peO.
pie But. fellow citizens, why call upon me Tor
= Speech IL IA true I have borne an humble
part in resisting this cruel war" and glory 10
my inmOst soul that I did 30. Why, ] ask, do
yOa call upon q dsspised aud vituperated indi-
vidual j. Il because, in the darkest hour Of
GU cOuntry's history, stood by the stars and
Stripes Applause. Am ] Of sufficient i'm.
.pOrtance 10 be thus Invited 20 address YOU Why
disturb my slumbers and dabsr me from dresm m.
llG SMELLY VI kAE AAhAAr NIN5NEEAH Oh our kluEls
Gus country, over which peace once more Pre-.
walls Yea this cruel var il over and,
thank God, that stream Of blood which Redeemed
every stream from the Potomac 20 the Ri Grande
has ceased TO hOW. Then. why call upon this
humble vitlperated friend Of the Union Do
you expect me 20 make a speech " Am rot
on the foot" "a the saying IS ! don't feel in the
mood OF making a speech. Like the rebellion"
] am broken down; wOra out. A voice Play
Cd out
FelloE .citizens-I an here 70 aid this compac.
and glorious little Legislature Of the restored
government IN their work Of reconstruction and
reorganization. am glad that they have this
day, by one little act restored citizenship and
suffrage 10 q large portion Of the people Of Viz
ginis. But gentlemen, what am / % speak OF ?
What does this call mean
A vvice-This Is a compliment % you your
fidelity 10 the Union ald th3 stars and Stripes.
(Applause.)
M. Ssgar (resuminRJ Why, fellow citizens, /
don't deserve any credit for that nor do take
any 70 myself. / have loved the Stars and
Stripes from my bOyh0Od-frOm the time / could
read have loved that glorious banner Is ] loved
the milk that came from my mothers bosom and
gave me life / say, iellOE-c citizens that de.
serve no credit for the humble position occu.
Piled a. a Union man. lie road was a. pain u
me a. the road 10 the parish church. IL was IA
diant with grandeur aud glory, and when I saw
that road thus looming up before NE was bound
u travel IL
Ther, was ano.hsr road VII .ch my frie7ds said
ought 10 travel. 10 was Doggy and craggy
road, sprinkle1 with blood At every step ruins
on every side. On this al you would meet the
wild " and orphan bewailing the lost sad loved.
That road led 70 secession and disun!On. and
could not find Il 10 my heart 70 follOW it. Let
me tell YOU in practical way-tOr 1 am a pr &C
tlcal man-hOw ] argued with NY friends, and
they with me. They would say "IGu love Vir
ginia, aud II you take the Union road you " II
cut loose from your native State, and when yOU
get 10 the end OF your road ind a halter arOunt
yourneck"-snd, by the way, { did come very
near L. told them they would lind themselye:
encompassed by ruin, end, when they got 70 The
end OF their road. Wuuldn nj have nlRger leit.-
tEaughtsr) Who got the best Of Il
know was right have been told-ihe pres
have reiterated it-that WASH true o my Il tie
that Z. serted the State in which was born ant
re,red. FellOw.citzens. what have done, hav,
done 10 pursuance Of the commands OF my state
When I came 70 the two dverging roads on
leading 70 Union the other 70 DkunOn ! found {
great side. board, on which ives written in char
actars Of living light that the blind might read
sYOu Joseph Ssgar, are one Of my sons whom
have a right 70 command. You must regard The
Constitution Of the United States 81 the suprem,
law Of the land. anything in my Constitution an'
laws % the contrary Notwithstanding.
so iellOw-citizens, have the proud conscious
ness Of knowing that, however malgned, haV
never deserted my native State. All The gold o
California can never rob me Of the proud refec
ton that did not aid in bringing ruin and dis
tres upon this old COmnOnweslth-that did no
separate myself from the mother who gave m
rest ia ny childhood, who ] would defend nov
so help me God, provided her cause was good
whose laws have lived and prosDered under, an
who gave me laws by the force Of which side
in this civil war with the United States agains
the land Of my birth.
Mr.. Ssgar continued al some length to discus
The causes and results of the war mot by way o
reproaeh or taunt" bu. 70 vindicate himself froI
the detraetiOn which had been heaped upon hin
and 10 show that he did not err IN opposing sece'
sion with All the zeal and energy he could con
mand
After Mr.. Segar concluded, Mr.. Lenuel Reeve
lately member Of the % New jersey Cavalr
aud now lawyer of BOrdsntOwn, n. address
"a the audience in an animated speech, whic