Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-15
The Great banquet.

on Itle evening OF the % lhst7 the NasnNiite NHa
Der of Commerce, and about one hundred and TWEEN
ty-fve invited guests, embracing the members Of
the Legislature, and the army officers 1t excelled
anything Of the kind that ever came off in Nash
Vile The table was sumptuously supplied with all
the dclicacies Of the season. The purest wines OF
this and other countries flowed like water, and in
spircd the guests with wit and the orators with elo
quence. The accomplished band of the 10th Reg
ulars OBLIGATED, and filled the extensive dining
room with soul-stirring music. The room was lined
} with American Flags, and other emblems of our
nationality The room literally dazzled in sptendor
and tables groaned under the weight of everything
good The exercises continued until half past t'eC
IN the morning, and the magnificent banquet cost
TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS.
Judge NJ NJ. Bricn responded to the first regular
toast-"The President of the Untnd States as
follows: a---.. ..L.-
TENNssEEANs I proud of this sentiment
at this time l am proud to meet so many Of my
fellow-citizens to say to such large delegation OF
Tcnnesseeans that can endorse the administration
have done so from first to last. l know some OF
us have differed In regard to those questions but
am in favor Of letting bygones be bygones When
l hear such sentiments as this toast it makes my
! heart clad l am glad to meet the members of the
Legislature here; also the delegation from Mem
phiS This Is a pledge of faith to one another. You
! have met for an excellent purpose In thename of
| the people Of Nashville l tender their thanks
/ TO the delegation from Memphis. But | came not
to make q speech, and will net consume your time
! further.
! Governor Brownlow responded to the second reg
uIar tOast-sgThe State of Tennessee AS follows
! Mr. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN: Impaired as
nv health IS and feeble you perceive my voice is
sustaining the relation l do TO Tennessee can
not refuse to respond with hearty cheers when she
is toasted. Gentlemen Tennessee is a great State
She IS great in her extent OF territory great in her
agricultural capabilities; great in her productive
soil and climate the latter as balmy that of Italy
/ Tennessee is great because of the purity of
her air and water; great in her mineral wealth;
GREAT in the extent OF her nayigabe streams; great
in the extent and quality of her railroads; great in
that she presents 10 the admiring gaze Of the world
the finest State Capitol in America and inferior to
no similar ediice in any of the kingdoms of the
Old World Tennessee Is great because other Leg
islators and lawmakers, provided, always, the
present General Assembly, shall pass with com
dablc unanimity, Railroad Bill issuing the neces-
sary amount of Bonds to place all the companies
on a safe foundation; and provided, furthermore,
they shall repeal and modify alllaws imposing oner-
GUS taxes upon the merchants of the State, a most
worthy and mertorious class Of citizens, whose pros
pcritv when promoted, is to promote the interests
of the people. Tennessee IS great because Of the
talent energy and honesty Of her men; for whether
rebellion the world, the flesh and the devil combn-
ed would fail to force inglorious retreat upon
regiment Of TenDeseeans, and when they fall the
battlefield they fall with their faces to the fee
Tennessee is great because Of the character energy
and courage Of the women; God bless them
Whether on one side or the ether Of a great civil
conflict. they arc always right As they grow in
wears they Increase in beauty; and Mr. President
il Is matter of regret, that the laws of State
and the iniunctious Of Holy Writ, forbid that such
gallant gentlemen as YOU and !, shall have but one
wife at a time.
What We now want in Tennessee to make her one
of the first States in the American Union, is the
cutting up into numerous farms her many over
grown plantations, and the settling Of them with
hardy, industrious and onterprising German and
Swiss immigrants; with enterprising men from the
Northwest; with capitalists from the Middle States,
and with the brains and educated labor Of New
England. Say what we may in diSpaTagement of
the I Universal Yankee Nation and of their wood
en- nutmegs, wooden hams, wooden shad and cow
heel Hints, the Yankees are a progressive people,
adaptcd 10 this progressive a ge and country Why,
sirs take a live Yankee Danish him to a desolate /
island, or solitary tow-head in Lake Michigan, /
and give him a Single and jacl-knltc, and he
viii white himself ashore, and claim patent right
for the invention We want throughout the limits .
Of our State the economy Of the live Yankee. He /
viii gather his tidy little wife and half dozen
sponsibilities around him, kill one hog during the
Christmas holidays sell the hams at the highest .
market price eat the shoulders head and feet, salt
do the sides in a bread tray, and have bacon for
sale in the spring In peace or IN war the Yankee |
is equal to any emergency. And for genuine hos
pilality, he Is only excelled by the Memphis Board
Of Trade
As the various treuchan. points of the Governors
speech were made, the most tumultuous applause
followed We have never heard n more happy and
effective afLer-dinner speech, and the Governor is
hereafter candidate for the highest honors as Il
a,,-Fiyal orator combined with the dignity Of a