Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-12-27
The OlGen Time.

cannot fail to be OF great interest 10 our
readers of the present day. 1t will be re-
membered that in our last article, we
brought down the history of the institution
to the time when its republican features
were entirely obliterated and an empire was
established, when the modest title of Presi-
dent sank beneath the brilliancy of the i'm
perial soubriquet Of Emperor and serene
Highness. At that meeting of the Club,
(when this great event took place. COM
mittee of three, consisting of the Arch
Treasurer and two others were appointed to
prepare an address to his Majesty, the EN-
peror expressive of the feelings of the
Club, at his elevation to his high position.
We proceed now to give that address as we
find it recorded among the proceedings of
the Club at their next regular meeting,
held January 10Th, 1905. Here it is:
Most dread Emperor We, the commit
tee of the Nine Penny Whist Club, tender
you the homage of our high respects and
our congratulations upon your elevation to
the greatest of all possible dignities. When
we review the eVentful scenes through
which we have so recently passed, and com
pare them with the present, what cause for
establishment, for eXultatlOn. You found US
in state of anarchy and confusion, with
out authority. without order, without gov
ernment-most distressful-without money
in the treasury, our revenue impaired, our
finances exhausted-most pennyless But
no sooner did the sun of your imperial face
shine upon us, than order was restored, and
t'wild commotion hearing your voice stood
still, "-most magnanimoUs. Formerly our
Club was comparatively the theatre of
stormy passions and angry recrlminatlon,
but now, the seat of smiling mirth and
laughter, loving joy-most jocund We
were dismayed and cast down by the hor-
ror and confusion of the times, lnsomuch
that our hearts wambled and walloped
about like dumplings in a pot-yea verify.
But now, our Joy and confidence rise and
overflow like the comely froth on the top of
q tankard of porter-most refreshing
Such was our former condition such is
our present. Every circumstance, most
placid Emperor, which led the way to your
glory and our happiness, is matter of
congratulation. Let fame, with all his bra
zen trumpets, proclaim to the remotest pos
terity, that the Club was unanimous in their
choice that your election was brought
about by the free, unbiased suffrages of
the members-not the smallest influence
or compulsion was made use of-ard that
the danger of confiscation and Punishment,
in cases of refractory votes, could not, and
ought not, in republican government like
ours, have the least effect upon the freedom
of the will. We assert, in your presence,
most equal tempered Emperor, that the
resolutions preceded your election, and
which form the basis of our present Con-
stitution, contain in themselves body of
laws the most simple, the most beneficial
to the subject and friendly to his rights, of
any constitution or code in the known
world-not even excepting the laws of your
august brothers, the Emperor of Morocco
and Jack the first. How pleasing the re-
Election, that the whole executive, legisla
tive, and judiciary power of the Club is
vested in yourself. Most potent what
Sovereign can be compared with our En-
peror? Of all others let it be said, that
some are irritable in their temper-that Oh
losing battle, kingdom, or the odd card,
they will fret and fume, and curse their
own party, without rhyme or reason, order
or method ;-others, again, are rapaclOus
they crimp and cabbage the Nine Pennys
of their subjects at their own will and pleas
ure. Not so with our Supreme Executive.
He, always ool,-always sedate-delibera-
tive and calm, knows how to temper the
severity of his remarks and his power, with
o just regard to the feelings and the rights
of his fellow-citizens.
That the Club may continue to be happy
and prosper under your administration, in
secul,tn,, Seculoreun, is the wish of the
COMMITTEE, by
JOHN CALHoRDA,
Arch Treasurer.
AS soon as the reading of the above adj
ress was Fl nished, and the applause had sub
sided, his Imperial Majesty rose to his full
stature, and in clear, sonorous tones, de-
livered himself of the following speech, |
which, though apparently unpremeditat
he had evidently been pregnant with for
sometime. 1t is very evident that he was
entirely conscious of his own merits, and |
not at all disposed, as is too much the case
in the present day, to place modest esti-
mate upon his own abilities. He spoke as
Emperor should speak like one who knew
he possessed the divine qfiatuS, and was
every inch the Elephant. Hear him:
GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMITTEE Il re-
ceive your dutiful address as an Emperor !
ought to receive it, Yes, it is true, you |
were in state of confusion and dismay-
without order, without resources, without |
q government. / was a witness to your stor-
my debates and proceedings; your hearts,
indeed, were dumplings without even energy
sufficient to rise to the top of the pot. And
who has corrected all these, and other enor-
nous evils ? Who has reduced you to Or
der, and set you an example of regularity?
Who contributes most largely to replenish
your exhausted treasury and to till you with
confidence. and spirits It is I =! I, the
Emperor You have invested me with the
whole power of the Club, and will let you
know that have you under my thumb, my
boys.
That my election was unanimous, does
honor to your discernment and to your
choice, for who but myself is fitted for the |
station On your parts, expect that this
our truely republican form of government |
will be cherished and supported-as on my |
part, shall take due care that your equal |
rights shall be duly respected-for wnen |
the subject has no rights, it follows that |
such rights can never be unequal.
agree with you, gentlemen of the COM
mittee, that he laws of the Club excel all |
others, and that Scion knew nothing of |
constitutions Where one man is the sole |
Judge in every possible case, every decision |
must be right, and expect instant submis-