Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-09-07
BY TELEGRAPH


of the monument The grave was beau
tifully decorated. The stands complete
ly surrounded the tomb. and the audi
ence was massed. The spectacle pre-
scented at the amphitheatre was magniti-
cent A band Of music preceded the
cortege; FIVE battalions Of knights Ten
plars, succeeded by representatives OF
the Masonic fraternity, followed. The
latter assembled the stands around the
base of the monument, where they per
formed the appointed rites At this point,
just before the appearance of the Presi-
dent, the vast crowd broke the ropes
placed around the reserved grounds, and
rushed to nearly all parts Of the field.
Order was, afIer a very few minutes,
fully restored by exertions of the Temp
lars and Ellsworth's Zouaves, A slight
shower also fell, but finished soon enough
to avoid marring the scene. The Presi-
dent and party, with heads uncovered,
entered the grounds; Seward had the
Presidents arm, Welles and Randall
walked together, and Grant accompanied
companied Romero.
After an appropriate address by Mayer
Rice, the Masonic Grand Master of llii-
nois, j. r. Goran, appeared in front of
the stand and delivered short, touching
and eloquent address, in which he paid
glowing tribute to the memory of the
illustrious deceased, both as friend and
as Mason. He referred to the fact that
the statue will be placed on the monu-
nent visible to the voyagers on this in
land sea. The Grand Chaplain then in
yoked the Divine blessings on the cere-
mony. The ceremony of laying the cor
ner stone took place according to the
Masonic ritual. After blessing with
bread, wine and oil, the stone
was lowered into its place while
minute guns were fred and the
band played dirge. The Grand Mas
ter congratulated those present on the
fact that there was no less a parsonage
Than the President of the United States,
with distinguished heads of Departments,
whom he believed to be members of the
Masonic fraternity This remark was
loudly applauded' A prayer then fol-
lowed, delivered by the Rev. VIM. VIII
burn, of the Protestant Episcopal
Chur Oh, after which the orator of the
day, Major General Dix, addressed the
assemblage During his speech he was
frequently interrupted by applause
When he concluded, the President of the
United States was loudly called for He
appeared in front of the platform, aud
delivered the following brief address:
FELLOW CIrIzEys | have travelled
over a thousand miles after having
been invited to attend the ceremony
of laying the corner stone OF the
monument about to be erected. | will
say to my friends, personally and
politically, that in accepting the invita-
ton to be present on this occasion, it
was Tor the purpose Of leaving testimony
of my high respect for a man who per
ished in the public service, and one
whom respected and loved [Cheers.]
! have 10 ealogy TO pronounce that has
not been done better than | could do it,
aud il viii be handed down and placed
in possession Of all who take an interest
in the history and character Of the dis
iinguished individual who is now no
more. Some men may wear the wreath
which the nation wreathes for those who
serve their country in lofty positions, or
they may be graced with laurels prepared
for those who defend her in her hour of
peril, and their names may be engraved
upon the imperishable records Of ma
tional glory. This column is reared in
memory Of the working legislator
and the representative man, and his re-
ward will be theinseription Of his name
high on the cenotaph erected by CRATE
ful nation TO commemorate the services
of those who lived and toiled for the
people and the Union Of the States
| Immense applause
Fellow-citizens ! believe in my heart
that il we could communicate with the
dead. and cause them to know what was
Transporting on earth; if it we're possible
for Stephen A. Douglas to be disturbed
from his slumber, he would rise from his
grave, shake off the babiliments Of the
tomb, and proclaim-the Constitution
and the Union, they must be preserved.
The President was long and loudly
applanded in retiring.
Secretary Seward then came forward
in response to repeated calls. he said
Like the President, | came not "a
make a speech. Less than on any
other occasion, could ! consent to speal
without consideration. 1t would be a
disrepute TO the great dead to ofei
a hurried and needless tribute TO the
greatness of Stephen A. Douglas
[Cheersl You have just heard, as all
the world knows, that Stephen A. Doug
| las was concerned many years in th'
| great affairs Of this nation at the Capitol
You are not ignorant that l had beer
connected with him, in some way, for th'
last eleven years Of his life; that wa
1