Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-12-27
) THE ExCURSIONISTS.
Their Reception at Memphis.
a Gala Time at the Gayoso House


Guiding number of ladies and repre-
sentatives Of the people, assembled at
three o'clock yesterday in the Gayoso
House, and held jolli6cation which did
honor to the hearts of all assembled
Among the members of our Legislature
we noticed Senator j. w. Smith, Repre-.
sentatives W. J. ]. Smith, F. s. Richards,
W. w. Coleman and Dan Able. The
only things We regret are, that our
Memphis orators had no opportunity
of expressing their views, and our Mem.
phis ladies had no chance of throwing
in the shade the prominent bellies of
Washington.
The banquet was sumptuous and in
keeping with the "good name" of the
Gayoso House. Mayor Lofand con-
Quoted the proceedings, and Bishop
Quintard officiated as Christian Pastor
of the occasion. The first toast was
1.-THE President of the United States
of America
Senator Foster, on being called upon
to respond, rose amid applause. He said
he rose with pleasure to respond TO the
toast of "The President Of the United
States and he felt assured it would
have been most pleasant for the Presi-
dent to have been present on this occa-
sion TO thank the citizens and his friends,
of this, his own city and State, for the
cordial manner in which they had drank
the toast. He therefore regretted that
the President was not present on this
occasion. [Applause.] He however
thanked them in the name OF the Presi-
dent, and also thanked them for having
called on him to respond to the toast.
Wherever the eIcnrsionists had visited
they had been most warmly welcomed,
whether in the extreme east of the State,
or to-day in the beautiful city of Mem
phis, on the banks of the magnificent
Mississippi, in the extreme west. At
Chattanooga, Nashville, Knoxville, and
in fact in every town and hamlet through
which they had passed in the State of
Tennessee, they had been most cordially
received. [Cheers Pleasing senti-
ments had been expressed toward them
wherever they had visited, and he hoped
that as the commerce on the mighty
Mississippi, which flows past this city, is
borne toward the Gulf of Mexico, so may
all cases Of difference between the North
and the South be speedily borne into the
Gulf of Oblivion. Great applause.
He hoped that all would be sctusted with
one common interest, and that they
would ever feel that they were each de-
pendent on each others success, and
due performance of their duties. When
this shall be, and he had faith it would
soon be, the city of Memphis will attain
her commercial glory, destined as she is
to be one of the vast cities OF the Amer
lean Republic 1t will then be the proud
est boast of our people-all our
people--to say, Il am an American cit
izen. Loud and prolonged applause. ]
The Mayor then submitted the second
regular toast 1.-THE Army AID Navy"
General o. o. howard, on rising to
respond to the toast, was warmly rT
ceived. He said he undertook to make
q speech at Nashville and to speak in the
Capitol, and he had become so hoarse
that he was afraid IL he attempted to
make II speech on this occasion that he
would only be imperfectly heard in this
large room. He was grateful for the
compliment they had paid to the army
and navy of the United States. He was
pleased to hear the music of The Red,
White and Blue, as he felt it was o com
pliment paid to the Union. Cheers
He had seen the army swelling to mil
lion of men, but he gladly perceived that
it was now diminishing to its standard
before the war and the time might come
when there may be no need for the army
or the navy, which he represented on
that occasion. [Cheers He Joined
heartily in thanking them for the kind
ness and hospitality they had received
since their arrival in the city, and con.
cluded by saying he would give place for
those who could speak better than him
self on this occasion. Loud applause,
amid which General Howard resumed his
seat.
The Mayor next proposed the third
regular toast: "0ur Guests"
Senator Lane, on rising to respond to
the toast, was received with much sp-
plausc He said it would soon be his
high duty and privilege 10 return to Con-
gress, and he must say that in the city
Of Memphis, sitting in all her queenly
beauty, on the banks Of the magnificent
Mississippi, they earned the gratitude
and thanks of the excursionists for the
manner in which they had opened their
hands and hearts TO receive them He
would say, Let there be no strife be-
tween us, but let all be united in one
common interest, the good Of the entire
county. Applause Then Yankee
Doodle aud Dixie shall be mingled
together, and they would give law to all
he governments Of the earth. lCheers.
He had not been in Memphis for the past
twenty years, and the last time he was
in this city was at the close Of the Mexi-
can war, when they we're returning. after
having overthrow the petty throne Of
the Aztec empire. He trusted they