The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-09-11
THE PRESIDENTIAL TOUR.
The Trip from Springfield to st. Louis.


st. Louis, Sept S.-The President and
suite, after quiet breakfast at Springfield,
proceeded to the depot and entered the train
for Alton, I'll.
The train left at g.: A. NJ, amid the firing
of cannon. Gen. Stoneman and Col. Dickey,
General Grants First Chiefof Cavalry. joined
the excursion yesterday, and will accompany
it as far as st. Louis.
The first stoppage of the train was made at
Carlinville, where the reception that awaited
the President resembled the popular outbursts
on the line of the New York Central Rail
road. Every countenance beamed with Joy,
and every throat was distended to the utmost
in the effort to drown the salute of twenty
one guns by patriotic cheers.
Arrival at Alton.
On arriving at Alton the Mississippi burst
suddenly into view, bearing on its waters a
fleet of twelve steamboats, loaded witlfexcur-
sionists from st.. Louis, and steaming along
with flags and banners flying The sight was
fine one, and drew ordinations of surprise
from all At the Alton depot stand had
been erected by the city authorities, to which
the President aud officers were conducted,
while the ladies and their attendants were
conducted at once to the steamboat Andy
johnson, which had been selected to trans
port the party to st. Louis, twent y-6ve miles
distant, Statutes were fired, and the greatest
possible excitement prevailed. The cheering
was wild and the demonstrations emphatic.
The mayor of Alton, in few words, well
coined the party, and the President responded
in briefspeech, which was frequently inter
rupted by hearty applause.
In Sight of st. Louis
On coming in sight Of ST. Louis it was evi-
Dent that the people were enjoying the scene.
All the principal public buildings were deco
rated with flags. As far into the city as
could be seen from the river every staff bore
a national flag. The wharves and barges at
the upper end of the landing were but COM
fortably packed with spectators, but as the
feet passed along opposite the front of the
city every available foot Of standing room,
from the waters edge to the roofs CT the
buildings, was brought into requisiton. Over
thirty STEAMBOATS, lay moored at the wharves
awaiting our arrival, with their upper and
lower decks, spars and guards blocked with
masses of living beings. The cheering shout
ing and firing OF cannon was wholly indie
scrbable.
The st. Louis Rec option.
ST. Louis, Sept 8.-Evening. crowd
in this city, which welcomed the excursion
lists, was beyond computation, and greatly in
excess Of any encountered since leaving New
York A stranger would have supposed the
entire Northwest had congregated on these
wharves to honor the arrival of the President
instead of portion of the population of one
great city. AS soon as landing could be Ell
fected, the mayor welcomed the President,
and the President briefly and periodically re-
sponded. The procession was then formed,
and marched through the principal streets to
the Lindell Hotel Bl @
Along the entire line of march the decora-
tons We're elaborate. Flags and banners
with inscriptions We're suspended from houses
in every direction
Not far from the Lindell Hotel merchant
hung out a banner on which was inscribed
"a johnson, the Apostate.' He was taken
by the throat by an indignant patriot and
checked until he agreed to take It down Even
then he was not allowed to do 50 in person
but was held in durance until bis wife low
cred the shameful rag
The Banquet at st. Louis.
St, Louis, Sept. "A complimentary
| banquet was given last night at the Southern
Hotel to President johnson and his cabinet
Geu. Grant, Admiral Farragut, and the dip
lomatic corps, Soon after being set down, a
large crowd collected in Walnut street, and
called Justify for the President He answered
| this summons by appearing on the portico
and delivered an address In the course Of
his remarks the President said;
Fellow-Citizens of St Lonis:-In being in
trotuced to you tonight, tits not for the pur.
pose OF making a speech 1t is true an
proud to meet so many of our fellow-citizens
| here on this occasion and under the favorable
circumstances that 1 do (Cries-"How about
| our British subjects?3 We will attend te
John Bull after while, so far as that is CON
cerned. Laughter and loud cheers.) have
| just stated that am not here for the purpose
of making speech, but after being intro
duced, simply to tender my cordial thanks for
the welcome that you have given to me in
your midst "a voice -''Ten thousand well
comes'" Hurrahs and cheers Thank you
sir. 1t was in my power to address you I'M
der tayorabls circumstances upon some of the
questions that agitate and disturb the public
mind at this time-questions whicn have
grown out of fiery ordeal that we have
passed through. and which think as mpor-
tant as this We have just passed by.
| The time has come when, it seems to me-
that all ought to be prepared for peace the
rebellion being suppressed and the shedding
of blood being stopped. The sacrifice of life
being stayed, it seems that the time has ar
rived when we should have peace, when the
bleeding arteries should be dried up. "a
voice; New Orleans" Go ONT Perhaps
if you had word or two on the subject OF
New Orleans, you might understand more
about it than you do Laughter and cheers I
And il you will go back cries for Seward l.
If You will go back and ascertain the cause
of the riot at New Orleans, perhaps you
would not be so prompt in calling ont "New
Orleans" If you will take up the riot at
New Orleans and trace il back to its source,
or to its immediate cause, you will find out
who was responsible for the blood that was
shed there, If you will take up the riot at