The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-02-13
From Washjingto
The Bancroft Grafton.
The North Pacific Railroad.
The Mercer Expedition to
the Pacific States.
The Rancroft ONION.

=
The bancroft ovation.
wAsHINaroN, Feb. I2.-The flags over
the public buildings enclosing the cap
itol, are at half mast to-day at 10
o'clock. The doors leading to the ro-
tunda of the capitol were opened to per-
sons to whom an invitation had been
extended by the presiding officer of the
two Houses of Congress, and to those
holding tickets of admission to the gal
leries. The hall of the House of Rep
rasentatives was opened for the admis-
sion of the Representatives and those to
whom invitations had been extended,
who were conducted to the seats assign
ed for them. The President of the Uni-
ted States was seated in front of the
Speaker with the Chief Justice and AS
sociate Justices of the Supreme Court
of the United States occupying seats
near him on the right of the Speaker,
with the heads of the department with
the President on the left of the Speak
er, with officers of the army and navy,
who by name have received the thanks
of Congress, occupied seats next to the
Supreme Court, on the right of the
Speaker, with the representatives occu-
plying seats on either side of the hall in
the rear of those invited; four rows of
seats on either side of the main aisle for
Senators, in addition to those above
mentioned, were occupied by assistant
heads of departments, Governors of
States and Territories, the Mayors of
Washington and Georgetown, the Chief
Justice and Judges of the Court OF
Claims, the Chief Justice and Associate
Justices of the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia, the heads of bu-
reaus in the departments, and others.
When Northumberland Grant en-
tered the gallery, with ladies, he was
greeted with applause. The army and
navy officers were in uniform; the dip
lomatic corps appeared in citizens dress.
The House was called to order by the
Speaker at IL O'Clock, who, after a pray
er by the Rev. Mr.. Boynton, laid before
them letter from Secretary Seward,
addressed to the Speaker, making his
Acknowledgements for the Invitation to
be present on this occasion, but serious
forbid his attendance on thu interesting
National ceremonies. The Cabinet, eX-
cepting Mr.. Seward, were present. SEN
atOr Doolittle conducted the orator of
the day to seat at the table of the
Clerk of the House. When the Sena-
tors, the President and his Cabinet and
the Supreme Court entered the hall,
those on the floor rose to their feet and
stood until the former were all seated.
The Marine Band, in the rear of the re-
porters gallery, performed a solemn air.
The Rev. DR.. Boynton, Chaplain of the
House, delivered a prayer. The Hon.
LAFAYETTE s. Foster, President of the
order, and in a few pertinent remarks
Introduced Hon. George Bancroft, who
delivered the memorial address. The
speech was frequently applauded. and,
after the benediction was pronounced,
the assembly retired.
Hon. L. Foster, President of the SEN
ate pro tenn, called the house to order,
and then said: No ordinary occasion
could have convened this august as
semhly. For four years the storm of
ciViTwar ragged fiercely over our coun-
try-the blood of the best and bravest
of her sons had been freely shed to pre-
serve her name and place her among
the nations of the earth. In April last
the dark clouds which had so long
hung heavily and gloomily over our
heads, were all dispersed, and the light
of peace, more welcome than ever; the
universal sunshine gladdened the eyes
and the hearts of our people. Shouts
of joy and songs of triumph echoed
through our land. The hearts of the
thanksgiving to the God of battles
of the nation; that the most wicked and
the most formidable rebellion ever
known in human history had been suE-
ficiently crushed, and our country was
saved. In the midst of the Astounding
joy, suddenly and swiftly as the light
ming flash, came the fearful tidings that
the Chief Magistrate of the republic,
our President, loved and honored as
few men ever were; SO honest, SO faith
full, so true to his duty and country,
had been foully murdered, had fallen
by the bullet of an assassin. All hearts
were stricken with horror; the transit
row was never more sudden and uni
yersal. Had it been possible for a
strangerl ignorant of the truth, 20 have
looked over the land, he would have
supposed that there had come upon us
some visitation of the Almighty, NO
less dreadful than that which fell on an
cient Egypt. The nation wept for
then, after being gazed upon by myri-
ads of living eyes under the dome OF
this magnificent capitol, the remains OF
the President was borne in solemn pro-
cession through our cities, towns and
villages, all draped in habiliaments OF
sorrow, the symbols of profound and
heartfelt grief, to their final resting
place. The Senate and House of Rep
resenative had met to commemorate, by
appropriate services, this day, the birth
.day sof him whom we mourn. They
have selected a learned citizen
distinguished by his labors and services
in high and responsible public positions
at home and abroad, whose pen has in
structed the present age in the history
of his country, and done much to trans
NIT the fame and renown of that coun-
try to future ages. The Hon. George
Bancroft will now deliver discourse.
I(Applause.l
Mr.. Bancroft, who was sitting be-
tween Senator Foote and Representative
washburn, of Ill.,, then arose and de-
1fpaTIad .hia adHralS
The orator was frequently interrupt
ed by applause, especially in those
parts where he emphasized, and
in which, while speaking OF
Great Britain he said: Let the
bill of reform and error of the worm
outgovernment ofAtlas and iufuse new
life into the British Constitution by
confiding the rightful powers to the
people and it cannot be Indifferent TO
country that traduces statesmen like
Golden and Bright, but the best tower
and anchor OF peace was the working
classes of England who suffered most
from the civil war, but while they
broke their diminished bread in sorrow
always encouraged us to persevere.
Those parts of the address, referring
to the emancipation proclamation, and
the utterances of President Lincoln in
that connection in favor OF freedom,
were received with earnest responses
blythe vast assembly, as was the clause
referring to the answering friendship
of Russia, and the act of China in
closing her ports against the war ships
and priVateers OF the seditious. Mr..
Stocked, the Russian Minister, was evil
IDENTITY pleased by the compliment to
his own government; the other Foreign
Ministers preserved an appearance of