Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-09-25
LOCAL NEWS.
serenade TO General Hancock and tn
President

ing attracted in front of the METROPOLITAN
hotel q large crowd of citizens, and before 8
o'clock the avenue and side walks in front Of
ae;u pu,iuhg were hied With people, 1T beng
estimated that at least $500 persons were
present The balcony al the hotel was hand :
sornely decorated with Chinese lanterns, and
hreWorks We're displayed FROM the top OF the
building. By nalf-past o. clock four bands of
music, from different sections OF the city, had
arrived in front of the building, and loud calls
were made tor GenI Hancock, and upon his
appearance he was greeted with cheer after
cheer. ~' '.E ~
Gen. Cobb, of Wisconsin, introduced Gen'l
Hancock TO the assembly, saying he was glad
TO bear testimony to the kindness of heart of
General H.; his gallantry as soldier an his
trueness as man.
General Hanc ok tbeu spoke as follows:
ceftse"s 81 Washington: / thank you for this
testimony of your appreciation Of my past SER
vices, and confidence in my ability to perform
my duty IN new and different sphere. Ed.
ucated as a soldier In the miiltary school of our
country, and On the fields of the Mexican war
and American rebellion, I eed not assure Won
that my course as district commander will
be characterized by the same strict, soldierIy
obedience to the law there taught me. As 8
soldier, know 10 other guide or higher duty
Mtsrepresen tation and misconstru elton arising
from the passions OF the hour, and spread by
those who do not know that devotion to duty
hour, may meet me. But fear them not. NV
highest pride will be TO perform the duties OF
my new sphere, not III the in crest OF parties or
partisans. but Tor the benefit ct my country,
the honor Of my profession. and. trust Also
for the welfare Of the people committed to my
care. ask, then, citizens, that may not be
Judged In advance. and that time may be per.
mitted to develop my actions. Judge me when
L act by the deeds l may perform, and, con-
Sclous or my devotion TO my duty and nv
country, shall be satisfied with your verdict:
and, If generous country shall approve nv
actions In the future, as it has in the past, my
highest am bition Will have been achieved
AS soldier, / am to administer the laws
rather than discuss them. If can administer
them IN spirit, with due charity to the gov
srned and TO the satisfaction of nv country
shall indeed be happy in the consciousness OF
a duty performed.
1 am about to leave your city, the capital of
cur country. bearing the proudest name of
w ashington." As an American citizen, the
RAPID development and increase of its wealth,
beauty, and prosperity is a matter in which /
100 am deeply Interested But far, Tar beyond
this, citizens of Washington, L rejoice with
you. that IN the trying hour OF the rebellion,
The capital OF our nation contributed az freely
IN proportion, as any State of the Union, to
the brave volunteer army which has demon.
srated 10 the world the strength and in viuci-
Dility of republican form of government
L shall carry with me the recollectioDs OF
This occasion; and when / return, NAV not
nope that none who are here present in person
or In spirit will regret their participation in
the honors you have done me tonight.
Hon. Robert j. walker was next introduced
and spoke of the life and services OF General
Hancock He said When the rebellion thru At
ened TO destroy the country and to leave
out miserable remnant, a solitary ruin to
mark the existence OF q desolated country and
q dlsmembeIe ed Union, General Hancock came
forward to the defence Of the nation and the
CONSTITUTION, and his glorious career is not
marked by one single iaiiure. [Great cheers I
recoilect that occasion we'll, for was then
residing IN Washington-a city that has been
much abused-and yet the records of the great
war show that the city of Washington, unep- :
couraged by large bounties. or any of the other
means used to induce men into the army. did,
Z 4 not Inff
send into the ranks much larger mum Der of
volunteer soldiers than any other city in the
Union in proportion to its numbers.
MT. walker spoke for some time and was
frequently interrupted by applause.
called for said:
though separated by some miles of our younp
country did not come here 10 make q speech,
and will not do it. l have been called upon,
much to my modification. The Generals who
baye spoken TO you, and our distine uished
citizen who has just left you. have said all that
there is to say upon this OCCASION; and there.
fore decline to make any speech and trust
you Will approve my refusal
Speeches were made by Captain McSweeny,
OF West Point, and Mr.. Ryan, of CALIFORNIA;
after which the procession was formed, and,
headed by the bands, proceeded to the Execu.
tive MANSON for the purpose Of serenading the
President. After repeated cheers, the President
appeared on the portIco, and said
Felton, Citizens: In appearing before you this
evening 1T is not for the purpose of making an
address, but simply to tender you my sincere
thanks for this kind manifestation OF res pect
and regard, and especially on the present
occasion, and under the existing circum-
stances. / repeat that 1t is not my purpose
to maze an address on this occasion, but to
tender you my thanks, for this demonstrate n
here 10. night, and fer this large and fine as
semblage IL the time and circumstances lus.
tilted, would with pleasure address you on
the questions which divide and distract the
public mind.
You know, my friends, however, that the
country is in great peril; therefore, am proud
to see that you are aroused and alive to it.
ICries Of s'Good." That's the talkr' ard we
can save it-'J You have saved it in times gone
by, and feel assured that you can and will
Heart and 1--WE Whit l repeat, our coun.
try is in peril; the Constitution OF our country
as in great peril-that Constitution which was
formed aud framed by,our fathers, by the pa i.
mented with their b!ood-and 1t becomes your
duty to redeem and to save ii from the peril
IN which it is involved.
/ have another single utterance, and that ut.
terance is. let every one here to- night have q
conscience and conviction in reference to
the Constitution of the country, and all will be
safe. fCries OF '.Hear, hear.n1 Let conscien-
tioBs onviction be our courage; let the public
good be our aim, and the Constitution Of the
country be our guide, and all will be we'll.
lCneets And now again accept my thanks
Tor this kind demonstration you have made,
and take with you, in saying to You good by,
my best wishes tor your welfare.
The President retired amid great cheering,
ana the crowd dispersed
COMMON CeJNCIL.-An adjourned meeting
OF the Board OF Common Council was held last
evening; President Dulin in the chair and all
the members present except Messrs Crocker,
Moore, aad G. w. Miller.
On n J.ion of MI Slower bills from the Al.
dermen were considered and the following
were referred: For relief OF ID. j. HILL of steam.
'er Georgeianaa relief Of f. Kenney; granting
permission to ID. A. Hall to erect an iron rail-.
Ing; do to A. n. Miller; do. to Germond Gran.
dell; general appropriation bill; to gravel F
street from 9TH to 18th street west; foe trunk
across f street south; Council bill to open al
ley in square No. 2l1 with amen ment.: for
curb and footways south side Of &, between Sd
and u street west; de. east side Of Sd street
west, between X and L streets south; subititute
ELL for do. north side of f, between 2lst and
22d street west; do. west side Of Sd west, be.
tween T. and II streets south; do. north side
OF r street, between 1Ath and 18th west
OH 70 grade ana pave alley in square J83;
bill amendatory OF act in relation to hackney
carriages; for purchase Of new garbage .rt
for use in First Ward; for footway on both
sides of street, from 18th to l4th Streets to
pave alley in square 34I to pave gutter ON
south side OF Maryland avenue, between 18th
and I3k streets; footway north side Rhode
Island avenue, between lsth and 18th streets
west; do. south side Pennsylvania avenue
between Hin and 18th streets east; req Nesting
the Mayor to cause sewer TO be laid In 9TH
street, from L to M, before the pavement is
Ia,d, with amendment Of the Aldermen
The following were passed Substitute bill
tv.u att 49,