The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-25
OUR ST. LOUIS VISITORS.
The Mass Meeting at the City Hotel
SPEECHES BY MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION
INTENSE ENTHUSIASM.

Knights from thoroughly enjoying themselves
yesterday, the second day of their visit in the
great Southern metropolis. Numbers of gentle
men and ladies, some acquaintance, some
strangers, called during the day to pay their sau
tations TO those who, although coming from far
distant city, are yet friends aud neighbors in the
great Democratic community.
In the afternoon a ride 10 the lake in carriages,
gave the party an opportunity of glaneiDg at the
suburbs, and inhslng at the same time good
pure breath of salt air, fresh from the Mexican
Gulf. An escort Of the Blair Knights accom-.
panied their guests and did the honors of the en-
tertainment.
But it was in the evening that the events of the
day eliminated, when at O'Clock, in response TO
an announcement published in the afternoon pa
pers, there assembled upon Camp street, before
the City Hotel, an immense concourse Of citizens,
at least five thousand in number, blocking up the
street completely, stopping the passage Of the
GERS, and presenting to the sight Of those on the
gallery above a scene Of life and excitement long
to be remembered. The exterior Of the hotel
was tasteiuly and, in fact, quite elaborately de-
corated flaming torches projecting at intervals of
a few feet front along the entire length of the
gallery, while the pennants OF the Blair Knights
hoated from each torch staff. The illuminations
and rsnspsrencies Of the previous night still shed
their beauty upon the scene, and a constant fnsi-
laee of rockets and roman candles threw ftful
glares up and down the street. The members OF
the delegation and their hosts, together with the
ladies' of the party and Of the reception commit
tee, and a number OF prominent Democrats, were
collected upon the gallery, and in the street below
jSeger's band now and then broke forth in re-
free hing aims.
Amld such surroundings it was that COL W. h.
Hatch, chairman of the st. Louis delegation, was
then introduced by Capt. I. l.. Macon, chairman
of the Democratic State Executive Committee
and was rapturously greeted. Col. Hatch made
kRfa hrfsa rubf oh frann fly
interrupted with the heartiest applause. He
spoke Substantially as follows:
Fellow Citizens of New Orleans:
~ am here, in the first place. to acknowledge
the obligations Of the ST. Louis delegation for the
handsome compliment OF the serenade ten5ered
to us by the Constitution and Hancock clubs, and
to express our thanks. in the next place, to the
generous people of New Orleans for their magni-
6cent and continued ovation. We had been led
to believe that we of St. Louis could get up ss
magnificent benefit as any people on the face of
the globe, but we find that We have but learned
the C's in hospitality, and that we will have
70 tell the Democracy Of Missouri to come TO New
Orlesns to learn how the fires Of patriotism and
generosity kindle in the Southern heart (Cheers.)
I shall speak words of soberness aud truth,
and shall not. In the language of one of your
city papers, indulge in mere eloquence or idle
verbisge but, for the benefit of the New Or
leans Republican. shall handle them without
gloves and in plain English. II Is not the first
time that have been baptized, my friends, in
troubled waters. One paper has thought it
strange that Col. Hatch should oficiate with Gen.
Bragg and Gen. Hays in receiving the magnificent
flag sent SGEs GSp 6 Fl 9Pis sS SsS 9fsaas a
here tonight hope that some Radical friend will
tell them that no truer or braver soldiers live to.
day than those who walked beneath the folds Of
the COME derate flag. (Cheers.) II is no insin-
cerity in Us TO swear fidelity TO the flag that was
borne in all our contests for seventy years.
(Cries-"And will be for seventy more.") Call
rfw nirrhf and Of
present one name that has cast more luster on
hat fsg than that Of Brsxton Bragg. What
carpet bsgger can say aught against his achieve.
ments at Buena Vista! What better evidence Of
bis fidelity than when called on in the heat of the
drama be drew his sword and taking down the
Mexican standard cut away its glittering devices
and boisted the stars and stripes. (Cheers.)
." yield to no party in fidelity. The rebellion
never was one against the flag or the Constitu
ton of the United States. Today the defenders
of that Constitution stand by US as We stood by
our second love the stars and bars. thank the
Republican for the compliment that in the pre-
sent demonstration not one suggestion has been
expressed, not one sentiment uttered that could
be tortured into a conviction suspicion of dis
loyalty Notwithstanding they have been hanging
around like hungry vultures catching every word
TO telegraph to the North, and TO tell how
Hatch had fraternized with Hays and Bragg.
They assume TO practice sarcasm on my tribute
to General Blair. the tried soldier and noble pa
tTiot My words were the honest convictions OF
my heart and expressed the same sentiments TO
which they gave utterance in New York. The
strsnge msgni6cence Of this demonstration on so
short notice is an evidence of the appreciation
Of these sentiments" }"
Col Hatch here made fine application of the
anecdote of the Irshman who sold pigs for pup.
pies in town and puppies for pigs in the country,
| which produced great merriment and applause.
The Rsdicas in their search for negro votes we're
| Ike an old negro who had seen better days but
VAS now compelled 20 peddle puppies for living.
II D. .hahl lu ma nf un
| Louisiana legislators lsughterl and his puppies
| were Radical puppies one day and Democratic
| puppies the next, TO suit the change of purcba-
seTs. So thousands OF negroes who are Radicals
| to-dsy for one purpose will prove TO be Demo
| crate at tie polls IN November.
| Abiding TO negro equality and suffrage, he said
| they had the same cause OF contention 10 MIS-
souri, and that he would sooner ride 10 car with
| a negro than viii degraded white man. Gap
/ plause.) He had been raised among negroes
| known them al his life-wss nursed by one, and
| mad DO feeling towsrds them except Of sympathy
| and kindness. We were their best friends; aud i
the question we're left 10 the negroes of Missouri
| they would 20 with Us by 10 600 majority. IL
| the white people of the South the plantation ne
| groes we're naturally friends, protecting and sup
| porting their families at home. They were not L
blsme tor their aspirations. and when thrust upor
/ We should rather censure the authors OF Thu
| degradation. (Appause.l
After the playing of the Marseillaise by the
i bIdsS DhDus NOl. IL " DORyt VI Cl. LOu'7B wa
/ introduced 10 the assemblsge. He alluded forci
bly, to the similarity of positions, both hitherto
ard to-day, occupied by the two great States Mis-
souri, and Louisiana two States which had march
ed on, shoulder to shoulder, members Of the sam
| confederation, ss much as were any Of the North
| ern States they had both furnished their quot
for the councils Of the nation and for ever
avocaiion in life both had been prosperous
Missouri, or upper Louisans, as she was formeTf.
| called and 10 Wer Louisiana, your own State. Bu
| how sad is the change. Not as great perhaps 70
us in some respects as for you, but yet orr poll
teal condition is to-day but little better thai
| yours. The war came on-its events are matter
ofrecord and history. The Southern Ssstesattenpt
ted 10 vithdray from the Union, but not becals
thew hated the Union, the Constitution, the fsg
These were to them as dear as TO Northern men
But now the war is over. And what do the Sou
thern people ask now simply that the Tag ma.
wave over an united land. and that they may liv
under the Constitution which existed before th
war. If they were wrong let them be forgiven
If right they failed only for want Of power; 80 lie
them in any event be treated With magnanimity