The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-01-10
The Democratic Banquet at Washington
Letter from Hon. Geo. q. Pendleton,
Special Dispatch to the Chicago Times.

Special Dispatch to the Chicago Times
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.
The democratic banquet, in honor of the
SD anniversary of the battle of New Or
leans, took place tonight, and was attended
by about 200 guests. The Marine band was
present in full force, and the tables were
handsomely and deliberately decorated, ap-
propriately for the day. The President was
enthusiastically received, the entire audience
rising. and the band playing Hail to the
Chief as he entered the room.
Letters of regret were received from
Mayor Hoffman, Of New York; Ex-Gov.
Swami, of Maryland; John Quincy Adams,
of Massachusetts; August Belmont, of New
York; Gen Clngham, of North Carolina;
Geo. Ell. Pendleton, of Ohio, and others.
The speech-making did not commence
until late hour, but at the time of sending
this dispatch it had been confined to the
toasts, and was not out of the usual time
The President spoke very briefly.
Among the letters read was the following
from Geo. H. Pendleton:
CINCINNATI, Jan. 4.
J. D. HOOKER, ESQ, Washington:
My DEAR SIR regret that | cannot
participate in your celebration of the 9Th
inst 1t will be an occasion of universal in
terest The attempted Africanization of l.
southern states, under the false pretense of
the reconstruction of the union; the utter
subVerslon OF the constitution to accomplish
this end; the profigacy and corruption per-
vadlng many branches of the public service,
have brought out their proper results The
reaction against the revolutionary violence
and license of the past few years has at last
IN. mad .
a worthy contemplation of the life and char.
acter of jackson, of his fervent patriotism,
his persistent energy, his unyieding cour-
age; of the fidelity with which he maintain
ed the rights, dignity, and equality of the
states, at the same time that he inforced
obedience to the constitution. 1t will be well
to remember by whom, where, and for what
purpose, the last battle of the war of 1912
lection, to place the fact that the state then
saved from a foreign foe is now governed by
military power, in order to compel its peo-
pie to adopt a constitution which they do not
approve, and to establish institutions which
they abhor: The retrospects will wake sym
pathles and awaken sensibilities in the midst
OF which we may hope that hatred, and bit
terness, and vengeance will melt away, and
tnat Kindness, and good will, and charity
will cement the Union by the ties of interest.
and affection, and contentment, which alone
can efiectually constitute us one people.
Very respectfully, GEORGE II. PENDLEroN.
Ex-President Pierce's letter contrasts the
present condition of the country with that
when e. jackson was president, and particular
~ tennessee, which is Inundated under the
reign of absolutism. He hopes the day is
not remote when the Union will be in fact re-
stored, each state standing forth as the CO.
equal of every other, with dignity, equality,
and rights unimpaired, and thinks he OBJ.
serves marked and cheering indication
that the people are rising in their majesty to
deliver the county from misrule.
EVERY BUSINESS NAN