New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-06-14
FAREWELL TO MINISTER CURTIN.


A PUBLIC RECEPTION IN PHILADELPHIA-BAN-
QUIET AT THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC-sPEECH
OF THRMINISTER.
PHILADELPHIA, June 12.-The municipal
authorities this city having rendered the Of indie
pendence Hall TO Minister Curtin for farewell reception
OF the citizens Of this city previous TO his departure for
his post duty to-day set apart for the event The
Mayor and City Councils assembled in the Select Council
Chamber at 2 O'clock and formed in procession, and
marched TO Independence Hall. Gov, Curtin entered
few minutes afterward. After address from Mayor
Fox the doors thrown open 10 tho public Quite
a crowd had gathered in front Of the Hall, and hand
shaking commenced vigorously. The reception con-
tnued until O'Clock. The banquet this evening at the
Academy Of Music was grand affair. over 600 persons
sat down at p. The building was beautifully deco
rated with American and Russian flags The chair was
taken by Judge Russell Thayer and large number Of
notables present including the Russian Minister
Mr. Cyrus W. Field, &c After discussing edibles. Judge
Tbayer introduced Ex-Governor Curtin who received
with loud applause. He responded as follows:
SPEECH OF MINISTER CURTIN
am not insensble to the compliment Of this ovation.
and deeply grateful forhe warmth OF your reception
and conflicting emotions perpeX in rising to address
you. The occasion eXCites the veest feelings Of the
worthy of such demonstration by the people OF my
native State, is saddened by the thought that fare
WELL and that am about TO leave my friends and
home for foreign land. No matter how much hattered
by fortune, or in what position in e II is always sad to
sever the ties which bind TO private circles to
friends who have been faithful alike in sunshine and
shadow, in prosperity and adversely, and who become
closer and sacred time chasens the attachment
20 the sincere shortens the brief days allotted for
their enjoyment With the feelings excited by the
rOundngs in which stand TO night reach far beyond the
circle OF individuals grateful as my memories must ever
be OF them cOuld not ma laheuage 10 e1pess, az
owe TO this great city ana 10 our hOnoTed and mighty
Commonwealth and her free people In the meinOra-
with the imperlshabe honor on the state Pma-
delpha wass and seadfast In her attachment
candidate for Governor and throughout the six
| OF my service Chief Executive, her people kindly
vindcate her National Government when assailed; aud
who can forget who can fail to remember forever win
all the States In her offerings for the Government and
the most heroic in her sufernGs for humanity When
others doubted hesitatcd her faithful people
falterng their fidelity and the satisfaction 10
magniaed by the tile OF Pennsyivana wherever
the martial virtues command homage and respect.
MIA 10 call me to the Executive office just the heavy
clouds of war were gathering to burst upon our country
and threatened the destruction OF our Government In
my Office earnestly labOred for peace; no measure OF
tried 10 heal the dsc0rd Whch threatened the lmpeh
ing strife Our State stood prominent. morally and
physically I'm every phase OF the troubles and angry pas
sons which led TO the war; IN generous concessions Tor
peace her voice was for peace and while she offered no
threat menace she the first TO declare officially
that II fraternal war must come all her forces IN men
and money would be given 10 sustain the national life.
When war was forced upon US, accepted the great
dutles inpOseu uPOn me, hoM eolciiu alu
exactng those duties were, how ceasee's, how eX-
u
man but 10 a country, but few know To super
intend the organization Of 100000 troops furnished the
National Government was task OF no common magni.
tude and when considered that 60 the caamtes OF
must be added the pers Of discord and turbulence
the devastatons committed by the enemy our
borders and the dark days Of gloom which followed each
ton one whose honors were won with incalculable
and TOLL nor did the duties end with defending
dIling its quota OF troops. 1t vas then
that the most ardu0us Of duties began. More
fhaua red tu wcrp
resented III the gallant armies OF the Republic aud the
appeals OF affection for the sick and the wounded. and
the ongabsent told the stories OF anxious socitude
The General Government was charged win The prcser
walton Of the life Of the Republic II had 10 accept
is pess relentless, and deaf 10 the just claim OF
gSe cae to the SICK Snd the O SoaSdt or au To-
appropriate the rites OF Christian burial 10 the
dead. II could not minister TO the bereayed
homes, and sustain the widow and the father.
less IL did all and even than any nation did
for ts defenders but upon the State Executive devoyed
the sacred obligations Of giving the silver lining 10 the
proud tonight TO say that Pcnnsyyana was the first
State approach the stature OF justice in vndicatng the
claims OF the soldiers who preserved Inheritance OF
civil and religious liberty. say approach for We airs
s far short OF fun justice to the disabled 10 the sick
and the bereaved Of the We manned and
haggard heroes mendicants upon the streets some are
inmates OF our ams-houses aud pOOrhouses and while
some are Indebted % the voluntary contributions OF the
yTana Whose sceyemens Sse so bril-
liant IN preserving the unity Of our Govern
OF heavon-drected benevolence and charity has gath
cred together the helpless and destitute orphans OF the
aud made them the children Of the Commonwealth
The disabled soldiers OF the should be alike strangers
10 want IL Is true the National Government has done
much for them. Lands have been purchased and build
gs have been erected but provision has not been made
for that class Of citizens, and sincerely trust that
positive demand Will be made by the people OF the State
At the next session OF the Legislature, for liberal
measures 10 De enacted for their support Lot IL DO
part Of the proud history OF this great State that,
accepting The necessity, she gave TO 1t freely
her best blood and that tho orphan made destitute
by the war IL provided for and educated aud that the
married and sick man Is maintained and made comfort
able, not as paupoT, but a soldier OF tho Republic
that she AT least 20 her glory and honor just to the
her humane representatives 10 oYery camp whore her
soldiers were 10 be found the first give them
nhgtO charge them with the honor OF the State tho
first 70 furnish systematic aid and kind mnisratOns
10 the sick and the wounded the first
send her agent 20 the National Capital az tho adj
vOcac tho soldier IN hour need and the first
% find the for the umblest In the land devote
the last sad appeals OF Affection ana 10 bury their
tyred dead home amid their kindred. these efforts
TO inspire brethren IN the field and 20 soften the sO
rows W among tho people sister States generally
either emuated the example OF Pennsylvania,
pushed the ike results by means OF kindred character
feJOce that her NOBLE deeds haYo gladdoned many
hearts and made much the innumerable
hOSt bpOn whom fell the earliest sacrifices of her
country. IL pleased Providence 10 80 direct this
great people IN their heroic struggles 10 main
tam their tree Government, that the war culm-
mated IN FennsyyRDa, and within her borders the
historic HELD OF Gettysburg, the blood Of the people OF
eighteen states sunk into her SOIL and 10 seemed as II the
req covenant then made % seal the unity OF tho
surrounded tonight by who know full well with
what aacrY the people OF the State responded TO the
call or the Executive for domestic protection, and t Is
OF tic history Of this State that people
and the previous year. aud the satisfaction knowing
that the President OF the Quilted states and the generals