Evening star., 1869-11-03

SECRETARY BELKNAP-HE RECEIVES THE
IowANs-HIs ADDREss.-In accordance with
the previous announcement, the citizens of Iowa
assembled last evening at 331 PENNSYLVANIA
avenue, and about II O'Clock formed IN process
sion and marched to the residence of Colonel
DaytOn-the old Seward mansiOn-on 18th
street, for the purpOte of paying their respects
to General Belknap, the new Secretary % Par
Among those present were Associate kice
Miller, of the United States Supreme { 5urt
j. A. Graham, Assistant Register of the TEAS
ury, Hon. Hawkins Taylor, Colonel Given Dep
uty Commissioner Internal Revenue, Hon 5. j.
w. Tabor, Fourth Auditor, c. G. Stevens Ohn
X. Briggs, II. l.. b. Clarke. Second Ass5tant
Postmaster General Giles A Smith, Colonel
Sprague, Captain Corson, of the Capitol Police
and other citizens Of Iowa temporarily residing
here.
The visitors were received by Secretary Belk-
nap, assisted by Colonel Dayton, in the spacious
parlOrs, Judge Tabor presenting them; after
which, Associate Justice Miller, of the United
States Supreme Court, addressed the Secretary,
stating that they had called to express the satis-
faction which they felt at his appointment, and
bidding him cordial welcome to this city. jus
tice Miller elOquently reviewed the brilliant
military career Of the new Secretary, and closed
by saying that they had no misgivings that the
honor OF his present position or the good OF the
public service would suffer at his hands.
Secretary Belknap responded as follows:
thank you, sir, most gratefully for your kind
words, and it Is with unfeigned gratitude, my
fellow-citizens of Iowa, that / receive this COM
plment from you tonight, for take it as COM
plment that the sons of our noble State resident
here, gatheredfrOm all points within her borders,
should make this call on one who esteems your
friendship and regard as his high honor. Your
hearts must beat with pride, indeed, when you
think Of your home beyond the Mississippi-a
State whose population has increased from
1876 600 in 1851 to Cyer 900 900 in 1863; whose
praires, as they stretch far away to the West,
are rich enough in soil to ill with their prOduc
tons the granaries Of a world; whose system
of common schools, extending to every hamlet,
offers freely to all the benefcent blessings of
free education; whose people, increasing from
year to year in that knowledge which is
ment Of a few colonies Of pioneers, increased
to the extent and measure of strong
Commonwealth, illustrating in its growth the
progressive character Of the American people
as bright rs the brightest; whose $1,000 troops,
inspired by TO feeling of resentment toward the
people Of the South, but actuated purely BY love
of their country and its Union, fought on almost
every field from Belmont to the end; whose reg
iments gave Kinsman and Mills and Baker and
Redfield and Wentz and WOrthingtOn, and hosts
of private soldiers to the cause OF freedom. And
State, too, which, hOnored itself by giving its
46 900 majority to the great Captain who led our
armies to Victory, opened wide the door OF suf-
frage to every American citizen, and but three
short weeks ago Reimbursed the great principles
OF the party OF progress by majorities large and
decided.
HonOred, gentlemen. rs have been by the
President, with a position conferred upon me
without solicitation, ii will be my endeavOr with
the enforcement Of rigid economy, so to con-
duct its affairs as to command the approval of
theeountry.
Relying on that patriotism which has ever
A M rifan wi a
amples OF a Stanton and a Rawlins before me-
if the result should indicate that your kind con-
gratulatiOns have not been misplaced, shall be
fully satisfied.
thank you, gentlemen, again most cordially,
and assure you that wherever my home is there
you will be always welcome.
Some time was then passed in social inter-
course before the guests withdrew.