The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-09-22
GOVERNMENT.
Reception Of Cen. Grant.
HIS SPEECH, sc.
Compliments Of the City Gov
eminent.

hionu VI wv WeuL Oub 70 mcoe n'na
and if we were inclined to preach, We
should invite those gentlemen and
preach from the text, "What went "
out for to see p
At half-past two o'clock, when per
haps two hundred men, women and
children had congregated in front OF
the Grant House, the Presidential cav
alcade, consisting of the President his
wife and two children, Gen. Porter,
Private Secretary, Mr.. Smith, of Wash
ington, Pa, and DR.. B. Randolph Keim,
of the N. Y. Herald, made its appear
ance, and the party was shown into. the
parlers of the Grant House.
By this time the crowd had increased
to perhaps five hundred persons, and
that portion of the American people re-
siding in this portion of the moral vine
yard there gathered together proceed
ed to show what toadies they could
make of themselves. The President
stuck up in one corner of the room
sweating like day laborer, covered
with dust, and nearly dying for a drink,
underwent tho ordeal of making a
pump handle of his arm until two or
three hundred men and women had
gratified their desire to say, ~ shuck
hands with Grant," while two or three
very officious gentlemen kept yelping,
"Now, pass out, gentlemen, as soon as
you have shaken the Presidents hand,''
a good deal as a fellow at the door of a
snake show holloas to get people in.
After this sort of thing had been going
on long enough, Grants keepers got
him out on the balcony of the hotel,
where Governor Stevenson introduced
him to the crowd by saying
FELLOW CITIZENs,:-Ih have the honor
of introducing to you General u. S.
Grant, President of the United States.
And then tho crowd set up hurrah.
The President bowed to the people, and
said: ..
GENTLEMEN:-I have been driving
through the heat and dust to-day and
am very tired and could not make a
speech to you if would; besides you all
know me too well to expect me to make
a speech. / thank you for your kind
ness. ga
Governor Stevenson then proposed
three cheers which were given with q
will.
The President was then taken to his
private room and had an opportunity to
make his toilet.
Shortly after 3 o'clock he gave au-
dience to the City Council, whose mem
bers were introduced by Mayor MClel-
Ian, who said:
MIR. PRESIDENT:-It ID duty and o
pleasure devolving on me by resolu-
luton of the City Council as chief mag
istrate of this city to present to You the
high respect entertained for your Elk"
cellency by the Council and citizens
whom they represent to tender you the
Inequalities of the city.
| beg to assure you that your eminent
services in defence of the Republic,
YOUR prominent Identification with the
most important struggle in the history
of our Government as we'll as your eff
| forts as President of the United States,
to promote the peace and prosperity OF
our land are fully appreciated by the
entire community in whose behalf l
now address you.
Had your stay among us rendered 1t
possible our people would gladly have
rendered the Chief Magistrate of the
nation such formal reception. as might
have served in some measure as q testl-
monial of the respect for his position
and of their admiration OF his illustrl-
Gus career.
We trust, sir, that it may be your
pleasure hereafter to remember that our
best wishes and warmest gratitude go
with you through life. twill certainly
be our pride to reflect that the oppor-
unity has been afforded us, which we
now embrace, of extending to you the
hospitalities of the city.
The President replied, briefly, saying
feel gratified at this reception on the
-
by YOUR citizens on the street on my ar
rival. l am pleased to see you, gentle
men.
Dinner being ready the Mayor escorted
his Excellency to the dining room, where
fine collation. was spread.
Prior to the handshaking business
Squire Buchanan presented Grant with
stogie about a foot and a half long,
on behalf of stogie makers of Wheeling
Well bet Buchshan gets consulshir
for that.
The hour for leaving having arrived
procession was formed, mostly of chill
dren, and, headed by Vaas' Brass Band
marched to the depot, where the trair
was in waiting. The Presidential party
3 occupied the magnificent Officers car,
. belonging to the B. g. o. railroad, ant
5 at o'clock, to the inspiring strains o.
Captain links, the train moved out o.
: the depot. The Mayor and several othel
) gentlemen accompanied the President
to Benwood.
( There seemed to be very little Interest
' taken in the movements of the distin
D guished visitor. Even the display O
Q bunting was meagre, and was confined
= to those houses which refused to throw
: out their flags on the occasion of the
r Humboldt Centennial, if We except the
8 Grant House. But there, even, goot
: taste was violated by the display of 1
. campaign flag bearing the party device
t Grant and Colfax."
A complete stock of Furniture, som'
handsome Bedsteads, just out of thu
shop, at j. & G. Mendel & Co.'s.