Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-10-26
Spirit of geferson
LOCAL MISCELLANY.

lean citizens, and they enjoyed it hugely; but
in q manner creditable to them, and in a style
which would have reflected no discredit upon
suy community. What it was they sought to
celebrate, we do not know, as we are by no
means familiar with their anniversaries or
associations. We do know this, however, that
thew had procession which was imposing,
and that they had banners and devices in pro-
cession some of which were appropriate and
some otherwise. 1t seems that there exists
in our midst society of the coiored people
known as the Order of Industry" and it was
the members of this society, arraycd, in APP
Tropriatc reealia, and the two Sabbath Schools
of the town, that made up the procession -
To the FIRST, there was banner presented by
tho ''coiore1 ladies" of the town. in front of
the old Court. House. Upon this banner was
the significant motto "By industry we thrive"
The presentation was by Miss Houk, and the
reception by Jasper Thompson, both of whom
acquitted themselves very we'll. After these
exercises, the procession moved to Herbert's
Woods, headed by Monkeys Brass Band from
IIagerstown. The incemency of the day
prevented us from being present at the Grove,
hut We learn that. after 4 collation., very
sensible speeches were made by W. W. Grimes
and Rev Dungey On their return, the pro-
cession moved through the principal streets of
the town, and finally brought up in front of
the Court House, whore other addresses were
made by orators selected for the OCCASION
The :irst speech we did not hear but under
stand it was strong mixture of nothing,
showing more the ignorance of the author
than anything else. The second speech was
delivered by young man named Beverly,
formerly the property of Col. John D. Grams
than. He has some shrewdness, and no little
ambition-appears anxious to improve and Gle
waite himself above the ordinary Level, and
" i'll no doubt succeed. An address from Rev.
Dungey closed the speaking exercises, and we
were sorry when his speech terminated. In
matter and in manner, it was admirable
effort aud showed the man of heart we'll as
of brain. He commenced by saying that he
was Virginian, of which he felt proud that
he loved Virginia, her SOIL her climate, her
hills and her wales. but more than all these he
loved her pcople-and closed his brief address
with an exhortation to his hearers to dcmean
themselves as men, so as to give offence to
none, and to retire quietly and unobtrusively
after the procession was dismissed to their
homes, carrying with them the recOlIections
DfIhc day, and the circumstances surrounding.
At the close of bis speech, the band struck
up quch march, and the procession moved
off brIskly, to the Methodist Church, were
ranks were. broken aud the days proceedings
GUIDED. To their credit be ii said, that not
single disturbance occurred, and the whole
nIEuir was conducted with the most commcn-
dah!e decOrum.
Since writing the above, we have been fur
nished with the following, rs a copy Of w.
W Grimes remarks at the grove
LnIieS uWd GcMtkem"m
We are here to-day to celebrate the glnri-
Gus event of the emancipation OF the coi"red
III ,m but what does that word emancipation
signify? Freedom you will ali reply But
freed IN from what! Not trom lruuurahIc, q.
dI.uifyin. labor Which sets man above want .
;.,1 enables him TO take his place among his
fellow man as All honest. industrious citizen
Mt freedom from obey ny the saiutaTy laws /
, liz. land which furDd drunkenness, riot /
:ug, iud behavior unbccoHn. respectable. /
llr- abiding citizen. No, my friends, not 7
s,,.-5,iu from these for u ;hat case we would
- il bonda2n tlr more CALLING and dsa-
ga die than w..eu We served III the cotton
.,r tobacco iei!s or ou the sugar plantations
i are free from siaT.rT, free to cal! ourselves
aud ~ enc csc uia>ter-but that fact ought ,
% nia.c Us ambitious to be worthy of Tins
b'ssscj bnan. We should strive, by patient
industr, auJ good conduct. to win the respect /
|of every uur. Ny friends, need not tell .
YOU that we are here to day, surrounded by /
circumstances quite different from what we
were in slavery, when we were oppressed by |
its CALLING chains. gov we are free and hap
nv, and what we earn is our own, and we are !
cow equal bufOre the law. OH may we /
lever forget that we owe all these to kind
and mercful Benefactor, and to the genius of !
a free government, and 10 our free schools, |
that are ncW over the land. Ny friends, we |
are much respected By the white population,
and under these circumstances we must re-
spcct ourselves.
The white population do not expect us to
carry out this procession as they would, know
ing that they have had more opportunities
than We have; but VIC hope to do better here
after than we have dU..e heretofore. You
know our capital is small, aud unless VIC be
industrious we cannot progress We should
be very cautious and obedient to the white
race Of people, from whose hands We have re-
ceived support, and always attend to our own
business, aud not NEEDLE with others. We
know there has been 4 tremendous change.
Persons who once deeply studied our inter-
csts have not now the interest in US, so we
have now to rely on ourselves for support
God has given us strength and means to sup
port ourselves, and let us use them perfectly.
As this is my first attempt to address con-
ercsation will not say any more, for fear