The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-28

he VISITS The HANCOCK CLUBl


On Friday. President J. Pinckney Smith, OF the
Hancock Club, on behalf Of the club addressed
the following not, to General Frank P. Blair, on
short visit to this city:
CENTRAL HANCOCK CLUE, NKw ORLEANs,l
March 26th, 1869.
General-I have the honor to tender you the
compliments of the Central Hancock Club 10
freedom Of the club is at all times completely st
your disposal, the members Of the club would
feel honored IL your engagements viii permit you
10 spend to morrow, Saturday evening, with them.
/ am, general very truly. afs
Your obedient servant,
]. PNCKEEy SMITH. President.
The note was promptly replied to by our dis
tineuished guest In the following:
j. Pnstnsy Smith ESQ., President Central Hancock claS.
Dear Sir-Your very polite and obging letter
has Just been re ,eived, and have great pleasure
10 saying that / will spend Saturday evening at
the club, and win endeavor to be there ct
lake, and hope 10 be with you at the hour named.
am, with great respect,
Your obedient servant,
.pf rkW FRANK p. BLAIR.
Long before the appointed hour, the spacious
clubrooms were crowded with expectant mem-
bers of the club, desrous of catching glimpse
and shaking hands with the defender OF true De-
mocracy and the South. As nine O'Clock struck
at the large clock In the hall of the club, Gen.
Blair entered clone the side parlor without the
least demonstration, and was assisted to a seat by
President Smith. who eventually introduced to the
general as many Of the members Of the club as
could practically be introduced. The meeting
was Q pleasant one, unostentstious and void OF
that stiff etiquette too often resorted to on
such occasious; in fact. 1t was demo-
cratic in the full sense Of the term.
General Blair. himself, appeared perfectly at
| home, and wore plain but elegant suit OF pep
| per and salt cloth, black silk neck tie under
rundown collar, and holding In his hands black
| Alpine hat. His general appearance, although
| bearing some resemblance to the photographs and
| engravipgs we know Of him, does not agree with
them In this. that his complexion Is light and his
| physognomy, instead Of being characterized with
the severity they Indicate, although 1t 10 earnest,
| snd his eyes sparkle with keenness, is full of
bon hommie and bis approach fscile. standing
| over six feet in height, square shouldered and
| mipgling in his appearance the military and the
| civilian--or the military man divested OF fuss and
feathers. After half an hour Of pleasant conver-
sation In the psrlor and walk on the illu.
| minated verands from which the broad
stripes of the flag waved, looking over the
| muiBy sky above, the sssemblage repaired
| to the main hall where Captain Thomas Ia.
Maxwell proposed three cheers for the dstin
guished visitor, which we're responded to with Q
| upanimity delightful TO listen to. President j.
Pipckney smith then introduced General Blair
formally TO the club. The general. mounting upon
chair, addressed his hosts In brief speech, dur
| ing which he said that he was deeply sensible oil
tie honor conferred upon him. he assured them
that although he felt confident OF cordial recep-
ton, the demonstration Rad far surpassed his ex-
pections. AZ formerly, he felt assured that by ~
eoues be by.eones and TO extend the hand of fel,
| lowship to their brethren Of the North. II had
tried the abrsment Of arms and was now ready
TO accept the result. He had attempted with th'
| Democracy OF the North 10 restore the unity o
the North and South. This disposition o.
the South towards one who had been II
| antagenism with them was an evidence ol
the good intentions OF the South. II would hav'
been rs unjust with the North TO demand more
| as it would have been undignifed with the Souti
| TO accept less. He had said on former occasions
| that he was ready TO stand by the settlement u
| the South would lay down their arms, and wheI
the North ignored their promises he was readl
10 Drink the bitter cup Of humiliation with thu
South. IT was the attitude he had held, no v
| held and would hold ss long As he lived. Louisi
| ana had given an example which nerved the
hearts and inspired all true patriots The whit
race would always rule the country. With the
| white race Louisiana's example would not bs
lost, Ii will serve to inspire for the next con
test with the noble ambition taken from then
by the fraud Of the dominant party at the North
| He did not contemplate making q lengthy speecl
but could not help thanking his hosts for thei
| efforts In his favor. nl ..l. .-..4 En-
Several times during his speech Gen. Blair wa
enthusiastically applauded. and he had no soone
closed his remarks than loud calls being made fo
| Gen. Harry 7. Hays, who responded by deliver
inr Of his stirring appeals 70 the heart Of tru
| born soldiers. nt
After this the hundreds present sat down to
| bounteous cold supper. which was discussed q
the popping of corks and the tunes Of fine bras
band provided for the occasion. At elevel
O'Clock the crowd was as compact as ever an
s,iIl enjoying the hospitalities Of the Hancoc
| Club. an VA aIro.
Our personal thanks sre due to the members o
the club, especially TO President Smith, Secretar
Ellis and Messrs, Prieur, Roach and John Sharke
for their special couriesies to the press. Alto
| gether the affair was one Of which the Hancoc
Club may well be proud Of, and viii be remeu
bered for many long day.