Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-05-21
THE LEGIsLATURE ExCUR.'
SRON,

| ~ - NeAN@~oa9EAA -
DO regretted, that those who haG
the affair In hand, had so arranged
1t that the large body Of our citi,
zenS were forced to debar them
selves the pleasure Of participating
in the days exercises.
Politically, our people are op.
posed to the body Of the Legisla.
ture aud to the State officers. The
reason ofthis political dislike 10 too
apparent, and has too often been
adverted too to need further state
ment now. But in spite of that
political dislike, and even iu spite
of q personal dislike In some In
stances, our people are man.
ly aud courteous enough
to pay due respect to q
guest aud especially to guests
who represent the honorable and
to be respected offices of the State.
We Lad long wished for this visit
because we hoped 1t would prove
not only pleasant to the visitors
but advantageous to our own In.
terests. We wished to show our
proud and beautiful city to the
strangers, and we wished also to
so impress them with its merits
and deservings that they should
feel interest enough in the chief
city Of the State and the to be
queen city Of the South TO advance
our welfare and prosperity BY such
means as lay in their power. There
is a great deal Of influence exer-
ted by personal intercourse and we
hoped that this occasion would
have afforded us that opportunity
Of personally presenting and press
ing our claims.
But unfortunately we fear that
the golden opportunity has been
unimproved. The day and occa.
sion intended by our people as an
opportunity of showing our respect
for the State and Legislative de.
partments, aud enjoy a few hours
Ofsocial intercourse, whose tenden-
cy would be to soften animosities
and allay political bitterness, has
been perverted to partizAn pur.
poses, and has, therefore, excluded
our citizens from all participation
therein, and hence, we fear the
good hoped for Is not accomplish
ed. But we can only rely upon the
impartial caudor aud judgment of
our visitors to place the blame, if
any they find, where 1t should rest.
1t could not be expected that this
community would prove so inconsis-
tent and thOughtless of self.respect |
as to engage in the ceremonies
whose object and purpose were the
celebration of the ratification OF the
18th Amendment. This was no
fault Of the visitors, but solely of
those here who manipulated the
affair, and it was this that ex-
cluded the people from active par.
ticipation. However, we earnestly
hope the city's guests had q pleas
ant visit, and that they were IA
vOrably impressed with our little
town and are disposed to accede to
some of the wishes of her people.
The legislative delegation who Wis.
tied our city not long ago can at
test that when they visit us in no
partisan character they receive the
''best we have in the shop"
But, after this long preface, to the
details Of the days proceedings.
The members Of the Legislature
to the nunber of about thirty or
forty, and Lieut.. Gov. Powers,
Attorney General Morris, aud Sec.
retary OF State Lynch reached this
city on a special train about 8 Am.
yesterday.
At the depot they were received
aud conducted to carriages and &C.
cOmpanied by the Mayor and others
Of the officials, and preceded by a
band, were conducted to the boats
for them. The trip up
the river was pleasant one. The
party landed at the cemetery and
visited the graves of the Union
soldiers. Re-embarking they went
rs far as Grants canal.
A SumptuOus dinner was served
On the boats, and q general good
time was enjoyed during the feast.
roasts aud speeches were had from
Mr.. Lynch, Judge Morris, Mr..
Eggleston, Judge Simrall, Senator
Gibbs and others. About two
o'clock the boats returned to the
city. During the absence of the
boats containing the guests our
streets were paraded by q large
procession of colOred people who