New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-08-27

tain Cannon. are. nv1ng witness OF the
literal fulfillment Of the prediction.
Mr.. Morris then referred to the expert
ments of Robert Fulton on the Hudson,
with the Clermont. Then to the launching
of the steamer New Orleans On the Ohio
river: of the great speed of five miles an
hour attained by her, of the CONSERVATION
created in the minds of the people of this
CITY by the escape OF steam from her valves
upon the occasion of her first visit. Mr..
Morris spoke with pride OF the time, a third
of a century later, when the Diana, Captain
Frank Carter. made the famous run from
New Orleans to:Louisville in six days. Then
of the brilliant run of the Eclipse, Captain
Sturgeon. in 1853, of four days nine and a
half hours. But it was reserved for the
peerless Robert E. Lee, in July, 1870, to
make the world-renowned trip, the fastest
and best on record. Mr.. Morris said this
was an age of progress; there We're no
bounds to SCIENCE. The 1uture could only
be Judged by the past, and if the improve
ments in the future were as great as in the
mast. from the time of the ClermOnt to the
Robert E. Lee the river service would be
one of the most powerful in the land. He
congratulated Captain Cannon as being the
leader in the march of progress, and then,
in behalf of the donors, formally presented
the plate.
substance
Mr.. Morris and Gentlemen of Louisville:
| Captain Cannon has honOred me with the
| duty of representing him on this occasion.
| Upon his behalf thank you, sir, for the
pleasing terms with which you have accom-
| panied the presentation OF this magnificent
| service of silver, and assure his friends in
| Huntsville tina, so signal an evidence of
! their esteem eXcites III him the greatest
| emotion.
| CAPTAIN Cannon has devoted an entire
| lifetime to building up the commerce OF the
| Mississippi and Ohio, and, as consequence,
| the great commercial cities which stand
upon their banks, second to none OF which
| is YOUR own great Louisville, III the rapid
| strides which it has made to commercial
| greatness and in constituting itself first
| class business mart OF the Land.
| When Captain Cannon built the Rob
ert f. Lee his purpose was to inaugu-
| rate a system of river transportation which
would combine speed with safety. He
| knew that it was the interest Of the cities
| ON those rivers to encourage river trans
portation. instead of carrying by rail. This
| combination has been effected. Take the
time of a freight train between New Or
leans ard Louisville and the time of the K
E. Lee, and how little is the difference? and
vet how great is the cost by rail over that
! hy river! This is the suggestion which car
ries itself to the mind of every merchant III
the land Yes, gentlemen, Captain Can
non has combined these two desirable ele
ments of river transportation. There are
gentlemen in this room who were on the
| Lee in what was called her race with the
Natchez, and they tell me that as she
glided up the Mississippi no passenger en-
tertained the least emotion Of fear or appre
hension of danger. What an achievement
The fastest time on record and security o
safety is an anomaly never before know
i'll the history OF the river.
Gentlemen, may l not be permitted
without mourning the imputation of unne
cessarily obtruding delicate subject upoI
this occasion. to lift the veil, and, withou
recurring 10 the scenes OF sanguinary con
| tIict and war which few years back sprea'
SO much of sorrow throughout this land, sa,
that when Captain Cannon named his boa
after that most exemplary OF Christian gen
tlemen, high-hearted OF noble men, AM
peerless of military chieftains, Robert L
Lee he intended that no discredlt shout
: be reflected by his boat on that great name
He intended that when he gave 1t to n
| colors and placed it upon the roster O. IL
streams, .boat should not discredlt lie
| title.
She has never done it. and as Robert
: | Lee stands in the history OF the world. $
f does his boat stand in the history of IL
aiver marine. She has proved that IL he
sphere she is no counterfeit OF the title.
= Captain Cannon's most cherished reco
: lectiOns are connected with Louisville. |
his earlier enterprises, when he needed al!
, | the mechanics and merchants of LoulsVul
came to him open-handed and with heart
: big, free and wide. Nor can less be said I
t New Albany and Jetfersonvile, in whic
3 communities he has always found the be-
' of friends. whose memories are anchore
t deep in his affections. For Louisville
t has always cherished the greatest lnteres
) His best endeavors have been combined
promote her welfare. He accepts from h
friends in Louisville this magnificent q
:. with thankful heart and grateful feeling
: of pride.
e At the conclusion of Colonel Cluskey's I
n marks, the assembled crowd repaired to II
q breakfast hall, where a splendid coliatlt
:. had been prepared by Colonel Jilson
}, johnson, the host of the Gait House. Ioas
= were drunk in sparkling champagne
r Captain Cannon, the Lee, and all her g;
1oy,f