Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-05-04


SQUARE.
Al noon yesterday, in pursuance of thu
call published in the morning journals, !
number of prominet citizens, who hao
assembled at the Governors mansion, re-
paired with Governor Walker, members
of the Court of Appeals, and State OH
cials, 10 the southern portioO Of the Capt.
tOl, where the meeting was organized by
selecting Governor Walker as chairman:
A very large assemblage of citizens had
congregated on the grounds, and the ut
most quiet prevailed. All faces bore q
sad look, and the feeling and eloquent ad-
dress with which the Governor opened
the exercises was listened to In the pro-
foundest silence. After the Governor
came Rev. DR.. Hoge with an appropriate
prayer, when
A motion was then submitted by Judge
w. W. Crump, that a committee be ap-
pointed to present to the citizens for their
approval. a preamble and resolutions eX-
prsssiVe OF their deep sorrow at the sad
calamity which has befallen our city, and
our deep sympathy for the bereaved.
The Governor appointed the following
OoMNIFgEE:
Messrs. Wm. W. 0rump, Albert Ord
yav. Thomas W. McGanee, T. ]. Euker,
Robert Ould, +. d. Cunningham, b. W.
Gillis, VIM. f. Tanner, Peyton Wise,
=.
Franklin Stearns, Wm. j. Taylor, A. M.
Kelley, r. T. Daniel, B. Hassell, pa =.
Munford, Isaac Il. Darlington, n. G.
Moncure, A. r. Courtney, W. Leigh Bur
ton, John L. MaFye, Hunter Meg uire, III.
q. CabeIl, John Purcell, George Gibson,
James d. Broune, Albert L. West, Brad
ley T. Johnson.
Judge CrumP shortly afterward stepped
forward and read the following:
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS.
With hearts crushed and bleeding, with
a mournful and overwhelming sense OF
our great bereavement, we have assem-
bisd TO testify our sorrow for the dead, to
offer our tsndsrest and deepest symps-
Ihiss 10 the living, and to mingle our
tears with the stricken households over
which the Angel of Death has so sudden
ly passed, With heads bowed in rsVer-
ential awe before the Great DisposeT Of
events, we contemplate with shnddering 2
anguish that fearful and terrible cstastrO-
phs which has hurried into eternity our
friends and our fellow-citizens.
This fearful disaster, which has brought
lau1entation and mourning TO us ali with
out distinction, has IN the universal sor-
row it has diffused touched the chord of
sympathy among us which mskes all
mankind kin"
Nor has this dread calamity been con-
fined alone to this mourning city, but it
has east its sombre shade throughout and
beyoBd the limits of Virginia.
In the capital of our State, within the
houorsd precincts of that hall, where
Justice sits supreme among us-in time
Of profound trsnquillIty-at time when
nature is renewing her life under the
glowing warmth of Vernal sun, when,
"A Enison with the spring time, heart and
dops rise highest, without warning, in
an ipztant-death the remOrseiass has
snsiebed from life some of our most
valued citizenz, conspicuous alike in
public and private lite, and occupying
every position of usefulness among us.
Though accustomed by years of painful
experience 70 the sight of wounds and
death, these were the inevitable hazards
of war to those who stood upon the "per-
,ious edge Of battle" and though nature
would have voice, and tears of anguish
would fow-yet theFs was wanting to our
grief the keen pang which has pierced
our hearts in this unexpected and stun
mag shock, which has bOWCS auF souls in
woe under its dreadful dls, ensatioE.
AoEs than two generations have passed
away since our people have been called
10 mourn a catastrophe 80 portentous. II
= fit that we should follow the example
of our fathers, and bend before the Great
Jehovah in humilistiop and in prayer,
and ask for His mercy and His grace, to
support US In our heavy an1iction. Be it,
therefore,
PesoIped. That we mourn with profound
sorrow the loss which our State and our
city has suffered in the death of her citi-
zsns. That we offer with ssddened hearts
and fearful eyes our profoundest sympa-
thies to the bereaved and to the suffering,
and feryently pray that as their days of
affiictiOn are $50 may their strength be-"
2 That Wednesday next, the Sd of MAY,
be set apart as a day of humiliation
prayer and religious service, on which
siay the people OF this city are requested
90 assemble in their respective places Of
auE,lic worship, at such hours as may be
designated by the clergy, who are respect
fully invited to cooperate in the pur-
poses Of this resolution.
The Judge followed in a few remarks,
20 fun of eloquent sympathy, so fervent
iu their appeal to sli Of the citizens of the
.ify TO repair TO their respective churches
Al the time designated, and upon bended
knees to implore the great Jehovah to
extend his consolation to the afflicted and
lhe bereaved, that many of those pres
eut, old and young, were unable to re-
press their sobs, and tears bowed freely
from many eyes.
Judge OuId and Mr.. Reilly were also
sroo,. Q the speakers who mingled their
-yTupat nv and tears with those OF their
,.Grrovino fellow-citizens. We regret we
hsve not spac,, for their eloquent remarks.
As the most gifted of ali the efforts of the
sad occasion, we prsSent
asyERNOR wIsF's SPEECH.
If there never was a crash in the Capitol
Of Virginia before, there was an awful
one Yesterday. The crepitating sound
thereof in this high place was appalling
lUthe spectators and victims. The break
ing and falling timbers, with their Jagged
-pears of wood, and the broken bolts of
iron, and the nail teeth piercing the
nerves of human sufferings, was a scene
leyond words of description and all ideas
of the Imagination. But this ! saw whilst
confronting the disaster, that men of all
passlons and preiudices were commingled
In one and the same calamity and suffer
ing: and men of all passions, prejudices,
Darties and colors, were nObly and brave
iy united like brothers in sympathy, min
istering relief to the victims. The scene
was terrific, and yet all Joined in one band
Of effort to hush the cry of despair, and
save the suffering from death.
It is enough 10 say OF the scene that its
most awful phantom was agony. Not
only the agony of the crushed mass I'M
Ter the wreck, but an agony which, ike
ri.e thunder and lightning Of the clouds,
which clap their hands and answer back
from peak 10 peak Of the Alps, echoed
hack 70 the dying from the living mass
looking on and aching at the suffering.
There was father, brother, son, crushed
Il, ci.7uds of lime dust, with arm raised
md cTn. of pain b1rsting forth for help,
.Dsverad to by the shrteks OF mother,
wife. sister, daughter, father, brother,
friend. not helpless, but hardly nopeiul.
Help was there, pooIe, gallAn1 hetP lr0u'
nc black and black helping white, In one
bT0therbood Of humanity. Pain and sur
cerin0 and calamity brought men Of every
sort together in common sympathy, aud
Syhy cannot they come together snd i've
and let live, and save and beip save I'm
peace and prosperity, and In the ordinary
every day scenes OF Bte'
ave there Is something to think and to
40 an This occasion besides weeping and
Isrnentation, He Is not true weeping
Pronhet even. nor real Jeremiah, who
,toss NOT extract moral and lesson from
this grief. The first lesson here, then, is
from hencefOrth 70 drop all eontroVersles,
quit all passions and compose our stfliesi
4, the language of my brother Relley,
- ~, ~sh more charity and Drotherly love
g. o,, another.
ioT hon. on brought about this calamity z
w " nss tsa., had spared this Capitol, and
va. w al I,e,a range it is that after all the
iI-sI " ,,-.v The OapftoL fell Of ftSeg
tt y, 5in,~ incident Is itself lesson
Li.h ,TonId IN a volume with CONNER
,srv- This I will .sy STRIFE since lhe
war had brought toget Ger an an n1ious, "a
door ofSn upper chamber 81 this building
10 hear the decision of fatal eonlToFersy
by Supreme Court that strife pFeeiPl, y
tsted that crowd and crushed the mass 70
agony aud death That alone IL Ieach-
ing admonition.
The Capitol is old, It is OF the past
passing away. Let it be built amer OF
The durable and solid granite OF your Tich
river bank, laid deep 10 the solla sol u
our county. and let its superstrueture
raise lofty spire toward heaven, sign