Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-12-23
WASHINGTON, ID. G., I
December 10. 1871,
DEAR WILvERr


December 10, 1871.
DEAR WlLVBRT
Last night the Pennsylvania
| Republican Association held its first of q
series of sociables, to be given during the
coming winter. This first reception was q
| complete success, and the "E,ir wor'en and
brave men" of our great State were there
in numbers exceeding twelve or thirteen
hundred. The entire Pennsylvania dele.
CATION in Congress were in attendance, with
The single exception of senator Cameron,
who was unexpectedly detained in the Sen
ate, probably watching Senator Trumbull
in his attempt to perform double sum.
mersaut, aud accept the 'passivc policy''
Vt the hard-up Democracy. The President,
Vice President, Secretaries Dclano and
Belknap, the japanese Minister, and nu-
mrruus other dislingu shed and eminent
personages favored us with their presence.
Our mutual friend a. A. Shsslcr, Esq,
President of the Association, and Chair
man of the Reception Committee, escorted
President Grant to the platform, aud after
the seating of the guests, delivered u neat
and appropriate address. stating the object
of the Association, and then introduced
the speakers uf the evening. Mr.. Shisscr
acquitted himself credtably, and his efforts
to make every one comfortable much pleas
cd his numerous friends.
Hon. William I. llaincs made the speech
of welcome, in very pretty address, which
was cloqucntly responded to by the Hon.
John b. Packer, on the part of the Con-
grossinnal delegation. Senator Scott then
delivered short address, after which, all
whn desired; were presented to President
Grant and Mr.. Coliax by Mr. Shissrr.
This being through, dancing was com
mcncCd by those who wished ITO trip it on
the light fantastic toe, - aud continued to
tie wee sma hours of the morn," aud
when the orchestra played the old tune oI
Home taoSe remaining to hear it, eX-
pressed wish for the speedy coming of the
second sociablc Of our Association.
scud you Il hurried ana partial synopsis
of Mr.. Packers address, which is as full as
| could report it. The address was re.
ccivcd with rapturous applause, and hope
was To the TRANSFORMATIONS, rrsiden. il
Washington.
SPEECH OF HON. j. b. PACKER.
M. President, Ladics, and Gcnt'emen O
tIc PCnn,Y'raniu RcpuJjcda Association. -
In behalf of tho Senu tors, aud my col
leagues of the House of Representatives
permit me to say we are profoundly Sensi
bic OI the honor you have done us by yuul
courteous invitation to attend this, the ilrst
Of your exceedingly pleasant and delightful
social and political reunions And permit
me, also, to assure you, sir, that we are
truly grateful for the kindness, cordmlit,
and ttrvor of your warm hartcd, o!d fash
Toned, Pennsylvania welcome
Like many other organizations and socl
ctics which owe their origin to the cXigcu
clcs aud necessities Of the peculiar circum
stances by which the true men of the north
found themselves surrounded aL the Capt.
Ia! ol their country, during the pprilOuS
and dark hours of the war, your "Associ
alton ofloyal Prnnsylvanansn has survived
the rebellion, which it was designed to aid
IN supprcssiug and it has long since at
tanned that envablc position in public con
iidcncc and regard to which the intelligence
aud the integrity, the high character ant
the patriotism Of lis members SO cmincntll
Cntitlc it.
Your co-laborcrs in the political vineyard
1T home, in recognition of your rights n,
Republicans and of your faithful and cli
ciCnt services to the country, admit yuul
representatives to seats around the cuunci
lircs of the party, and none are more gladly
welcomed, and to 10 del 'gatc is more rtsp,t
iul attention given, in the conventions o
our state, than to those whom you send Il,
the representatives of the "loyal men o
Pennsylvania resident at Washington.
When we had the pleasure OF meeting on
similar occasion last year, our pOlitica
skies were not entirely free from clouds
for while we had carried our state 10y 4
minority, upon the aggregate Congressional
vote, nearly 900 larger than tina! 10y whicl
we elected our Governor the year before
yet, from IN oven. confidence in our owl
strength, or perhaps an under estimate u
the slceplcss activity of our political foe
we had fallen behind in several of our dis
tliCis, and some Ofuur standards, on whicl
victory had pcrchcd before and crowned
with her brightest laurcls, came out Of tha
contest trailing in defeat.
Bnt, sir warned by that experience, an,
anxious tn correct that wrong, the sturdy
veterans in the Republican ranks rallied
with renewed viGor, last fall, aud, with {
discrimination that cluld not stop short O
success, rolled up Il majority more than
twice MS large rs any we have given at any
state election since that OF 1866 And tha
majority, won ina contcstas warmly wage,
aud MS honorably and fairly conducted
upon both sides, rs any we have ever had
''lfNN ll''l'llNl Nbll ny lllC HllNbNNllliF
Union men of Pennsylvania, we tender as
an earnest Of the lO,O 900 majority they in
tend to give, when called into action BY
the Republican bug.e blasts in next No
vcmber Yes, sir, repeat, the great Stat,
Of Pennsylvania, which, IN its patriot,
ardur, sent into the war, for the suppress
sion of the rebellion and for the defence %
the integrity Olthc nation, 100000 rs BRAY,
men a. eyer drew the sword or fired a mus
KIT that state, which you have 50 truly
aud eioqu,ntiy said always stands lirmly
by the Onion, warmed hy the same inpul
Sos, stands ready aud eager 10 give 10 thl
great Captain al the war, her already dcslg
matted aud chosen leader oi the lcmIblIcal
hosts in 1872, $4,000 ms loyal la,uls n
wru ever cpst by intelligent igccmcn, ms
testimonial Of their unabutud aud Increase,
. confidence Ia his sterling Integrity, tricI
/ patriotism, aud approved stalgsmauship
aud nl ,ntir uhquuuued cndursem,ut OF h..
most succysslu, administration.
, You may wen spwk proudly, -, Of on
grand old state, aud of her magshlcss his
. tory,