The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-10
Farewell Letter of the Virginia Del.
egattOn to the PhiladeIphinns.

egatton to the Phi1adelphians.
The Richmond Centennial Committed
took their final leave of the Philadelphia
Committee at Parlor C of the Continental
Friday evening.
Without any special formallty, Colonel
S. Bassett French, Of Richmond, stated
that in the absence of Col. Roller, the
chairman of the committee, he had been
delegated to read to the Centennial Com
mittee of Philadelphia the following let
ter
COMMITTEE Rooms VIaGINIA DELEGArroN.
CONTINENTAL HOTEL,
PHILADELPHIA, April 7, 1871.
To the Hon. John l.. Shoemaker, Chairman of
the Centennial Committee OF the Select and
Common Councils of Philadelphia
SIR-The Virginia delegation are about to
leave your hospitable city for their homes !:
and, in obedience to their wishes, | am in
structed in their names to say farewell No
words are vouchsafed to US to give full express
sion to our appreciation of the courtesies and
attentions extended TO US. We can only ap-
proach them by saying that they have fulfilled
all that can be included in the words,
"brotherly love.'
From every department, whether Of State
or municipal government, from citizens of
every class and degree, we have received
cordial greeting, hearty welcome. We are
but part OF great whole-extend only to
that whole what yeu have afforded to US,
minor part and the day star of a brighter fu-
ture will already have dawned upon our coun-
try. 1t is the part of wise men, no less than
of true men, to do their duty. Let us all, from
wheresoever we may hail, fulfil this role, not
with an eye to personal pelf nor to party as
cendancy, but with single purpose to elevate
our hopes, to raise yet higher the standard of
public and private virtue, and to make devo-
ton to law, truth and right the test of patriot
ism. In word, let our text be pro patrice,
and then we may hope that the God of our
fathers may bless us, their children, as He did
them.
To have celebrated the Centennial Anniver-
sary of 1876 by "tap of drum" or "hags
Haunting mid air." might have touched the
sensiblities OF many of our people, from the
Arostook to the Rio del Grande, and widowed
hearts and orphaned children might have been
made to weep again over dear ones and re-
fuse to be comforted, "for they are not"
The dreary, bloody past would, by the imita-
have narrowed the American heart, and the
fires of prejudice and hate, which had fallen
into mouldering ashes, would have been re-
kindled into blaze, fercer and more terrific
than has heretofore been experienced.
How appropl late, then, when the "winter of
our discomfort" gives way to the prospect of
GLORIOUS summer" that the descendants of
the "Old Thirteen" and their children, shall
gather around the Independence altar of the
country. halowed by Hancock, Morris, and
Virginia's noblest son, and on that altar Law
not the trophies of war, but the fruits of
PEACE.
War brings her victories; Peace her greater
that ennobles and makes happy; strife for
superiority in virtue and truth, let US have
but God forfend that the day shall ever come
again when the blood of one brother shall CRY
out from the earth against another.
Mr.. Chairman, we of the South are impos
tent. Upon you rests the responsibility. We
can only look on and say, God help the right
Your charge is high one, and if your people
will only deal by our people as you have by us,
then it will be ''a happy day" for US and our
children.
For you and yeur colleagues in your indi
vidual and representative capacities, for all of
your fellow citizens, who, In friendly strife, |
have contended to do US honor, be pleased to |
accept our sincere thanks for their hospitali- |
ties, and we beg of you to do us the kindness
to express to each and all whom you may rep |
resent, our profound Acknowledgements for the |
fraternal love with which we have been en- |
braced.
l am very truly and respectfully your obedi. |
ent servant. JOHN E. ROLLER,
Chairman Joint Committee OF Virginia Dele |
cation.