The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-17
Celebration of st. Patrlck's Day.
GRAND PARADE OF THE SONS OF ERIN.
FLAGS OF THE UNITED STATES, IRELAND,
AND VIRGINIA.
TWO BANDS OF FINE MUSIC, &C.

Of all the days in the year that herald the
anniversary of deeds glorious in the history of
q people, to the Irish heart, wherever beating,
whether in hovel or hut, comes this day,
crowned above all others, sacred to the memo
ry of the Patron Saint, whose name it bears;
and, until the world shall end, towering above
everything else in their souls affections, is
that Green Isle beyond the sea, standing as q
beacon light, claiming and receiving their
warmest devotion.
A nation less generous than the whole-souled
people who honor and celebrate this day would
have been made to hug to their breasts the
chains that prosecuted them for opinions sake,
and we sympathize with and join in their cele-
bration con dBaore. With pathos and beauty
rarely excelled, writer in this mornings En-
quirer says:
On this day many an eye is turned TO the diroc-
tion in which that dear isle lieth many prayer is
offered up to the throne Of God for its redemption
from British rule many vow is registered OF eter-
nal devotion to it, many heart throbs with deep
emotion at the remembrance of days gone by, and
many an Irish exile rests his aching head between
his hands, and, while tears of bitter anguish flow
down his care-worn check, he says unto himself,
"Oh, Lord, how longS'
And then mayhaps he thinks of the sweet song of
the lark as lie scars above the green fields of the
dear old island and the ces of the dear old friends
of his YOUTH and the sound OF the bell In the old
chapel where he used to pray and worship God, and
of the grand old rains attesting the glory OF days
gone by, and his heart goes homo and seats itself
beside the grave OF father and mother, and sister
the tears fall faster and ser down that care-worn
cheek,
But there are other memories which ONE up and
fill his heart with fierce al yer. He recollects the
Penal laws the attempt to exte inmate his re 20 by
fire and sword; the savage verocity with which he
has been pursued by the Crown and Government OF
I..xrtod in a
shape OF quit rents and county cess, Government
taxes poor law rates and law discrmin atng against
the commercial interests of his country until at last
famine came famine bla1phemously called the
work of Gods providence, but in fact the work of
that hydra-headed devil, the British Grown and Gov
ernment And there were seen scenes SO horrid, SO
heartrending, that it is no wonder men went on
their bended kneeJ and swore eternal hate against
that government Famine was net enough, for the
crow-bar brigade was brought in'o operation, and
houses were leyelled and the poor peasantry were
driven out Oh the roadside there to starve and de
Here is one scene: One evening in lS47, posse
of police and sheriG's baif entered little village
en- the western coast Of Ireland. 1t was wild and
bustry evening" and heavy rain storm, coming in
from the western ocean, was sweeping 1ercely along
the land. The sherfs bailif and his police went to
work. the eectment process was put in force and so
help us God, for we saw IL ALL some OF the little
cottages were unroofed, the doors were taken down
and the poor inmates, the soil of their own in
heritance turned out in the fury OF the storm
and left to its mercy and to the mercy OF God Next
day ives Sunday, and we with our own eyes one
of these poor sufferers die on heap of stones in
front of the very church where the cruel agent OF
the estate was seated on rich cushion, hypccrit-
cally woi Shipping God. Many another sad tale we
could tell, but have not the heart nor the room
We will only say to those who deride the poor
Irishman think of his sutierings and the long tor
ture through which his country has gone, and ask
yourselves if you had suffered as much, or were the
descendants OF race that had suffered as much,
would you be in any point of view better than ne ~
So, to-day, when Irshmen appear on the streets
wearing the shamrock-an emblem made by the
hand Of God hmself-and Strengthening themselves
in the memories of the days of old in the hope OF
the liberation of their native island, give them a
kind word fer their cause ID good and holy enc,
and one that ought to be dear to the heart of every
man who loves the right.
In accordance with the programme decided
upon by the marshals, the procession formed
at IL O'clock A. NJ, and took up the line OF
march as follows: Down Broad to 10th street,
down 18th to Main, up Main to lst, up 1st to
Marshall, down Marshall to 4th, down 4th to
Broad, down Broad to 8th, down 8th street to
Assembly hall, where an Grafton was delivered
by the Hon. A. M. Kelley, Mayor. lmme.
diately after the grafton, the line formed and
proceeded up 9Th to Grace street, down Grace
to the Governors Mansion, where the process
sion was reviewed by His Excellency, the
Governor.
Returning to the point where the main line
was formed, they were dismissed by Chief Mar
shal VIM. English, to whom and his assistants
james Hays, F. Boyle, 7. Tennessee, james
Rankin, m. Kelly, and 7. Fl. McMahon, N ucE
| praise is due for the excellent management o.
| the whole affair 30 creditable to them and t
| our Irish citizens generally.
The procession passed our Office about III \
| o'clock, headed by Smiths fine band of mucic
in the front of the line was the Irish flag
borne by stalwart son OF the Emerald Isle
while about the middle of the procession wa
the United States flag, and then was another
band of music, and near the rear foated th
| VirginiaS tate flag.
We have not space to notice other attractive
points of the celebration, which is to wind VI
| with grand ball at ASSEMBLY Hail." oil
Eighht street tonight.
The Trial of Er-Mayor Oaahoon.--II
the Hastings Court, Judge Guigon presiding
to-day, the case of Ex-Mayor Chahoon wa
called, and panel of twenty four "good AM
lawful men, free from bias or prejudice for o
against the accused" having been selected,
Jury of twelve was chosen therefrom in tn
usual manner, which was by delivering th
list to the counsel of the prisoner, Messrs
Wells and Crump, who, with the accused, the
retired into an ante-rOom, and after consulta
tion together struck off eight names. Re
turning into court with these sixteen names
they were handed to the clerk, who thereupo
placed in box sixteen balls, twelve red an
four white. Those twelve drawing red ball
constituted the trial jury, the holders of th
white being discharged. The parties advance
to the box and successfully drew out the nun
bers, with the following result as to jurymer
namely:
A. l.. Deitrick Henry Cook, I. T. Briggs, Mcha
Ryan, Henry Clark b. W. Bennett, I. P. Riddell, 4
r. Neal, t. L. Brc Gilman, William Button, Georl
Miller, Jacob A Frisler.
The accused was then arraigned and the wi
nesses sworn, Emanuel Francis being the frs
Mrs. Chahoon was seated by the side of he
husband.
Death of Member of the House {
Delegates.-M James L. Buchanan, men
ber Of the House of Delegates, from Smytt
county, died this morning, at the Monuments
hotel, from dropsy, after suffering for son
time. He was highly esteemed by his ass
ciates, and was noted for his kind, conciiator
and courteous department. Appropriate a
ton was taken in the House this morning
pay proper respect to his memory. Messr
George Graham, Addison Davis, Philo Bra
lev Henry Bowern and Stith Boiling were a
pointed to escort the remains to their place
interment in Smythe county. At two o'clo,
: this evening, the members of the House Q
sembled in the hall and accompanied the corp
to the depot.
f Fire.-The fire this forenoon was caus,
Y by the burning of frame tenement on Tweni
s fourth street, Union Hill. 1t was owned by
Q Mr.. Gregory, and insured in the Virginia FL
: and Marine Insurance company for $500, viii
Q will probably cover the loss. A frame buildi
very near by, belonging to Mr.. Bagby, W
saved by the firemen. An effort was made
| 81 olr Of tar m httff 4 fxpa nd