The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-06-01

and worthy citizsns will come with tbe purpose OF
dwelling in our midst, need their brain, energy
and MUSCLE and we will welcome them even If their
carpet-bags are empty. lLtughterl We already
have many Northern men in our midst, and they are
good citizens and have won our CONFLUENCE anu
kind regard
The gentlemen of the press can do more than any
other portion of our people, IN re-estabishing
throughout our whole Country the warm and gene
rous feelings of national brotherhood. They con-
stitute the vanguard in the march of American pro-
gress.
profession. They arc the great educators Of the
public mind and heart, and they shave and control
popular sentiment and feeling, and | regard those
present here to-day both from the Nor th and SOUTH
as harbiueers of brighter epoch in the history of
our common country, [Applause.l
Gentlemen of the Northern press, you have al
ready done much in advancing the intelligence, vir-
the and patriotism of our people, but in your visit
to the South you entered upon far nobler work
that of restoring harmony and good feeling between
the citizens of the different sections OF our great
country.
hope that you may be eminsntly successful In
your noble and patriotic work and know that
Won will regard success in such the proud
est achievement of your lives, and the greatest
blessing which you could possibly confer upon your
oountrymen. [Appause.l
know that l express the sincere feelings OF the
people of Greensboro when say that we are glad to
give you cordial welcome as the guests OF cur
city ; aud think that can assure you that we re-
gard you as our national brethren, and arc ready
now, and at all times, to extend to you the kindest
cuuresies of social life, and the warm and generous
hospitaties of our homes. Applause.
We regret that you cannot remain longer with us,
and we hope that you may have safe and pleasant
return to your homes and ields OF labor and that
you will always kindly remember your fellow citi-
zens of Greensboro. Loud applause.
Upon being loudly and repeatedly called
for, Hon. j. Fl. Selkreg, of Ithaca, N. T.,
responded in the following sensible man.
ner:
REMARKS OF HON. JOHN II. sELKREG.
Mr.. Mayor and gentlemen Of North Caro-
,ina.-The traveller wandering in the shadow
of the pyramids finds with each moment OF his
progress that he is more and more convinced
of their strength, magnifcence, durability and
splendor, and at the same time also impressed
with his own insignifcance and nothingness-
SO feel l, and Ientertain many and grave doubts
whether | ought to utter single sentence,
because the only possible effect of my words
will be but to weaken the deep and lasting ims
preston which has been made by the remarks
of the gentlemen who have preceded me. l
am but CLEANER where the harvest has been
gathered, and am, indeed, in the language OF
one of the great men of the world, "picking
up shells near the great ocean truth"
We left our families one week ago yesterday
for a trip of recreation and enjoyment, of re-
Taxation and refreshment. We have progress,
ed to this point, and at each step we have been
more than gratifed. We had but the single
idea originally, of rest, because we are all
Knights of the Quill, and are compelled each
and every day to press forward by the mans
date 81 heard voice greater than the voice
OF many waters saying unto me, write. =
Applause and laughter.) Our original inten-
tion has expanded as we progressed, until what
was first to be recreation and pleasure
only, has grown into the broader field of
duty, and we are now mingling with your ,peo-
Pile, learning your habits and customs, looking
at your soil and it's resources, and forming as
rapidly as possible an intelligent idea of the
| States we visit and the population With which
we may--the frat time to many Of ns-be
brought in contact We passed from Elmira
to Baltimore. from thence to Richmond, and
| thence to Petersburg. And here may be per-
| mitted to remark that have been greatly i'm.
pressed, if not astonished, at the disappear
ance, entire disappearance, of traces of the
| late war. / stood upon the deserted earth
works where it seems as if it was but yesters
| day that the iron hail of shot and shell swept
out life and humanity with the rapidity that
| the leaves of the forest are swept by the hurri-
] change no man may measure. The sun shone
as beautiful overhead, and its beams danced
| upon tie landscape as beautiful as ever before,
| birds sang in the branches, the progressive
| arts of agriculture were around me, ard re-
| ioiced that Peace was again in the land, Gap
| pauSoj-a edCe3 luduh hedVtuy uOf5l as
| to be broken, cloud appause) but one which is
permanent and enduring.
| We returned to Richmond, from tte1ce to
| Staunton and the White Sulphur Springs OF
Western Virginia, where nature pou's forth
her treasures for the healing OF the people,
where disease like time and opportnniieslost,
ever flee from the inyalid, and health, like the
future anticipation, ever waits up)n him.
We fingered in the shadows of the grand old
| mountains and parted from them with regret,
to return and visit the Old North State. We
have been environed with dangers since the
hour of the commencement of our trip, of this
kind and character; our young menhaye been
taken prisoners by the fair ladies of he South,
(applause and laughter and the entire party
have surrendered to the hospitaliti.s of your
people. (Renewed applause). We have
reached this place by regular upward grade
of attention on the part Of ctizeus, just al
the engine mounts the Alleghanies, until WI
have reached the summit of hospitality ant
kindness in the city of Greensboro and ther'
is no possibility of an equal elevation beyond
(Applause). | can best illustrate this, per
haps, by story told of an Englishman, wh'
arriving in this country Travelled westward
and went out on the prairies, where thunde
storms are made to order of the most improved
pattern.
During the night tremendous thunde
shower arose, and in the morning the strange
was inquired of as to what he thought of il
| His reply was, that with a due appreciation 0
the Importance of what he was about to utter
and with knowledge of the intense interes
felt in what he might say, he emphatically as
serted that in his deliberate Judgment that wa
the heaviest thunder he ever heard in his life
considering the size of the town. Lou
laughter.) We have here the most enlarge
hospitality, and the kindest greeting that ma
can give to man. This is my first visit t
North Carolina, or even to Virginia. hav
Just looked, for the first time, upon your broa
lands, so much of them unimproved, and
seemed to me that there existed mine
wealth within your soil of incalculable value
We have all heard of worn.out lands, and
fear your system of culture has been detr
mental to yourselves and the agricultural an
material interest of your State. Your gres
. staples are and have been, tobacco, wheat an
corn--one unvarying round of a routine whic
takes from, but returns but little to the sol
,, and this too, upon foundation of imperfe,
and superficial cultivation.
What you need is capital, intelligent labo
and rotation of crops. If you can eni
Northern capital, if you can employ intelligeI
= labor, If you can turn into your State tx
great tide of German and other emigratio
, which flows into this country by hundreds
! thousands, if you can build up rather than in
poverish your lands, you can become one of II
: most productive and richest States in Il
6 Union. (Applause.)
Health and prosperity, and the physical deve
: opment of man only wait upon labor, and |
Dor is, by the fiat oil the Almighty, made hol
! orable. The fable of the Arabian Nights WI