The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-05-25
The Presidential Visit TO Elkton-Pub-


to Elkton, as the guest of Postmaster Gen
eral Creswell, was an epoch in the history
of our village which will form bright page
to look back upon from the future. Pre-
parations had been quietly making at the
residence of the Postmaster General for the
President and Mrs Grants visit for several
days, but it did not leak out till Friday
evening that the President and his estima-
BILE lady were expected in Elkton by the
AS p. NJ. train from Washington, ON Sat
urtlay. The affair was managed very quiet
ly it must be admitted, when it is censid-
cred that several females were necessarily
in the secret.
Long before the arrival of the train, the
population Of the town had pretty well
assembled at the depot en- mass. The train
was about quarter of an hour late, which
served to increase the impatience of the
eager crowd; but finally the smoke of the
engine was deserted in the distance, and
depot, and the President, Mrs. Grant and
Postmaster General Creswell stepped,
from tho car to the platform, in the
midst of the silent staring crowd. The
Presidential party remained standing under
the open structure on the platform recently
erected for the better accommodation of
travellers, for short time, waiting for the
carriage to come up to the depot, and dur
ing the interval the silent, staring crowd
made the best use of its eyes, which were
fixed immovably on the one object of in
tense curiosity. When the carriage was
ready the party moved across through the
depot, and took seats in the vehicle, the
crowd moving in solid mass about the Presi-
dent, but maintaining a respectful dis
lance. No one was bold enough to offer
to shake hands, or propose cheer,
evidently questioning the propriety Of
any familiar manifestations while the
President was the guest of Mr.. Creswell,
without some intimatien from him, which
he ligidiy withheld. When at length the
party were seated in the carriage, the
driver tlourished his whip over the impa-
tient horses, and the off one starting with
a sudden jerk, snap went the swingletree,
and everything was at a stand still till the
damage was repaired, which consumed
another quarter of an hour in hunting up
swingletree; which proved to be an old
broken one that had been thrown away;
but with the assistance of some pieces of
rope it served a temporary purpose, and
the carriage drove off to the residence of
tho Postmaster General.
1t was pretty generally understood that
the President and Mrs. Grant wonld attend
the Methodist Church, on the next day,
and full house was matter of course
The minister, Rev. II. S. Thompson, and
choir seemed to make an effort commensu-
rate to the occasion, and notwithstanding
the Pastor was tailoring under indisposi
ton, he delivered an able and excellent
sermon from the text, Seeing we also are
comprised about with so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience the race that
is set before us.''-Hebrews 12: 1. The
choir which is noted for its fine singing,
put on extra force-or voices perhaps we
ought to say-and quite surpassed itself in
doing honor to the occasion. We under
stood that the President was very much
pleased with the services.
1t was proposed that there should be a
general reception by the President, on
Monday, and the first arrangement was
those who desired shake hands should
call on him at Mr.. Creswells, on Monday
forenoon, which arrangement was after
ward changed, and the reception took place
in the Odd Fellows Hall. The Elkton
Cornet Band marched out to MIR. Creswell's
in the forenoon and serenaded the Presi-
dent and drank the health of the party in
some of the hosts wine.
A committee was appointed, composed
of members of the Bar public officers
and several prominent citizens of the
town, with Hon. Alexander Evans as chair
man. At - O'Clock, the carriage of the
Hall, with the President and Mr.. Creswell,
when the Committee, through its chairman,
welcomed the President in behalf of the
citizens of Elkton, in very handsome
speech, which the President acknowledged
by bow. The band then struck up and
the party entered the Hall, where the
tedious ceremony Of shaking hands was
gone through with, Mr.. Creswell and the
committee introducing.
This ceremony lasted about half an hour,
when all present seemed 10 have gratified
their desire by having grasp of the hand
| that welded the sword, which conquered
the rebellion. DR.. Ellis, a member of the
committee Of reception, assembled the stage
and proposed three cheers for the Presi-
dent of the United States, which was
construed as signal that the ceremony
had ended. 1t had been announced that
the reception would last from 10 to O clock,
and this summary close of the ceremony
proved Il sad disappointment to many,
especially the ladies, who had not got
through with the important business of
dressing for the occasion when it was
announced that the reception was over.
The President and Mr. Creswell then
took buggy and drove to Marley Paper
Mill and examined the establishment where
the paper for the Public Ledger is manu-
featured, at the rate of two tons per day.
The Match Stick Factory of Mr.. DeBowens
and DR.. Mitchell was also the object of a
Presidential visit; Mrs. Grant and Mrs.
Cresweil joining in the visit to the latter
place, While the guest of the Postmaster
General, General Grant was driven round
and viewed the county for several miles
about Elkton, and expressed himself much
pleased with the country and the cordial
reception given him by the citizens, with
out respect to party, all joining heartily
in honcrtug the Chief Magistrate of the
nation.
The Presidential party left Elkton for
Washington, on Monday, by the G P. NJ.
train. While in the Depot waiting for the
train numbers who had failed to nav THAR