Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-07-12
SPEECH OF HON. A. K. B0TELER.
CENTENNIAL MEETING.
FOURTH OF JULY IN PHILADELPHIA.

/ Grlllu OSleBTdtlOH VI lllc ALL HiSe-'
the ground in Fairmont Park, (465
acres selected as the site for the Great
International Exposition of 1876, was
formally transferred to the United States
Centennial Commission.
A number Of distinguished persons
were present, comprising the Secretaries
of the Navy, War and Treasury, the
Attorney General of the United States
several Of the Governors, many 9th
or public functionares from distance
and vast crowd of Philadelphians.
The military pageant was very fine and
the ceremonies of transferring the
ground exceedingly interesting. The
speeches OF the Hon. Morton Mc1lich-
ael, Orator Of the. Day. and of Ex,Gov.
Hawley, president of the Centennial
Commission,) were most eloquent and
appropriate. ,
The ceremonies Of the day concluded
with magnificent display OF fire works
and grand banquet i'll the Belmont
pavilion of the Park, at which, after
speeches by the Secretary OF the Navy
and the Attorney General, our fellow
citizen Hon. a. t. Boteler, was called
upon to respond to toast in honor Of
Nirginia-which he did as follows:
SPEECH OF MR.. BoTELEE.
am not here, Mr.. Chairman, merely
as Nirgiuian, but also, am proud to
say, as an American. Applause. And,
in rising to respond to the demand you
have made upon Inc, if were to Won
ture to make what might be technically
called i speech, l could be at no loss for
a suitable subject Oh which to address
YOU. For, sir, this is, certainly, most
suggestive occasion-the day we cele-
crate, SO dear to every true American
hcart-the place at which we meet, 50
full of pleasant memories and patriotic
associaiions-thiss significant assemOlage,
dignilied by the presence Of the Heads
of the Departments Of our National
| Goyernment-thc Executives Of this
and neighboring States-representative
men of mark from q distance and SO
many Of the solid men of the city OF
brotherly love"-all Of whom are here
to testify by their presence how earnest
ly they desire TO promote the grand spc-
| citic object of Which the ceremonies we
have seen this evening are the initiatory
acts of prcparation-that grandcr cele-
bration Of the close Of the first century
of our national existence for which Phil
adclphia and those beautiful grounds
have been so appropriately selected.
These, sir, would form appropriate
themes for this occasion which would
be worthy of the powers Of the most
gifted orator. But, Mr.. Chairman, l
am no orator-no speech-maker either
by practice or profession-but simply
and solely farmer [applauso] from the
right bank OF the Potomac renewed
applause and better acquainted with
the cultivation of the fruits of the earth,
than that Of the flowers Of rhetoric.
Nevertheless, Mr.. Chairman, believing
as | do, that there are occasions, and
this is one OF them, when it becomes a
duty, as it always is the privilege OF ev-
cry freeman in this favored land Of ours,
to give expression to the earnest and
honest feelings Of the heart when they
struggle for utterancc within us, | do
not hesitate to avail myself of the OPP
portunity which your complimentary
! call has given me TO express my very
| great pleasure in participating with you
in the proceedings Of this suspicious
day, and the deep interest l feel in the
success of our proposed Centennial Ex-
position of &c. For, sir, if there was
nothing else connected with that Inter
national Exhibition which should com
mend it to The hearty approval and sup
port Of the whole country, it would be
found in the fact that it will doubtless
prove to be most efficient means for
promoting that fratcrnal feeling which
formerly existed throughout our land
and which all good men and true pat
riots are anxious to restore. Applause.
And desire also to say in behalf OF
those whom have the honor to repre-
sent here to-night-the people of West
Virginia, whose emblazoned shield | see
suspended before me-that whatever
differences of opinion have heretofore
existed amongst them-whatever dis
agreements have been between them, or
any portion of them and you, in the
past-disagreements arising fromhonest
convictions on their parts as well as on
yours-which eliminated in that sad
dest of all sad episodes in our countrys
history, now, sir, Il say IL with an EN-
phasis which must not be misunder-
stood), they,the people of West Virgin
ia, with hardly an insignificant excep-
ton, recognize no other rallying point
for their patriotism, but the unfurled
flag of our counry-of orr whole coun-
try from ocean to ocean, and in al, its
varying ATTITUDES from Alaska TO the
Gulf. Great applause. And further,
Mr.. Chairman, | have also to say for my
people, that it is one OF the dearest
wishes OF their hearts that in all the
centuries to come their childrens chill
dren's children will be as prompt to Of
fer and to take the open-hand of hospi-
tality and kindness as we have been to-
night. Applause
Recognising on my right a college
friend, whom have met but once In
thirty years, THE Hon. Benz. II. Brew
! ster late Attorney General OF PennSvl-