Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-10-17
Visit os President Monroe TO will
min ton.

visI. os President Monroe to VIII
ming ton.
In an old copy of the Raleigh Mn
! cs'ca, bearing date April 23d, we fin,
8 letter from Wilmington, giving al
account of the visit of President Mon
roe and his suite to Wilmington, Apri
10Th, 1919. A gentleman in this cit,
who has read the account and who wa
then q boy of some thirteen years, ha
| a distinct recollection of the event anC
of the fiutter which it caused in ON
| then little town.
The Presidential cortege was me
! about - miles from town, on the ole
| Newbern road, somewhere near Scott:
| Hill, and escorted into the city by the
Wilmington Light Horse, volunteer
organization, under the command o.
Lieut.. Col. John Cowan, the father O
Mrs. Col. JAS. G.. Green, still resi-
/ dent of this city The entrance into
the town was made on Market street,
the boundary then being on Fifth
street. They then proceeded down
Market TO Front and up Front to the
Wilmington Hotel, which stood on the
site Of the present Purcell House
buildings, where the usual formalities
OF q grand reception We're rendered to
the President.
His Exoellency was the guest, while
here, of Robert Cochran, Esq, who
resided on Second street, between
Chestnut and Mulberry, in the build
ing now kno VII rs the Davis house,
and John c. Calhoun, the Sec
retary of War, and his lady received
the hOspitalities of DIR. A. J. DeRos-
set, ST., at the brick house now
st2nding on the corner OF Market and
Third streets. Both of theze brild-
lngs remain very nearly rs they were
at that time, now more than 81 years
ago. 1t was on Thursday that the
President arrived here and on Friday,
accompanied by Judge Murphy, lie
paid Il visit to Wrightsville. On his
return he partook of dinner with the
citizens AT the Wilmington Hotel and
the next day left this place on the
steamer PrOmcthCus, for Fort John
son (Smithyille) from whence he pro-
ceeded Immediately to Georgetown,
S. G..
The entire account of this visit is so
interesting that we have concluded to
copy it here complete, asitappears in the
''t' ''t, ttI lllc
eDce between His Itxcellency and Han
son Kelley, Esq, Magistrate of Police
at that time. 1t is rs follows:
SIR The inhabitants of Winning
ton wait on Eou to express their high
sense Of the honor done them by your
visit to this town. in your Journey
through the Southern States. Once
only before having been culivencd by
Il
lstrate Of the Union, we hail the re-
currence Of the a',spicious event with
The most pleasing emotions.
inallErinr as the face Of the country
READERS our local situation, still nature
has not withheld all her gifts; and,
possessing advantages of navigation,
greatly superior to any other port OF
the State, with the command Of rivers
stretching insO a fertile and poplllous
interior, the capacities for commerce
are great and extensive. These Will
obtain, We trust, under your auspices,
the fostering care of the general gov
eTnment, IN peace; and III war, should
car shores again be visited with that
ca amitv, protection commensurate
with the Importance OF their objects
Strangers until now. TO your person,
We are not ignorant Of the talelts and
virtues that adorn your character.
The annals of our country have an
nUunCed yocr services, in the various
and important public stations ycu have
heretofore .itlcl. Your fcIiow-citizcns
Vii View, with fresh emotions of admi-
ration, th2 ac'}or which you are now
displaying 4or the public good.
believed, for 4 time, from the most
lAboI-0Is duties of the Cabinet, the APP
probation OF Il grateful people would
have attended your retreat 10 the relax
alton Of domestic enjoyment. Regret
ing the aliurements Of ease, you have
engaged IN . new succession OF fatigue
and privation. exhibiting an example
Tor Imitation, to public functionaries of
Ill denominations
Events, the most prol)itious, have
your administration an epoch
)f national security and aggrandize-
nent. The united voice of your coun-
-ry, from Maine to Mexico, proclaim
5he wisdom OF councils honorable to |
you !; and in their result, glorious to
our extended empire.
May q benign Providence continue |
His blessings on your cndeavors to |
promote the public veal and may |
you, sir. be the object Of His peculiar |
care and protection.
HANSON KELLEY.
Wilmington, Al I'll 9Th, 1919.
THE PRESIDENTS ANSWER.
On the principle on which I have |
5honght 1t proper to visit our Atlantic |
frontier, this town, with its relation to |
he ocean, had It Just claim to atten- |
ion. It was always my intention to |
7isit it when I should be able to exam |
ne the Southern coast and [ am |
much gratitied in laving done it as, in |
TO the satisfaction of having |
an interesting part of my
public duty, it has afforded me an op-
Dortunity of becoming acquainted with
l portion Of my fe!low-citizens, whose |
KIND reception and obligiEg attention
shall always recollect with great III
crest. 70 secure yoa IN peace, and
I'll the advantages IN common, which /
I Kind Providence has enabled you to
enjoy, and all the protection in war,
70 which Your situation may expose
you. are objects which will never fail |
20 receive the IInwearied attention of |
he General Government, in all its |
branches, according to their respective |
powers. Ga my exertions, i'll those !
which fall within the depart |
nent which [ have the honor to fill, |
you may confidently rely. In tue late |
event TO which you alIude, l concur in
III the favorable anticipations which |
you have suggested Of It's happy effects |
on the best interests Of our country. |
In contemplating this epoch, we must |
Ill derive peci1 lar satisfaction from |
the reflection that it was the result of |
N arrangement by which our differ |
ences were settled with friendly |
power. and our peace aecu:ed against |
the prospect OF early interruption, on |
equally hoaorahlc t. both |
parties
s5honi,l ] be able, i,y my future con
Inct il tile public service, to carry
with nc into rctiIcment the same
favorable opinion of my fc!low-citizens
which you have kindly expressed Of
the past, it VII afford me the high
consolation - which have invariably