New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-08-25
JERSEYMEN'S DAY.

STATE REUNION AT THE CENTENNIAL.
EXODUS FROM NEw-JERsEY TO THE EXHIBITION
COMMUNICATIONS by GOV. BEDLE-ORATIoN
BY THE HON. ABRAHAM BRowNING-THE BAN
QUIET.
Several weeks ago, when the State Centen-
NAL Commissioners of Now-Jersey decided to have
State celebration the Centennial grounds Aug "a,
Gov. Bedle issued pr Jclamaton calling upon the au-
thOrites of the cities and towns TO their repre-
sentation the grounds on that day. and appointed
Abraham Browning of Camden, ono of the most able
speakers IN the State to deliver Grafton on the pro-
gress of New-Jersey during tho past century. Tho
proposition was received with universal appreciation
by the officials and people, and the railway cor
pOratiOns made arrangements TO carry passengers
in large numbers at reductions varying from
SO to so per cent below the usual rates.
Public meetings were called by proclamation from the
Chief Magistrates in all the principal ctles and commit
tees were appointed trains and convenience for
all who wished TO attend The railroad companies, when
asked FOR still lower rates than they had ofered only re-
fused because their facilities already taxed to the
utmost and 10 increase them empty would nave to
be brought from the Western States at expense which
days travel would not cover.
The railroads throughout tho State never carried
so many people in day, even when the
troops were being rushed TO tine 'front.' as they
did yesterday morning. All the through trains
between 6 and s o'clock were open 10 tho pleas
ure seekers, and special fast trains were started
from AL the principal stations those from Jersey City,
Newark Elizabeth, Railway, NewBrunswick. and Tren-
ton making no stops Before O'Clock yesterday morn
ing 10 through trains had left Jersey City, each con-
tanning from 200 to 900 passengers making tOtI OF
over SOOO Gov Bede and private party left Jersey
City on special train at 735 a. M, and the members oil
his staff got on at the several stations Mayor seder of
Jersey City and the Board OF Aldermen and large party
of officials started the 9o5 train. At Newark,
which railroad for the roads in the northern
part the state, 5000 persons went through ON
excursion tickets From Elizabeth over 1.s0O persons
went to Philadelphia, and Railway sent 1000 on special
excursion tickets NewBrunswck sent 1900 and Trcn-
900. the tickets in each place being purchased by
the Clzens' Committees. These figures do not in any
case represent the numbers because many went on
the regular trains pefering to pay higher fare 10 escape
the crowd.
The arrival OF trains at the grounds had already be-
gun when the Reception Committee appeared at 10
o'clock yesterday morning The committee was com
posed % the following Jerscymen, residents of Phiadc
phia Chairman, E. c. Knight the Hon Morton Mcli-
chae Richard j. DObbins, the Hon T. II. Brewster, DR..
Joseph PancOast, Samuel Bishop :. L. Stokes j. b. Lip
pincOtt Furman Shepperd, Edward Browning. James H.
Stevenson, John W. Stokes Louis 4. Cooley Dr. +. c.
Jayne, ami Joseph II. Champn. This committee had
made preparations extensive scale for the recep-
ton of guests and most of the visitors were OF the
working and middle business classes arrangements were
made furnish dinners to the largest possible number
at uniform rate OF so cents each at seyeralOf the
largest aurans in the Main Building the grounds
The headquarters established at the New-Jersey
State Building where all Information was given con-
slant stream Of hcavilyoaded passenger cars passed
into the depots and from the jersey ferries living cur
swarmed the landings filed the horse cars and
marched foot Markest 10 the grounds, all the ut
good humor and elated at the crowd BY oclock
was thought 10000 people had arrived and the manner
in which they were scattered made tho crowd seem
.fan sha
still receipt of kilograms from all parts Of the state
announcing that crowds waiting at stations unable
TO find room the When the announcement was
made that the Grafton going To be delivered in the
Judges Hall. ii IL estimated that there were 10000 New
Jersey visitors on the grounds The request OF the com
mssioners that day would be observed as holiday
by the visitors in an informal way received and
acted upon by many OF the local committees. The
crowd dispersed through the buildings and over the
grounds in the democratic fashion.
THE GRAFTON.
The Judges Hall was only moderately filed at HAS
a. H.. when Gov Bede appeared on the platform and
introduced Mr.. Browning in brief speech Mt B-own-
iug's address was substantially as follows:
The growth OF New-Jersey in population and wealth
during 100 wears OF her existence stat" VIII com
which on the memorable Fourth of July, l77G. she
commenced her career. On that day, now cOhsecfhted
to civil liberty, in this country at least with heros
almost without parallel she joined them IN frn re-
solve which severed their allegiance from the Bilsh
and niepcndent states" with equal hrrosm, through
out war Of seven years, they made that declara-
resentives stockton, wltherspoon. Hopkinson,
Hart, ana Clarke affixed 10 that august decaia'1n
which now challenges and receives the admiration Of the
civilized world. With them she vowed, with them sho
bed Her sons and soil barred their o2,o' TO lHo se
hinges OF the Revolution ON them dcsPondcncy turned
durance which covered with laurels that nynei6e con
test point to those names ana TO those helds WIN
pride They are ours. My mission however, as one OF
her humblest sons Is to direct your attention to what
NeV-Jcrscy and 20 what she lslhc result OF con
tury; TO enlighen the pathway OF me future Dy turning
TO the past To-day Is the prophet OF Tomorrow BE
cause the has for thousands OF years dspeed the
darkness Of each preceding night We hlo" II WIN rdr
again Tomorrow and that because SEED te ana harvest
have with each succeeding year, they VIII come
and go again We know the inture Ony ny tnS l'ot,
Hence the existence and progress OF STATE uhuc an
established constitutional government based on te WI
son for turn 20 this lesson; but before DONG
what Sewjersey was one hundred years ago to-day.
in li97-fve years after the discovery OF America ny
tic ocean between the northerly boundary Of Florida
and the st. Crox, and extending to the valley OF ihe
under Henry VII. That discovery redounded to the
benefit England; hence the English ute to that terri
tory of which SewJerSey Is part. By reason OF suSc
Guent civil wars little was done by England during
the next century ana nan ,owaru % n en- had lad
claim and had taken that part OF NewJerscy on tho
with the had also taken possession Of the lands
on the Delaware from Cohansey Greek to Gloucester
shortly after the accession of Charles H. to the throne OF
England in 1864 he conveyed IT, with other lands now
constituting New-Jcrsey, to his brother James Duke OF
York with fun powers Of government, and aO0nt TINS
time captured the Dutch and Swcdes along the hudson
and Delaware Rivers. This being done within lew
months after the conveyance TO the Duke the atcr CON
viewed Newersey with full rights OF government 10 TWO
uoblernen sir John Berkey and SIR George CartrIei
Jointly Under lords and Their Successors New
Jersey settled English colony mostly by direct
nIn grafton from England but III part by Enghh eil
grants from cw-England where colonies had been
viously started. The Dutch aud swcdes remained and
had their titles confirmed for the lands III their posses
sion These with the emgrants from England and New
England made, in 1865, population Of 100000 ac-
It.fnp nllli -lpI Ina