Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-10-31
President HAYES In Richmond.


~ m their visit to Richmond reached Qdantleo2
at 1880 a, 10. yesterday. The party consisted
Of President and Mrs Hayes, Miss Plat, the
Presidents niece; Webb and Burchard Hayes,
the Presidents sops Secretary E7arts aud two
daughters, Secretary and Mrs. Sherman, At
tcrncv General Deve1s. Secretary Thompsen,
also United States Senator Morgan, OF Alaba'
ma. Congressman I.orng of Massachusetts;
md CONGRESSMAN Harris, Of Virginia. At
0uanlico the train was boarded by the commit:
too Of rcceplion from Richmond, with General
.Inscnh +. Anderson as chairman, who were IN.
troduced to the President and party.
Thc arrival Of the train at Fredericksburg
WAS greeted with cannon firing, music and ca:
lhusiastic cheers from large crowd gathered
\, the dcpot. 4 short stop was made, during
Which CONGRESSMAN Elliott Biaxton, Of Fred:
erick sburg, on the part Of the city, welcomed
thc President and regretted that his stay 10
their midst was so short. They we're glad TO
have the opportunity, however, OF greeting him
pcrsonay. 10 The name CT the people OF the
city he congratulated the President on tho
manifest wisdom OF his policy and on LIS ability
| to govern the country without the aid OF arms
or armies II the happiness OF the people be-.
caluc the high aim Of his ambition, he would
not ONLY deserve but would receive the support
| Of all parties.
The President in respons. said IL regret
also that my time among you is so short that |
| shall not be able TO make your acquaintance,
ADD regret that | must merely say that |
thank you for your kindly grce!iog and that l
| an grateful for the sentiments | have Just lis
| tened 10. Now, will make known to you some
| Of tho gentlemen associated With me 10 the ad.
ADMINISTRATION Of the affairs Of the nation.
The President then successfully Introduced
Secretary lvarls and Secretary Sherman, both
Of whom spoke briefly. Senator Morgan was
ncxt introduced, but before he had spoken half
| q dozen words the train moved or. and he was
| forced to stop.
at this roint the rain, which had been
threatening all the morning, began to fall in a
light drizzc, which continued during the re-
mandcr of the day. At Milford an extra car
was attached to the train, and luncheon served
for the party The train was considerably be-
hipd time and was forced ahead pretty lively,
and reached the outskirts of Richmond at 2:50
y, II. AZ it came 10 sight OF the fair grounds
\ national salute was fred, and as it entered the
city crowds Of people began to gather and fol.
low ell masse the slow y moving train until it
reached Monroe Park, near which the recep-
irn was to take place. At this point it is esti,
mated that not less than ten thousand people
", &c assembled, and when the Presidential par
~ aliphtel cheers upon cheers saluted them.
The rain still falling, the ladies' Of the party
we're taken 10 the residence Of Major t. d. H..
| Myers, while the gentlemen were escorted by
the committee TO the platform erected Tor the
r,ccpliou ceremonies. AS soon as all the party
| W, re- made as comfortable as the 1isagreeable.
| ness Of the weather permitted. Judge John A.
Meredith, Acting Mayor, addressed the Presl.
| dent extending on the part OF the people OF
| Richmond cordial greeting and sincere vel
| cUln2.
lie said We arc ever ready, sir, as courtesy
rtonres, to pay 10 the Chief Magistrate OF the
ecunlry The respect due to his high Office. but
| i! becomes an agreeable duty when the incum-
bcnl is Il cIt!Z.n who, since his inauguration,
has taken steps to restore the country to the
methods Of constitutional freedom; who has re-
cogniXcd the equality OF all the States 10 the
| Union, and has adopted the pacific and cousti.
| tulional policy Of local governments 10 the sew
crai States freed from military supervision by
| the Federal Govern meGt, and thus removed the
| Southern question from the arena OF political
strife, and by this means has revived the droop-
ing spirits Of the people Of the South, rckindlcd
their patriotic attachment TO the Union Of
their fathers and brought them again to look
upon the flag oil their country as the banner Of
pcacc; who has prohibited the active interior.
cncc Of Federal Office holders in our elections
and rcbukcl the dangerous practloo that has
! heretofore prevailed in the country OF bringing
the patronage of the Federal Government 10
direct conflict with the freedom of elections,
and who has on all occasions expressed 40 car
nest and patriotic desire to restore iraternal re-.
atious between tho different sections of the
Union, and sought to give pcaoo to people
disturbed by sectional differences and the effects
of civil war. II there be Southern man who
docs not approve Of these measures or any one
Of them he has yet to be heard from, and,
hence, we can give hearty welcome and ten
der the tribute of gratitude to President who
las given these evidences Of broad and en-
Iishtcned craftsmanship, and although, sir, &C
coraing to party associations, we are not al! re
pubiicans, but mo5t Of US arc democrats, yet
| they are democrats who have the intelligence
to perceive and the manness To approve a vir-
tuou5 and patriotic act 10 political opponent.
Mr. President, VIC Virginians sometimes in
lulec In The practice oil reminding our visitors
that thcy arc standing on tho soil Of the Ola
| Dominion as We lovingly call our State, and
speak Of her as tic mother Of States and states.
men. this practice be moro honorcd 10 the
breach than The observance, and one calculated
to draw upon us the imputation of vanity, VIC
think it might be excused in view Of the many
renowned heroes and saecs who adorn the an
nails OF her history, but at this time our vanity
is not little hsttercd by the belief that you
have adopted for your guidance the maxims
and teachings of her ilIustrious statesmen who
have occupied the chair you satisfactorily ill,
| and who always looked to the Constitution as
the chart Of our liberties, and knew no higher
| law than what is written on that sacred instru-
mcnt
Mr.. President, in your Iaudable efforts to
give the country pacific and constitutional
administration we bid you God speed, and
promise our cordial CO operation. MIR. Presi-
dent, allow nc to present you to the people Of
Richmond.
Upon the Introduction Ct the President he
was greeted with an outburst Of enthusiastic
cheers, which lasted several minutes.
When silence 10 a measure was restored
President Hayes spoke as follows:
Judge Meredith and Fellow Ctizons-In the
unfortunate condition Of the weather desire
very briefly. but very heartily to thank the city
authorities and the people of Richmond for tie
bnpor If fbn IT pitoIion vieit fhoir nIu md