Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-09-25
The Presidents Southern Trip.

the train. 20 reacnlDg L0Wey oepo', seFen'
teen miles from Lynchburg they were met by
a committee of prominent citizens OF Lynch
burg, headed by Hon. Thos S. Bocock,
Upau the arrival of the special train bearing
the parry at the depot at Lynchburg the WIS,
itors were greeted with tremendous cheering
from 40 immense concourse of people, music,
&c. After The party bad slightcd the Pfesl
dent was presented to the Mayor ct Ly nch6urg.
who briefly extended the hospitality OF the city,
TO which Mr.. Hayes replied:
II am very grateful indeed, sir, to you fo'
your kind words Of welcome.
The party, in charge ct the members
OF the reception committee, were then seated
10 carriages and the line OF march taken up,
With the Home Guard of Lynchburg and the
Lynchburg Light Artillery as escort. A along
the streets, from the depot to the NorVel
House, there was constant ovation OF cheers
from the people, who filled every available
place from which sight of the party could be
had.
Upon arriving at the No1vell House the Pres.
ideut aud suite we're conducted to the front
portico. when Mr.. Bocock, chairman of the re
ception committee addressed bis excel!eocy,
rendering, ION behalf of Lynchburg, slucere
welcome to the 'Cily of Hills. which is the first
Virginia city visited by him. OHIO was for
merly part of the territory Of Virginia, and
many parts of it were settled by brothers aud
relatives of the ancestors Of the present genera
ton Of Virgiuians. We do not assert any mate,
rial control over it, but We have some cIsm to
be heard by its soos without desiring to incur
the charge of boastiDg. He said the Virpioia Of
odeu times had certain characteristics for which
she was distinguished all the country over. Her
courtesy and warm hearted hospitality have
often been commended, and she has never been
supposed to be wanting In due respsct to 9th
cial position. We have passed through trying
scenes, but it is hoped 1t may turn out that
these qualities have suffered DO diminuion.
Another characteristic equally marked is
her uochaugiDg devotion to which she considers
the true principle of the constitution. She may
err in Judgment, but she judges candldIy aud
adheres to her convictions most firmly. How
ever dark the hour which may have fallen upon
her. or however tempesuous the waters on
which her bark may have been !auoched, there
has been ever seen streaming from the mast
head the motto, Principles and not meu.
Recent events have giveo prominence to two
leading political requirements the equality OF
all citizens before the law, aud equality OF all
States uoder the constitution. We loug felt
that iu the great desire to uphold the first the
government neglected and disregarded the
other. We saw States which had been ad NIT
ted into the Uoon and had become entitled to
equal rights with others still held guarded as
prisoners of War, and compelled TO perform
der the surveillance aud sometimes under di
recton of The military authorities. This We
regarded as an immense wrong. 1t ranked in
our minds as a lhoro 10 the flesh. aud while it
Continued We were poorly prepared to listen to
appeals to our good teeliog5. 1t was wrong
to our sister States. 1t was an outrage 90 the
bond of the Union. Blu. all this has been
changed, and each one Of the States has been
restored to ite constitutional rights. Local
self government has been restored to all, aud
South Carolina and Louisiana are DOW on an
equality with Massachusetts aud Michigan.
And what has been III. result? Magic itsel
could scarcely transform scene more complete
~. Where there was suilen discomfort there
is now satisfaction. Augry chickering's aud
impending strife have given place to stiffness
and quiet, and in State, suspected of dl.loyalty
there ia now Oh eerfal performance Of every
duty 1t hns been found III st By q proper en-.
forcement of State laws tie rights, Of all cit
ing removed, good feeling and harmony have
come to occupy its place. ard the angel Of peace
like hslcyon now spreads its white and downy
wings over cur entire country.
This has been done Mr. Pres. dent, and truth
requires thu admission that your agency has
been most potent in the work. A short tims
ago the land was filed with complaints of lnef,
fciency ard corruption in the civil service cf
the country, and the demand for reform was
The civil service older lately issued
by your a1minislr. tion was q bCl1 and maLly
step in the right d rection Is there virtue and
intelligence enough in tho country to uph:li
and sustain it ? Surely all good m 81 desire such
3 result.
we have seen Mr.. Presid ant, with pleasure,
The words Of kir dness you have spoken on your
pre,ent tour. You have spoken them in thu
North and in the South alike. Tlose ware
good words you used whsn you said that your
cause Was not the cause OF party, but It was
Union, the cause Of harmony, the cause of peace.
These words will accomplish much good, and
we know you have done these things not st the
dctation of rarty leaders. So far rs we \ see
Or know you have done them because they ware
right And so we eat you not as party men.
Our action has no party significance whatsoever.
We have come IS patriotic citizens to acknoWl
edge the facts. We have come as true and loyal
Virginisns to recognize our principl.s by whom
,oever svowe1. We have come So honest men
TO say th at your official acts in the particulars
named have served no condemnation.
The reh Utilization Of all the States, the paeif.
,ation of the public service and entire coua-
ry is a great work, and if accomplished
should FIJI the measure Of a high ambition. If
your efforts are to continue as they have begun I
IAN foresee great results ahead Unde: inspra-
ion of the thought vision of the future comes
oef,re me- The chssm that once yawned So
y lde and so bloody between the Southern AID
he Northern States is filed and obltersted
The bright flowers Of charity and concord lifs
heir pure heads in the sunlight of q favoring
Heaven, and overhsugs in all lis gorgeous ctlors
he bow of promise and hope. Mr.. President
gsin gree: you ard bid you wecoms."
After music by the band the President said {:
Nj FRIENDS 1T is very gratifying to have
he opportunity to make the acquaintance of so
arge number of ladies, gentlemen and people |
# Lynchburg and Of this section of the State of |
Virg mia. A week ago I entered what The |
peaker who then welcomed was pleased to term |
t. THE gateway to the South and Southwest
Louisville Since then I have met the people |
f three great former slave holding Sla,es-l
kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia I have the |
happiness to assure you that met sssemblages |
selling and thinking as you do to-day. These
audiences, like this one, were composed of the |
representatives. of sll political parties, and in
ach there WAS respectable Shrinking of the