Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-03-20
THE GENERAL PIERSON
Presented with q Set Of COlOrS BY the
steamers Acknowledgements
By Miss Osborne and
Major Maccabe.

Yesterday afternoon the transfer
steamer General VIM. P%ierson, Of the
Memphis and Little Rock Railroad Com.
pany, was presented with a set Of colors
BY its namesake. By 2:30 o'clock q large
number Of ladies and gentlemen assem-.
bled on board the General Pierson to
witness the formal presentation Of the
eolsrs and 10 enjoy an excursion on the
river. The day was fair and bright, be-
ing in every respect favorable for the
purposes Of the occasion. After the
guests had assembled on board, Miss H.
NJ. Osborne presented the colors to Cap.
tain VIM. Maingsult on tho main deck
Of the steamer.
MAS %osBoREE's FERMENTATION SPEECH
was listened 10 attentiVsly and received
with appreciStive enjoyment. Miss Os.
borne said:
CAPTAIN MAIEGAULT-It affords me
great pleasure TO be permitted to present
10 you this set OF colors, in the name Of
General Pierson, OF Winsor, Conn. The
unfolding Of these beautiful colors is an
expression Of the union between North.
ern aud Southern hearts in oAe common
bond Of sympathy and interest. May
they ever-through storm and sunshine,
duty or reVelry-feat over Daught but
sparkling water; and may this noble
craft, so stanch and strong, so calamity
Differed, never be obliged to haul down
its colors in surrender to that diabolicAl
power against which all lovers Of tenn
perance and humanity ere now arraigned,
And as the General Piersnn, true to its
duty, plies back and forth from shore to
shore of the great Mississippi, may it
link the wealth aud luxury OF the East
TO the broad prairiOs and lofty noun.
tAins Of the great West.
MAJOR J C. M%ACcABE's RESPONSE.
Major ]. G. Maccabe being introduced
made the following graceful and sppro.
pirate response to the happy speech Of
Miss Osborne:
Miss 0sBoRNE-The duty and the
pleasure devolves upon me of receiving
from you, as the representative Of Gen.
Pierson, this tribute OF bis friendship
and good will for the steamer which
bears his name and for the gallant gen
tleman. Captain Maingsult, who com
mands her. In Captain Maingault's
name, and for him, l accept this beauti-
fol stand Of colors in the spirit in which
they are given, and for him promise that
they shSll be ~sffectionAtely guarded from
every harm, and shall wave from the
mAsts Of this noble craft as lorg as her
timbers shall hold together. l perform
this duty with the more pleasure since
this appropriate gift TO . Southera vessel
comes from q representative Northern
man, and through the fair hands Of q
gifted and accomplished daughter of the
far North, and in response to the patri-
otto sentiments so %eloquently~ expressed
by you | need hardly say that this is our
country's standard. to be defended alike
by men Of the North and men Of the
South with the msnliness that becomes
American ireemen. There 10 ever in
the presentation Of our national ensign
something that stirs the blood-an
appeal 10 that love Of country
which lives in the heart Of every
American citizen, and which bids him
hope for the pe~rpetustion of that coz.
s%titutional, civil and religious liberty aud
union Of sovereign States, of which the
American flag is at once the symbol and
the promise. Now, is this splendid struc-
ture, which is known by the modest name
Of q transfer-boat," unworthy Of the
honor and dignity OF wearing colors2
She is not only the connecting link of
trade and travel between the States Of
Arkansas and Tennessee, but her daily
t~ransits perfect the chain of communica-
ton between the Southeast and the great
West, and thus fills a gap in the highway
Of commerce, which, left untitled, would
deprive Memphis OF one Of her most
lucrative sources Of revenue, seriously
damage the interests Of the travelling
public aud greatly retard the growth and
development Of the Southern and West
ern States. Humble though her task
may seem it is Indispensable TO the pros
perity OF the system Of railroads concen.
trsting in this city, and which unite Mem
phis TO the Atlantic ses.bosrd and link
her as with bands of iron TO the fertile
fields and rising cities oil the far off West.
She is a public servant in the interests
Of peace and progress. Her mission is
a missioA OF usefulness; to save and not
to destroy, to build up and not to cast
down, to facilitate and speed
the hardy emlgrant on bis wsv to 6ud q
home in the forests Of the far West. For
this she bridges the gre. / river and pro
Vides an easy and inviting way in which
the trade of the West may enrich our
merchants and manufacturers, aud give
thrift and wealth to the great lines of
railways, which, centering in this
fair city, point out Memphis as
the future metropolis Of the Mis-.
sissippi valley and the most available
point Of departure for the great trans.
continental railway destined ere lon~
to link the Southern Atlantic seabosrd
with the Pacific coast. Viewed from this
standpoint the General Pierson rises
in the estimation OF intelligent men from
a mere transfer boat to the dignity Of az
important factor in developing the trede
aHd commerce Of Memphis and of the
republic, and it is pleasant to know that
the presentation OF this splendid stand
Of colors is q pleasing as we'll as a grace.
ful and significant recognition Of that
fact. But | am reminded, Miss Osborne,
that / Am here to accept this beautiful
and friendly tribute Of General Pierson
to the merits Of the commander OF this
craft, and not to make q set speech. |
therefore hasten to q close, again ex.
pressing for Captain Maingsult and bis
officers most cordial thanks for this