The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-05-09
The North carolina ENcursionisfs.

ENTERTAINMENT AT TIE COMMERCIAL CLUB
:. LAST NIGHT-A LARGE CROWD PRESENT
SPEECH OF WELCOME AND REPLY-AN EVE
MING OF ENJOYMENT AND GOOD FEELING. g,
The North Carolina merchants who
reached here Tuesday evening were
received and welcomed at the Commercial
Club last night. The rooms OF this popu-
lar institution were crowded with repre-
sentative businessmen OF Richmond TO
greet their visiting friends, and an evening
of pleasant intercourse vas spent.
The visitors having been assembled in
the main hallway, Mr.. Claiborne Watkins,
president of the Club, addressing them,
said:
Gentlemen CT North Carolina. Richmond,
and Members Of the Commercial Club, 1t
is my pleasure tonight, on behalf OF the
merchants, to welcome to our beautiful city
our North Carolina friends and merchants.
II there are two States in his great country
of ours that are most closely allied than the
rest from the sacred ties Of the past.it is
North Carolina and Virginia, for on every
battle. field from Manassas to AppomattoX
Courthouse the bones and ashes of our
brave soldiers lay mingled together in the
dust. Ii mistake not, it was that gallant
Fir-t regiment OF your State. that first
marched to the front on that memorable oc-
clsiop, the battle OF Bethel, and there stood
shoulder to shoulder bv the brave sons OF
Virginia in defence OF our rights. Nor did
she ston there. but continued 20 forward
her brave troops by hundreds and thou
sands, until at last they surrendered with
that grand old army OF Northern Virginia
at Arpomattox Courthouse. When peace
vas restored in our land. our city was left
in ashes. Your merchants, like your gal
liant soldiers, were the first TO come 10 our
assistance, and with their patronage helped
Us to build up our city; and PhGniX-llhe
has she risen, and now proudly does. she
stand ready and willing TO coiapeLe in COM
mel ce and trade with our n"rhern cities.
will venture the assertion that our mer-
chants will testify to the fact that we have
sold more goods and lost less money 10
North Carolina than in any other section C1
country that we have dealt with up to this
time.
Need I refer to the resources OF your
great State; ber immense scacoast; shores
washed for three hundred miles by the AL
lantc ocean; her bonndlcsS fisheries that
can almost supply the demand OF the world;
great in ber cereals; great in her cotton
fields; producing tobacco that commands
the highest prices in The country gold
ore beds. coal-tcds, and minerals OF every
kind; and last, though not least. her I'M
mense production OF naval stores, more IA
miliarIy known TO us ali rs tar, pitch, and
turpentine.
Thanking you, gentlemen, it only remains
that should welcome ynu--yes, thrice vel.
come you-to the hospitality OF our city and
Club.
WEI COME.
Mr.. E. r. Stamps, of the Raleigh bar. on
behalf OF the North Carolina gentlemen,
said
Mr. President and Gentlemen OF the
Commercial Cub,-Why should have been
selected out OF this vast throng OF intelii-
gent merchants of my State to publicly ac-
krow edge your courtesies and in their name
receive your splendid hospitaities-l who
am so profoundly ignorant OF even the no.
mencIature Of your ccupatloh as TO be lost
to distinguish the difference in weight OF d
kit OF mackerel, a kettle Of fish, or Kettle
drum-m,Ist ever remain an ineXplicab!e
mystery. But can assure you, Mr. Pre>l-
dent, that no task could have been assigned
me, the performing Of which could give
me more genuine pleasure, than to tender
TO our sister. Virginia. the loving greetings
Of North Carolina. It has been we'll said by
you that I" OF NIL the States Of our great coun-
try no two are more closely allied by all the
sacred ties OF the. past than Virginia and
North Carolina" Sprung from . common
ancestry, and striving for the same ultimate
destiny, like twin sisters, they have borne
the sorrows and shared the joys OF each
other. Dark, griul-visaged war has locked
the sons OF both in Deaths cold embrace,
and upon many yalley-Dlain and noun
tain-slope the eternal silent bivouacs tell so
eloquentiy and yet so pathetically, "Behold
how they love oneanother." Our daughters
have been given TO your sons, and many OF
our noblest matrons have been OF Virginia
rearing. Our commerce bas mingled like
water, and but for the imaginary line that
divides us, we would be indeed one people.
Virginia has fattenea upon the resources OF
Carolina, and she in turn has felt her.
self entitled to share in the splendid re-
. Z =.