Morning journal and courier., 1880-02-14
Abraham Lincoln.
The Great EmancipatOr-The Annual
Celebration i'm Merfden.

The Great EmancipatOr-The Annual
Celebration i'm Merfden.
On Thursday evening the Lincoln Club OF
Meriden, an organization numbering among
its members the leading colored citizens of
Connecticut, met to celebrate by a banquet
and reception the seventy-frst birthday of
the Great Emancipation. The reception was
held in the parlors of the Meriden. House,
where were present Governor O. B. Andrews,
Mayor Curtis of Meriden, ex-Mayor Lewis,
Alderman Doolittle, W. n. Miller, Represen-
tative Wilson, Captain A. Fl. Wood, Samuel
Dodd, all of Meriden E. D. Bassett Of New
Haven, ex-minister to Hayti Alderman Chas.
King, New Haven State Senator up. Stowe,
of Alabama; John Ives, Representative Rob-
ertson, of New Haven; A. E. Austin, E. w.
Lyme, Augustus Jones, Alex. Duncan, @.
A. O. Beman, of Middletown; Major
W. Fl. Layne, Jr., of New Haven !;
Thomas Stewart, New Haven; Jos. Cas-
sell, New Haven; Rev. J. W. Brown, New
Haven: John w. Ralston, Middletown |;
D. A. Randolph, New Haven; Rev. T. Al
bridge, Providence; W. w. Lee, Meriden !;
w. II. Porter, Rockville; F. r. Wood, Mid
dletown; Capt. Lloyd g. Seymour, Hartford !;
Lynde Harrison, New Haven; Rev. Thomas
Miles, Meriden; Rev. DIR. Chaplin, Meriden,
and many others.
Previous to the reception at the Meriden
House, Gov. Andrews and other prominent
gentlemen were serenaded at the residence of
ex-Mayor Lines by the Meriden City Band,
after which all adjourned to the Meriden
House. where q pleasant hour was passed.
The banquet was held in the handsome ar
mory OF Company I, Second regiment. @. N.
G., situated just opposite the Meriden House,
in the Wilcox building The armory was
richly decorated with flags and bunting, and
banners eulogizing Abraham Lincoln, Charles
Sumner, John Brown, William Lloyd Garri-
son, Wendell Phillips and Theodore Parker
were hung upon the wall Three long tables
were stretched along the room, and at these
about $50 guests sat down. The supper was
presided over by George s. jeffrey, president
of the club, and Governor Andrews and Rep
resentative Wilson occupied seats on his right
and left hand respectively. An excellent
menu had been arranged, which was enjoyed
by all.
After the banquet was concluded, Mr.. Geo.
s. Jeffrey, president of the club, proposed the
toast, abraham Lincoln" After few re-
marks by Mr.. Jeffrey this toast was drank in
silence. The next toast, ssOonnecticut," was
responded to by Governor Andrews in short
speech, in which he thanked the club for the
cordialities extended to him, and then went on
to say that he was proud of Connecticut, and
had right to be proud of her. Though Vir-
ginia might be the mother of presidents, still
Connecticut was the mother of statesmen.
The bodies of the ancestors of President
Hayes lie under the Center church In New
Haven, Jesse Root Grant, father of the Gene
raj, was judge of the Supreme COURT in
Connecticut. The progenitors of Secretary
Evarts, Secretary Sherman and General Sher-
man, his brother, also were from Connecticut.
Governor Andrews then referred to the franz
ing of the Connecticut constitution in 1889,
when representatives from three towns in the
State met and framed constitution. This was
the first attempt to make constitution. And
from this it may be said that Connecticut has
served as a model for all States and govern
ments, and her influence is still powerful and
potent.
Other toasts were responded to,as follows
'Meriden," by Mayor George R. Curtis ;
1.-THE Day We Celebrate" by Rev.T. Aldridge,
Character of Our Institutions" by Judge n.
Lynde Harrison of New Haven; Education, u
by w. T. Porter, and the sentiment, 'Honor
of Meriden. Senator Lines of the Sixth dis
ness in his family called him away from the
banquet.
Letters of regret were received from Sena,
tor Blaine, who said it would have given him
great pleasure to join in paying honor to the
man who did so much for liberty and whose
fame is immortal" from Senator o. 81. Platt,
ex-Gov. Chamberlain and Hon. Benjamin
Douglass.