Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-01-22
SENATOR GARFIELD.
A Reception rendered Him a
Columbus.


COLUMAUs, o., Jan. 14.-The reception
of Gen. Garfield, United States Senator
elect, took place in the Capitol tonight
After an introduction speech by Gov.
Foster, and considerable Misunderstanding
among members of the Legislature and
visitors, Gen. Garfield, in speech of
considerable length, said:
FELLOW CITIzENs: | should be a
great deal more than man or great
deal less than man if were not ex-
tremely gratified by this mark of your
kindness and the kindness you have
shown me in recent days. / did not ex-
pect any such meeting as l have receiv-
ed this evening, and you will allow me
in moment or two to speak of the
memories this chamber awakens. Twen-
ty years ago this last week / first enter
ed this chamber, and entered upon the
duties of public life, in which l have
been every hour since that time, in some
capacity or other. / left thisschamber
eighteen years ago, and believe / have
never entered it since that time (;
but the place is familiar, though it was
peopled not with the faces that see be-
fore me here tonight alone, but the IA
ees of hundreds of people that knew
here twenty years ago. 1t was here in
this chamber that the word was first
brought of the firing on Sumter. / re-
member that one week after that time,
on the motion of leading Democratic
Senator who occupied seat not far
from that position (pointing to the Dem
ocratic side of the Chamber) that we
surrendered this Chamber to several
companies of soldiers who had come to
Columbus to tender their service to the
Government. All the early scenes of
in my mind"
After thanking the citizens for the
honor conferred upon him, he said:
81 should be base did 1 not also take
recognizance of the great man whom
you have elected me to succeed. l say
for him that Ohio has few larger mind
ed, broader minded men in the record of
our history than that of Allen G. Thur
man. IApplause.] Differing widely from
him as have in politics and do, / re-
cognize him as man high in character
and great intellect, and take this occa-
sion to refer to what l have never be-
fore referred to in public, that many
years ago that in the storm of party
strife, when the air was filled with all
sorts of missiles, aimed at the character
and regulations of public men when it
was even for his party interest to join in
the general clamOr against me and my
associates, Senator Thurman said in
public in the campaign, when men are
more likely to say unkind things as at
any place in the world, most generous
and earnest word of defense and kind
ness, which shall never forget so long
as live. [Applause.l / say moreover
that the flowers that bloom over the
garden wall of party politics are the
sweetest and most fragrant that bloom
in the gardens of this world. TApplause]
Aud where we can fairly pluck them
and enjoy their fragrance it is manly
and delightful to do so. And now gen.
tlemen of the General Assembly, with
out distinction of party, recognize this
tribute and compliment made me to-
night. Whatever my own course may
be in the future, a large share of the in
spirations of my future public life will
be drawn from this occasion and these
surroundings, and shall feel anew the
sense of obligation that l feel to the
State of Ohio
In conclusion, the speaker said:
Thanking you again, fellow citizeLs,
Members of the General Assembly, Re
publicans and Democrats, all party man,
as l am, thanking you both for what
you have done, and for this cordial and
manly greeting, 1 bid you good night"
At the close of Senator Garfield's
speech, Gov. Foster and ex-Gov. Bishop
made short SnnnchaS