National Republican., 1880-04-17
Genoral orants welcome at vlelsburg.

The following address Of welcome to Gen.
eral Grant on his arrival at Vicksburg, Miss,
delivered by General William ii. MoCardlo,
possesses unusual interest on account Of its
historic "reminiscences, as well as for its olo-
lucnCe and kindness of spirit:
GENERAL GRANT: L am indebted to the
kind pGrtiality of the chief magistrate of this
historic city for the honor, tho privilege aud
the pleasure Of extending to you, in the name
and on behalf of all our people, warm and
cordial welcome. Whom say all our people,
sir, mean it, for you arc welcomed by ALL
and this without regard to race or color, poit-
ical predictions or religious creeds. There
was time when your presence here was less
welcome than 1t Is to-day. You were then,
with large rotinue of your friends, anxious
to make visit TO this city, and those OF us
who were then present were equally anxious
that you should forego that pleasure. For
forty.sevon weary days aud nights, beneath
the pitless hail of shot and shell, we
sought To avoid having you with US,
but your attentions were so pressing and
persistent that we finally concluded TO
receive you. And now, sir, nearly Sow
cnteen years after that first visit, it affords me
pleasure TO say that your treatment of the
garrison surrendered to You on the ith day Of
July, 1868, was kind, considcrate and gencr.
GUS In your department and in that of the
officers and men who accompanied you there
AmeSican soldiers. Then, sir, this city was
begirt with sorried lines Of armed men, and
tho broad bosom of the great river which
lavcs our shores WIS covered with a powerful
squadron of ships Of war. How different is
the scene to-day! Hostile navies no longer
rido upon our waters, and our green decliyi-
ties no longer rcsound to tho clash of steel,
the rattle of musketry and tho thunder of
artillery. All Is peace, calm and quiet, Some
of those who looked upon you with sad hearts
and swimming eyes as you rode through our
streets that bright July morning are here to-
day to give you welcome as distinguished
American soldier aud the only living cx.Prosi-
dent Of tho United States.
1--WE cannot offer you, sir, such pageant rs
has greeted you, like the drum beat of old
England, all around the world, but in its stead
wo extend to you q cordial greeting aud bid
you welcome to our homes, 1t Is due to frank
ness and self respect 10 say that, during our
late unhappy strife, tho men OF Mississippi
fought against the old flag and tho Govern
ment of the United States with all tho cour-
ago and energy they could command. When,
however, the fortunes of war were adverse to
US, when they could no longer continue tho
struggle, they laid down their arms In good
faith, and extorted from every true soldier the
admiration which courage aud constancy,
overwhelmed by fate, novor fail to command.
Having failed to maintain r government of
our own, and uphold y flag which for four
years aoated proudly Ger hundred stricken
fields, wo grounded our arms, returned to our
allegiance TO the starry banner of tho Union
which floats above US to-day, and to the gov.
ernmont of our fathers.
"You are no stranger to the people of Misss.
sippi, General, nor are they to you. When
young officer you accompanied the army OF
The United States to Mexico. With that army
was regiment Of Mississippi volunteers. II
was commanded by gallant soldier and IN
accomplished statesman. II was composed Of
tho cite of the State. How those gallant boys
bore themselves iu dolcnso Of their couuIy's
honor, need not tell you The world knows
the story by hoart. They stormed through
fire and Slaughter at Monterey, and ut Buena
Vista thoy turned the tide OF battle, snaiehed
victory from tho jaws Of defeat, shed undy.
ing honor upon the namc OF Mississippi aud