Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-11-19
THE BANQUET.
GIVEN THE LEGISLATURE BY TIE
ST. PAUL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE..
A Pleasant Social Gathering at the Metro
politan Last Night-Gen. sibley Presides
in an Admirable Manner-G Cav. Pills.
bury's Grestins-Numerous Speeches by
Distinguished Citizens and General Good
Feeling

Feeling.
The people of st. Paul, through itscham
Der of Ofcommerce, extended its cOngratulation
to the members of the legislature for thei
faithful efforts to build up and advance the in
terests of the state during the extra legisla
| tive session, which ends at 12 m. to-day, ant
of its good will to each and all of the mem
bers individually, by a reception and banque
at the Metropolitan hotel last evening. Tn,
reception was set for 9 p. M, but owing
to the rush of business incident tt
the closing hours of the session
it was after 10 o'clock before the business ol
the session was completed and the members
released to accept the hospitalities of the city
In the meantime, the invited guests of the
chamber of commerce, on behalf of the CITY,
including many representative men of the
| city, to the number of between two and three
hundred, had gathered at the metropolitan
ready to receive ami entertain thsir Legislative
having arrived, the formal reception
took place in the parlors of the
hotel, Gen. II. H. Sbley, Hon. Edmund
Rice, P. Il. Kelly, E. IF. Drake Hon. VIM.
Dawson, D. r. Noyes, Jr., Gen. j. B. San
born, Col. VIM. Crooks and F. Driscoll, Off
ciating as the reception committee, with Gen.
Sibley as master of ceremonies. For half an
hour, there was steady throng of visitors iu-
to and through the reception room, at the
conclusion of which line was formed headed
bp Gen. Fl. H. Sibley and Gov. Pillsbury, arm
in arm, and followed by his Hon. Mayor
Rice and Lieut.. Gov Gilman, also arm in arm,
and marched by the private entrance to the
dining rooms. Here continuous table had
been set, running entirely around the room,
except small space opposite the two en-
frances, while another continuous table occu-
pied the centre of the room. Gen. Sibley, as
master Of ceremonies, occupied the centre of
the outside table. Owing to the very brief
notice there was no effort on the part of mine
lost Belote to indulge in elaborate decoration
OF the tables, but, instead, was a spread of
cold fowl and meats, salads, fruits, confec-
tions, ETC., sufficient to feed an army, and of
the very best. The company to be accommo-
dated was large one, but, thanks to the
efforts of Nessrs. P. H. Kelly and Ansel Op-
penheim, who especially looked after the
visitors all were comfortably seated. and for
another half hour particular attention was
paid to the feast prepared. This part of the
ceremony concluded, Gen. H. Fl. Sibley, as
master of ceremonies, rose from his chair to
inaugurate the Intellectual feast of the pro
gramme. His appearance was responded to
with tumultuOus clapping Of hands, long
continued, at the end of which he spoke as
follows:
GEN. SIBLEY'S SPEECH.
Gentlemen: The chamber of commerce of
this city, representing every branch of its busi-
ness interests and indeed all classes of it's popu-
lation, has devolved upon me the agreeable
duty of bidding to his excellency, the governor,
the honorable members of the legislature, and
the other guests, o hearty welcome to this i'm
promptu and informal feast. A session of
unusual interest, fraught with measures of
vital importance to the reputation and welfare
OF the state is about to close, and you, gen.
tlemen of the legislature, to return to your
constituents to give account of your steward
ship. It is peculiarly fitting that the citizens
of st. Paul and OF Ramsey county, who have
always favored settlement of the old railroad
bonds and who have besought legislature after
legislature to wipe away the stain so long rest
ing upon the escutcheOn of our state, should
hasten to do honor to an executive and aIlegis-
lative body who have had the moral courage
to meet the long mooted question and vindi-
cate the well-nigh lost honor of Minnesota.
Long will our present governor and the men,
bers of the special session be remembered and
honored for this good work. Our citizens
of the liberal appropriation for the proper
completion OF the capitol building, and for
other measures passed by the legislature which
are essential to the prosperity of the city.
Gentlemen of the legislature, we hope and
expect to see most of you returned as men,
bers, to occupy seats in new and beautiful
capitol building, and the chamber of COM
merce promises in advance to make your stay
in this city both pleasant and profitable.
Gen. Sibley, at the conclusion of his re-
marks, was greeted with round after round of
applause, at the end of which he introduced
Gov. Pillsbury, who was most enthusiastically
greeted upon rising to respond. Gov. Pills
bury said:
GOV. PILLsBURY's SPEECH
I understand that this greeting is extended
to the state officers and members of the legis-
lature on the part of the chamber of commerce
and of the citizens of st. Paul, because of the
very kind feeling which they all have toward
the representatives of the state, and in some
degree because it is perhaps the last occasion
which several of the state officers will have to
receive the compliments of the citizens of st.
Paul recognize this therefore as an informal
and social, rather than an occasion for extend
ed remarks. Nevertheless, as you have invited
me to speak, some reference to state affairs
will be expected of me.
And first, let me briefly refer to the great
question which has occasiOued the calling of
this extra session.
However we may have heretofore differed,
think may venture to assume that this set
tlement of the bond question merits the gen.
raj approval of our people.
Indeed, in my opinion, to the men,
bers Of this legislature is due the
and child, andall classes and conditions of
people throughout our state. You gentlemen
of fhe legislature, during your lives you
haye all done many things for which you
have reason to be proud. But l am sure that
the record of your vote for the preservation
of kthe honor of our commonwealth is the
proudest act of your lives and will, as time
goes on, grow brighter and brighter. For
one am prouder than ever, that I am citi-
zen Of this commonwealth.
Now that the only stain which has so long
rested upon her character has been wiped
away and the foundation of great state laid
broad and deep, believe Minnesota has a
most glorious future. 1t will be but few
decades before her population will be num-
bered by millions of united, indus
trious, happy and prosperous peo-
pie, and that the products of
her soil, her fore SITS, and her mills will not
only largely supply our sister states, but in a
great measure the deficits of the whole world,
and with this we shall enjoy a credit with the
most favored states of the union.
So far as l am concerned, would
gladly have consented to have had
my property taxed to pay every
dollar of the debt, principal and interest To
say nothing of the obligation of honor, be-
lleye this would have been the best policy.
In simple justice, however, to a large por-
ton of our people who have always opposed
settlement of this question, it should be re-
membered that they honestly believe that the
state was unfairly dealt with by the railroad
companies aud by the original bondholders, the
ed railroad for the bonds issued, and that she
possessed certain equities which should be
considered in the final settlement of this ques-
ton. am aware that certain journals out
side of our state now cl im that this settlement
is half repudiatiOn. To this l reply, and il
should be distinctly understood, that the set
tlement is satisfactory to the bondholders and
was made through their earnest solicitations,