National Republican., 1883-09-20

rams association, and an escort composed of
the Winchester Light Infantry under com
mand of Capt. J. A. Mutton, tho Friendship
cornet, and Sarah Zane cornet bands. Form
ing in double ranks, tho veterans marched
through tho principal streets to tho court
house. Tho good citizens of Winchester
seemed to have turned out On masse to well
some tho unwonted visitors, so thronged
were the sidewalks ON the line Of
march, many houses being decorated.
Arriving at the court house the visitors
filed into the main court room, whero sight
met their astonished eyes as unexpected as IL
was gratifying. sThe walls of the spacious
room were decorated in the most elaborate
manner with flags, streamers, and notices of
every description. Ranged lengthwise of the
room were series Of tables, groaning be-
meath their burden Of good cheer, and brill
liant with decorations of costly aud beautiful
flowers. On the stage were separate tables
for the ladies' OF tho party. Tho
ingenuity of the fair ladies Of VIM
chester seemed to have been taxed to
the utmost in heaping up the tables with
| luxuries of food and drink of quality to de-
light the palate of a New York alderman
aud quantity to feed an army treble the size
of that present. Tho ancient fame of Nir-
| ginia hospitality was certainly upheld in the
most thorough and effective style. The
mayor, city council and officials, members of
the Confederate Veterans association, and
| other notables were on the stage to do honor
| to their foes of day gone by, transformed
| by times mutations into their cordially well
| coined guests.
After music by tho union band, Col w right
| was presented, and received with ringing
cheers of welcome. Mayor William J.. Clark,
a man Of distinguished appearance, then
| stepped forward and delivered the following
manly address of welcome:
| GENTLEMEN OF THE VETERAN CoRPs OF NEW
ENGLAND: have tho honor to offer to you upon
| your arrival in our city cordial reception from
| our people. Tho city council, having learned sew
eral weeks ago of your intended visit TO neigh
borhood, passed resolutions, copy of which has
been sent TO you, prohering TO you the hospitali-
ties Of the city and the citizens at large in public
meeting assembled have directed me- as their
| official representative, to renew to you, as now
do, the sentiments which are expressed in these
| resolutions.
The city council with its president, are present
here on my right to unite with mo in this recep-
tion, and the Winchester camp of confederate vet
Grams, in charge Of its commandant, are here
courtesies of this occasion. With pleasure now
| read the resolutions of welcome adopted by the
| city council of Winchester
| TWhereas certain citizens Of New England, as.
| sociated together in organization commemorative
of their participation in our civil war, have given
public expression OF their intention TO revisit in
peaceful array some OF the scenes of that conflict
situated in our vicinity.
"Resolved by the common council Of the city of
| Winchester, That, mindful of our common origin
as nation, aud of the identity of our interest in
the free institutions we enjoy and believing that
divided one, feel that these visitors of
common mon country ana that their children rs shall
fense OF our national liberties.
| "ResOlued, That we extend to our visitors
hearty welcome and tender them the freedom OF
"Resoiped, That Capt. VIM. L. Clark, the mayor
the city, be and lie is hereby invited to call a
mass meeting OF the citizens OF Winehester to take
| TO extend citizens welcome 10 our visitors.
| "ResolUed, Thatthe clerk be directed TO transmit
I nH AlsNNtA aNnI IN
| Wright, chairman OF excursion committee, Bos-
ton, Mass; Capt VIM. l., Clark, mayor OF Win
chester, and the city papers."
| You have come, gentlemen, from n distant por-
tion OF our country to visit bait teield which is
| in the neighborhood OF this city, in which battle
many Of you took an active and no doubt gallant
part. We well realize that 1t is natural that you
should desire TO renew associations which are OF
not come with any feelings of antagonism toward
us, nor In any vauning spirit over your successes
Of that day. We know that you would not esteem
those successes worthy of your recollection had
they not been severely earned and hence, as we
admire your gallantry so we value the tribute to
cede, that you met on that field a foe worthy OF
your steel. Coming thus to us, gentlemen, we
have df the honor to- receive ySn Gonrteousy and
you every facility which will aid you in accom-.
plishing the object of your visit
of Virginia should have been been engaged in war with with
New England to enable IL to form q proper esti-
G hs @ hos ss nH aid
recognize in Its fullest sense the mental and
physical vigor of your own. II has been said that
there were some portions of the south which did
not previous TO the war, properly appreciate the
power of the north. However this may have
bee n elsewhere, 1t was not SO with my own state
Virginia entered upon the war in no triing
spirit, but with deep appreciation of the charac-
Ter OF those who would be her opponents in the
struggle.
Would, gentlemen, that forbear ance and diplo-
macy could have averted that dreadful ordeal
| Would that that war could have been avoided
| panorama unrOllod.
Those woes, gentlemen, have been keenly felt
by u.s. and the furrows lett by the war in this vi
when you see this that you will make allowance
for the weakness and frailty Of human nature.
fear there many New England hOmes-and
when we speak of such home we know that il is
the center of educated and deep atiection-I feel
that there is many a home with you whore the
shadow OF the bier still remains, from which, If we
lit the cloth even IN n whisper the tear will be
seen upon many furrowed cheek We stand
gentlemen. in respectful and sorrowing silence in
the presence Of such scene, though distant from
us, and l am sure that you also, with soldierly
cha Iaeisr, will indusentiy regard the feelings Of
lam happy, gentlemen, that time is accomplish
ing Its benehcent wo rk, and that each year, as II
healing the wounds Which We're received in il
The business relations of life are maxim friends
OF those who were foes, while the amenities of
social intercourse are smoothing out Of sight the
harsh recollection of the past.
Let Us hope that each successive year will work
those things which are behind, let us press for
ward 10 that consummation Of peace and good
VIII which all true men must earnestly desire,
@Gentlemen, beg leave now, in conclusion, re-
curing to the object OF my opening address, TO
renew the expression of our kindly feelings TO-
ward you, anu let me add the assurance that IL
will be the chief care of all our people, while you
are In our midst, that nothing shall occur to ma
the pleasure of your visit. Let me hope that In
returning to your homes you will bear with you
friendly rec collection of ourselves.
Col. Wright on behalf of the visitors
responded in felicitous and we'll chosen terms
both speakers being applauded to the echo
and then came an assault upon the feast that
in vlgor and completeness of results was
thorough testimonial to the quality of the
vians and the appetite of the Now England
man turned loose. The threo bands present
left no cause of complaint on tho score of in.
suficiency of music Col. Wright was pre-
sented with magnificent bouquet; three
cheers and tiger were given with a will for
the mayor, city council confederate veterans,
ladies of Virginia and Winchester, and then,
after an hour OF social commingling tho visi-
tors formed in limo and marched out to Camp
Emory, where n camp fire is lighted tonight
by the Bath Massachusetts.
The evidences of good will with which the
northern veterans have been received have
been at all stages of tho most unmstakable
character. At lIarper's Ferry the details and
management OF all provisions for their enter
tainment were left in the hands of the local
post of the Grand Army of the Republic the
members Of which certainly did all in their
power to meet the requirements of the occa-
sion, but here everybody seems to have taken
nar afrsk q, tl,nt, Il