Huntsville gazette., 1883-01-13

~,,Mr. Douglas occupied place ct the
he'd Of the central table. and ct his lsft sAt
ex-6enstoR Bruce. who presided. Bishop
Brown sitting next to the senator. The
feast was opened With prayer. and for two
hours the gentlemen devoted themselves to
the consumption Of the viands placed be-
fore them. They thoroughly enjoyed
shsmsslvsa At 10 o'clock
u-snxAroa BsucI
arose to announce that Geo. T. Downing.
Of Newport; DR.. Henry J. Brown, Of Balti-
more; Hon. William Still. Of Philadelphia;
Hon. r. d. RufaAn, Of Boston. and Prof
Chas. Rhasor. Of New York. had sent greet
ings and regrets. He then went on to say
that the gentlemen around him had assem-
bled to do honor to their distinguished fel-
low citizen. Mr.. Douglass. he said. was
marked man, one who would certainly have
distinguished himself In any community
and in any age or condition Of society. He
bad won the love, respect. and esteem OF
his race by his efforts to free and elevate
the black man. Il il . source Of intense
qualification 70 Mr.. Douglas and al his
friends that he has lived TO sse the glori-
ous fruition Of his highest hopes and the
suecessfuI eonsummstion Of his life work.
In the greatness OF big work. the integrity
Of his character. his determination, tenaci-
y Of purpose. his lofty conception. and he
fearlsssnsss. he has illustrstedQin the high.
sst degree the ability. capabilities, and the
qualifications Of his race. The colored
people have been elevated in the ages Of
the world BY the lie Of Frederick Doug
lass. he has shown TO the civilized lvoTld
what . oolorsd man can do and What the
celoesd men can be. He u known ~ f.
milissIy in the old world ss on this side Of
the Atlantic. The speaker closed his In
troductory pAnsgyric With an eloquent
peroration, which elected prolonged ap-
plause. "Our honoysd guest" hs said. in
conclusion. will respond to the sentiment
embodied in the words the day.
THE osATos OF rH1 EvKxIsc
made graceful and grateful acknowledge
msnt in return for the personally compli-
mentary things be had heard. He spoke
iu eulogistic terms Of the chairman. and
congratulated the country upon its good
fortune in having such . citizen, the FIRST
Of his race to sit in the senate OF, the United
States. He modestly disclaimed having
any special ability a. an after'dinner speak
sr. and humorously outlined what he con-
sidsred q model effort in that direction.
Before long, however. he assumed . more
serious tone, and took upa subject upon
which the public likes to hear him dis
course.
Mr.. President and gentlemen. he said.
since you have taksu me into your conf
dence. my life, IS most Of you know, was
begun under . great shadow. Before
made part Of this breathing world the
chains were forged for my limbs, and tho
Whip of slave master was plated for my
back, and while have laboled and suffered
in the cause Of Justice and liberty. have
NO dOleful words 10 utter here tonight. 1t
vas said Of great Irish orator, speaking
Of Irish liberty. that he had rocked it in
its cradle and had followed it TO its grave.
can say Of the colorsd mans liberty
have rocked it in its cradle and witnessed
It's manhood. for stand tonight in the
presence Of emaneipsted millions. He
would b . gloomy man indeed who could
live to see the desire Of his soul accom-
plished. and yet spend his life in brief
am happy TO say now and here that while
my life has been moro Of cloud than sum
shine. more Of storm than calm, it has
nevertheless been cheerful life, with
many computations on every hand. and
not the least among those compensstions,
] reckon the good word aud will which
have come to me on the present occasion.
This high festival Of ours is coupled With
day which We do we'll to hold in sacred
and everlasting honor. . day memorable
alike in the history Of the nation and in
the life Of an emaneipatsd people. This is
tbs twentieth anniversary Of the pEoclama.
tion Of emancipation BY Abraham Lincoln
"a proclamation which made the name of
i.s author immortal and glorious throu sL :
ont the civilized world. That great act Of
his marked an epoch in the life Of the
whole American nation. Reelection upon
II opens TO us . vast wilderness Of thought
and feeling. Han il said to bs On animal
looking before and after. To him alone is
!. given the prophetic vision, enabling him
70 discern the outline Of his future through
the mists acd shadows Of the past. Tbs
day ~ celebrate aGords % IN sminenee
from which We may in : measure survey
both the past and the future. Il 10 ono Of