Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1884-11-13
PROCTOR KNOTT.
4 Ham0rovs Spccch By Kcnociy'S Gorcnor
ia 1870.

Proctor Knott, at Kentucky, made a , cry
humorous speech in May, 1870, on propo-
sition to pave Pennsylvania avenue at the
public expense. He gave as one reason
why this should be done, chat the avenue
is 50 much used by the horde ofotice-holdefs
that throng the thoroughiares Of Washing
ton. For. sir" said Mr. Knott, 90 il there
is being on this earth for whose comfort
and convenience entertain the profoundest
solicitude. if there is one whose smallest
want stirs my sympathetic soul to its serenest
depths. II is your Office holder, your public
functionary. When see oneof that noble
army OF martyrs bidding adieu TO his home
and all the sweets OF private life, for which
he Is so emnently fitted by nature to iu-
molate himselfupon the altarof his country's
service for four long years, Homer's touch
ing picture of the last lad scene between the
noble Hector and his weeping family rises
before my sympathetic Imagination. When
see him plunging recklessiy into al Office
of the duties of which he is profoundly aud
deiiantly ignorant, am reminded of the
self-sacrifcng heroism Of Curtus when he
leaped into the yawnng gull which opened
in the Roman forum. When behold him
sadly contemplating his majestic features
in one Of those gorgeous and costly mirrors
which is furnished him at the public ex-
pense, my heart goes out to him in sympa-
thy. When | see him seated sorrowfully
at miserable repast Of sea-terrapin and
champagne my very bowels yearn for him.
And when see him performing, perhaps,
the only duty for which he is fully compe-
tent, signing the receipt for his monthly
pay, am so overwhelmed with pity for his
miserable condition that ! wish ] were in
in his place. When such considerations as
these. sir, have come crowding upon my
mind. appealing to every generous sentiment
OF my better nature when have thought
how the official nerves of our poor neglected
public servants are racked by the car rat
tling DER the stoney stones have felt I'M
der the sudden impulse Of the moment, that
we ought 10 tear up the old cobbe-stone
pavement on the avenue and supply its
place with one Of the new-fashioned patent
wooden ones, over which the splendid car
riages Of our government officials with their
coats of arms and liveried outriders might
glide a. smooth and noiselesslyas the aerial
car of the fairy queen through the rose
tinted clouds of the upper ether" Mr..
Knott disclaimed anything but the kindest
feelings toward the people of Washington.
L" i rejoice" said he, to know that they are
so fortunate as to have the privilege Of en-
loving the fruits of the governments mu-
nificence in improving the Nations Capt.
tai But DO hope that after we shall
have paved and lighted all their streets for
them, after we shall have supplied all their
houses with water. after we shall have con
tributed in every possible way to their COM
fort. convenience and tastes. they will not
insist on our making an appropriation 10
pay salaries to the little cast-iron niggers
which see some gentlemen have put up IN
front Of their houses to hitch horses TO-"