Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-08-14
An Enthusiastic Demonstration by
Old Soldiers Of Both Armies.
Memorial Meeting at the Court
house, oratlons by Distinguished
Gentlemen.
Letters of Regret from Prominent
Invited Guests.

~ "AAbO AN WI ~ 49,
nationalities and political persuasions
assembled at the courthouse at a
o'clock last evening for the purpose
of paying tribute to the memory Of
Gen. U. S. Grant, one of Americas
greatest soldiers and statesmen. The
programme as published called for a
grand street parade, but owing to the
absence of the governor, the inabiII5.0
secure the Firemens Silver Cornet Band
and several other minor causes which
arose to prevent, the white organiZa.
tions of the city did not join in the
procession, but went directly to the
courthouse where the services were
to be conducted.
The following were the officers of
the day: Grand Marshal, Col. G. G.
Floweree, of the 9TH Virginia Infantry,
Picket's division, Longstreet's corps,
army Northern Virginia, G. S. A.;
Aids, Capt. John D. Tinney, 9lst
Pennsylvania Infantry, corps Army of
the Potomac, u. S. A.; G, G. Pegram,
SWEETS battery, Claiborn's division,
Army of Tennessee, G. S. A.; Eugene
A, Forbes. 25th Wisconsin Infantry
Washburn's Corps, U. S. A. Assem-,
bled on the platform and portico Of
the Courthouse were about two
hundred members of the various
committees, invited guests and orators.
The services were opened with prayer
by Rev. DR.. Woodward. After which
Col. R. V. Booth came forward and
said:
My FELLOw-COUNTRYMEN: We have
met to-day to unite with the Nation in
doing honor to the memory of one of
the most illustrious of American citi-
zens. The man, who, as commander
of the Federal armies, fought to a sue
cessful issue the great battle Of the re-
bellion, who. when the war had ended,
gave utterance to that immortal senti.
ment which is indissolubly associated
with his name, "Let us haze peace
and who as president of the United
States for two consecutive terms, com.
manded the universal homage and re-
spect Of civilized man.
And as a testimony of the regard in
which you, sir, are held by the people
of this community, you have been Sc
lected by the committee in charge to
preside over the deliberations of this
vast assemblage. 1t is with pleasure,
fellow-countrymen, that l present to
you as your chairman the Hon. T. NJ.
Miller.
Mr.. Miller addressed the meeting as
follows:
My FELLOW CITIZENS : I would ask
a moments indulgence before formally
assuming the duties of the chair to
say a few words suggested by the
occasion.
A stranger from another planet who
should be permitted a birds eye view
of our land under its present aspect
might we'll be astonished and would
ask why these long lines of Grape
decked houses whence this universal
lamentation, these slowly winding
professions, these mournful chants?
A fitting answer would be !: a Great
Nation mourns her Greatest-a busy,
money getting machine-making Nation
has enough of hero-worship left in it
to lay aside all usual occupation to
quell all public animosity ; to still all
private spite and as n nan pause to
drop a tear and lay a laurel wreath on
the grave of her most distinguished
soldier.
Fortunate was his star, great his
achievements, and long and loud the
applause his career elected. But the
most singular and unique tribute that
was ever given to any conqueror is his
to-day, and it is this: that, from the
scene of his greatest triumph, the
place that he brought all his genius and
all his force to seige and batter and
storm and shell, that suffered the hu-
initiation of conquest at his hands,
should come a deep and lasting grief
for his death, a universal lament for
his s~ufferlngs.
Yes, in 1868, Gen. Grant conquered
us and left US with heart sore and
bruised. But in 1875, when another
hour, as dark if not darker, came to
Vicksburg; when all that honorable
men hold dear, hung trembling in the
balance; when every conceivable pres
sure was brought to bear on President
Grant to induce him to order troops
here to keep US down in the dust by
brute force, he refused. Then he con-
quered us a second time, and forever.
Then men saw the great soldier
sink to be the mere partizan-
the big.hearted president could not be
blinded to the wants and needs Of his
people by sectionalism.
Let the gentle South winds 20
freighted with sympathetic sorrow, as
messengers to the bereaved family of
the immortal dead, and likewise to the
homes Of our Northern brethren who
mourn with us to-day.
Henceforth no more shall it be said
that to Caesar alone it wa given to be
a mighty captain, mighty ruler and
mighty writer.
Open, earth; for we come to lay
within your bosom a greater than
Caesar in that he adds to this list Of
titles another and a higher-that of
christian gentleman.