Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-06-23
EARLY REcOLlEcrIONs.
Interesting "Reminiscences by an
Old Citizen.
A Banquet Given to Henry Clay, John J.
Crittenden and Other Statesmen,
at the Virginia House,
In 1887.

As the reporter entered the room the Old
citizen laid aside the newspaper he had
been perusing, removed his spectacles, and
after exchanging words Of greeting with his
visitor, said:
81 have been reading, with considerable
intert st, the discussion which has been 60
ing on in one or two Of the Pittsburg papers,
as 10 the exact time of the visit made BY the
Marquis De Lafayette to the cities along
the upper Ohio. on the occasion Of his re
turn from New Orleans, in 1925. re-
member
HIS VISIT TO WHEELING
well. He was given a banquet aud ball,
and was afterwards escorted out OF town 10
great style when be took the stage for l Mon
town, on his way to Pittsburgh"
The old gentleman meditstive'y wiped
his glasses, and continued:
thinking over the matter has brought to
nv mind another occasion on which our
citizens turned out to pay homage TO
celebrity who, however, won his way
10 the hearts of the people BY other and far
different methods than those pursued BY the
distinguished Frenchnan, and that was an
impromptu but nevertheless most
ENJOYABLE BANQUET
gotten up in honor of that well-beloved
statesman, Henry Clay, and his worthy and
able colleague, John ]. Crittenden. To be
sure il was only one of many similar dem
onstrations made by our citizeus.in honor Of
these gentlemen, but have a peculiarly
distinct recollection OF this particular oe
easion by reason Of an incident occurring
during the visit, of which, however, shall
not speak.
"The time OF which l speak was one OF
INTENSE POLITICAL EXCITEMENT,
It being the fall of 1887, just after the ad.
ournnent OF Congress. Messrs, Clay and
Crittenden were en- route home, after wit
Messing the defeat of what was known as
he SUB Treasury bill, and the occasion was
deemed fitting one to give popular expires
sion to the general feeling OF rejoicing over
the downfall of the measure. Messrs. Clay
and Crittenden arrived by stage on Wednes
day morning, October lS, and on the fact
becoming known a meeting was held, al
which l, although but a young man, was
present, and after discussion IL
was resolved to tender the distinguished
visitors public dinner. A letter of invi.
alion was accordingly drawn up, in which
he Virginia Hotel, then kept by a Mr..
8eltztCoyer, on Main street, near the bridge,
vas named as the place, and 3 o'clock on
he afternoon of the following day as the
me. Theletter was signed By c. ID. Knox,
Iohn Eoff, W. f. Peterson, Moses Chap.
me, George Dulty, S. Brady, Samuel
7pIigg, J. Z Whar on, and quite number
If Others whose names l can not recall
The meeting, think, was presided over BY
J.hn Newly.
THIS INVITATION
vas duly despatched to the gentlemen to
Ehom it was addressed, but much to the
surprise and chsgrin of those having the at
fair in charge the invitation was declined
in letter Of which l have a copy in my
desk"
The letter. being forthcoming after short
search, read as follows:
WHEELING, 10Th Oct. 1887.
"GEYTLENEN-We should have been most
happy to have been able to accept the in
-itation with which we have been houored,
by a portion OF the citizens Of Wheeling, to
4 public dinner; but our anxiety to rejoin
our families, during the present short recess
of Congress, will not allow US that satistac'
ZION.
1T is gratifying to Us to learn that the to-
position which we were constrained, by
nigh sense OF duty, to make TO certain
measures of the administration, proposed
he late session of Congress, is approved By
you. 1t would have been far more agree
able to Us TO have found measures brought
forward by it, adapted to the exigency Of the
lines, and corresponding with the wants
and the Just expectations of the People
We were greatly disappointed in those which
we're actually presented; and were com
PEELED to believe that the principal one fit
had been adopted, would have proved
RUISOUS TO THE COUNTRY,
highly injurious to the rights and the indie
pendence of the States, and would have
tended vastly to augment the already over
grown power of the Executive branch of the
Government. 1t was fortunately defeated;
out the spirit which prompted it is still
active and undisturbed, and it now depends
upon the people themselves whether q mea
sure, frsught, as we believe, with imminent
hazard to our free institutions shall b.
inally adopted or not.
we request, Gentlemen, that you will
communicate our cordial thanks, and our
respectful acknowledgements, to those o
our fellow. citizens of Wheeling who have
done US the honor to tender US the comph
ment of q public dinner. In reluctantly de
cliniI it, we are sensible of the very great
pleasure of which we are obliged to deprive
ourselves.
with sentiments of highest regard aud
esteem, we are, Gentlemen, your friends and
obedient servants, 81. CLAY,
~. J. CRlTTENDEN."
"0f course" continued the old gentle.
man, when thereporter had finished making
u copy Of the document, this was quite
disappointment to our people, but things
turned out better, as shall proceed to re
late. The Kentuckians had intended to leave
and | knew any moment / might be ex.
by boat early Thursday afternoon but the
steamer did not arrive, and as quite nun
Der Of Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee mem
bers of Congress had arrived in that day By
stage from the East, it was determined thai
the dinner
SHOULD TAKE PLACE,
although there was no time to provide any
thing but the ordinary everyday fare. A
committee accordingly waited upon the
travellers, and about three or four clock all
sat down to the table in the dining room OF
the Virginia House, myself among the
lumber, while outside almost the entire
male population was gathered.
when the cloth had been removed wine
and whisky was brought in, and
ToAsTs WERE DRANK
to the United States, to President Van
Buren,, etc. When Mr.. Clay had been
toasted he responded with one Of his re,
msrksble speeches, concluding by Offering
as sentiment: The People: The Best and
Only Safe Doctors-the Franchise the Only
NJ e..