The times., 1899-04-17
FIRST BANQUET IN
JEFFERS0N'S HONOR
Held in Washington in the
Year 1880.
President Jackson One of the Dis
tinguished Guests.
Members of the Cabinet in Attend
ance Twenty-Four Formal
TOasts Drunk Standing.

The anniversary of the birth of Thomas
in many cities recall the first formal cele-
bration of the event, which was held in
Washington on April 13. 1880.
In addition to many members OF both
Houses OF Congress and citizens of Wash
ington there were present President An
drew Jackson, Vice President John C.
Calhoun, Secretary of State Martin Van
Buren, Secretary of War ]. H. Eaton, Sec
retary of the Navy John Branch, and
Postmaster General w. T. Barry.
The dinner was by subscription, and,
while no record has been kept of its
cost, 1t is safe TO say that the diners were
not assessed $40 per plate.
The dinner was given in the Indian
Queen Hotel, famous house on lower
Pennsylvania Avenue, which has since
been replaced by the more modern struc-
ture known as the Metropolitan.
There were twenty-four regular toasts,
but, according TO the custom of the time.
few speeches were made in response 10
them. The guests merely arose and drank
as the set toasts we're announced Follow
ing these came voluntary toasts,". and
then an opportunity was afforded for
oratorical displays from those who felt
so disposed,
The managers of the dinner of 1880
were not careful regarding the probable
| sentiments of the guests, and the result
was that when the voluntary remarks
were In order there was a free expression
of opinion. On that account great political
Importance was attached to the gathering
afterward, and there was considerable
discussion among newspapers not in accord
with the utterances Of some Of the speak
ers.
John Roane. of Virginia, officiated As
President. with the following Vice Presi-
dents: George NJ. Bibb, Of Kentucky; Levi
Woodbury., of New Hampshire; Felix
Grundy, OF Tennessee; C. C. Cambrelenge,
| of New York; William F. Gordon, OF Vir-
ginia, and w. H. overton, of Louisiana.
President Jackson offered the first o; the
voluntary toasts. 1t was Our Federal
| Union: II Must and Shall be Preserved"
That the Vice President did not agree
entirely with the sentiment of the Presi-
dent is evident from the words of his
toast. which came next In order: The
Union: next to our liberty most dear.
May we remember that it can only b. pre-
served by respecting the rights OF the
States and distributing equally the benefit
and burden of the Union"
Then in spirit of harmony Secretary
| of State Martin Van Buren proposed
Mutual fOrDearance ana reciprocal COLI
cession Through their agency the Union
was established The patriotic spirit from
| which they emanate will forever sustain
It,"
Another toast by Andrew Stevenson. oi
Virginia, Speaker Of the House of Repre-
sentatives, was: THE reserved rights OF
the States and Of the people. Let the char
acter OF their defence be an animated mod
| Grafton which seeks only its own and will
never be satisfied with less
Two years ago the National Association
of Democratic Clubs celebrated the 154th
birthday anniversary OF jefferson at the
Metropolitan Hotel in Washington. 1t was
| the most notable observance of the day
since the dinner OF 1880. The metropolitan
was selected on account of its close rela-
| tion with the first anniversary celebration
the dining room of the house occupying the
same site as the old Indian Queen. Al
the 1897 dinner most of the dishes served
were on the menu in 1880.
William Jennings Bryan was the guest
OF honor. it being his first appearance in
the Capital since his defeat for the Presi-
| dency five months before.