Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-09-06

life of the early years of the northwest
territory.
It'is a city of most honorable repu-
tatlcn, one blessed with an industrious
and Vlrlfty people, one which has con-
trlbuted not a little to the greatness
OF our common country, as well as to
the state in which 1t is an honored
municipality. 1T is name which
am sure will grace any vessel of the
United States and which will preserve
the very commendable idea of pure
American names for pure American
craft.
therefore commend to you the city
of Marietta as a candidate for an hon
or which am sure will be highly APP
preciated by all our people. Trusting
that you may see fit to take favorable
action upon the matter, am, with as
surance of highest esteem,
Very respectfully yours,
(slgned) ASA S. BUSHNELL,
Governor of Ohio.
On the 9th day of June 1 received
communication from the assistant sec
retary acknowledging my letter and
promising that the request should
have full consideration. On the 28th
of October this beautiful little ship,
which up to that time had only been
known as No. 14-by official order of
the navy department was given the
name Marietta; and If her record up to
the present time is any warrant of
what it will be in future, she will be
an honor to her namesake TO our state
and to the nation; and l predict for
her most honorable and distinguish
ed career, and promise for her what
one of her gunners has already done
nat in every action, so long as powder
and shell last, so shall the Marietta.
Commander Gheen accepted the
beautiful gift in behalf of the officers
and men of the ship. He dwelt on the
practical interest of the citizens of Ma
rietta in the ship, shown by it, an in
terest which was heartily reciprocated,
he assured all
After endorsing Gov. BushnelPs
statement that it was quite fitting that
the ship should be in Boston for he oc-
casion, as long as it could not be at Ma
rietta, hoping that the citizens of Ma
rletta would continue to hear good
reports of the ship, and referring to
her already famous record, and the
fact that, although in commission only
two years, she had already steamed
$4,000 miles, coming last year from
Alaska to the seat of war, he con-
cluded:
Long may she fly the flag, and
wherever she may be, in home port or
on the sea, there will always be cor
dial welcome aboard for the citizens of
MAJ ietta."
Col. j, Payson Bradley, in behalf of
Gov. Wolcott, extended the greetings
of the old commonwealth to the offic-
ers and "men behind the guns" of the
ship, to those present, and to Massa-
chusetts daughter the state of Ohio,
represented by her governor.
Continuing he said in part:
I'VE know the greatness of your
state in resources, in men and ability.
She must be great, as she is daughter
of this old bay state. Marietta, its
oldest settlement, is a name we honor;
one of the most beautiful in history.
The romance of its settlement comes
back to us today, but has been glow
ingly told by Gov. Bushnell. 1t has
been named the second Plymouth rock
of the nation.
Almost within sight of that spot,
here on the very ground where was
struck the first decisive blow for liber.
ty~and within sight of the Constitu-
tion, old Ironsides, let us say for tfi1s
ship:
$50 long as she may be in commits
sion, so long as the flag may fly, re-
member the words of the immortal
Lawrence, on our own Massachusetts
coast, Don't give up the ship"
Mayor Quincy, who spoke naXt,
briefly stated that scarcely anything
could be added to the interest and sig
nificance of the occasion. In behalf
of the city of Boston he extended
greetings to all who had come to as
sist and make noteworthy the appro-
pirate errand> 1t was appropriate that
names of states and cities should be
endowed on naval vessels 1t gives
them local habitation and a name,
and historic associations. The custom
of presenting gifts to their namesake
by the cities was most beautiful and
fraternal.
AS long as the gunboat could not GO
to Marietta, Marietta had to come tj
the gunboat, in the person of her may
or and distinguished citizens. AS the
presentation could not take. place in
Marietta, no more appropriate place
than Boston could have been chosen.
The interests that connect Massa-
chusetts and New England and Bos-
ton as its representative city. with the
pioneer city of Ohio had been fully ex-
planned, more eloquently than could
have been done by him.
The gunboat was worthy of the city,