The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-23
Magnificent Punch Bowl Given
 to IWqshiip. At HaIchaz
WILLIAMS IS THE SPEAKER
Former Senator Gives History of Old BattIeship Mississippi and Tells How Name Came to Be Given
 to the New War Vessel.

Natchez Miss, May 2.-The Mississippi received her second piece of silver at noon today. when United States Senator John s. Williams in the name of the city of Natchez presented to Cautaln Fremont an exquisite hand-beaten silver punch bowl The gift Is probably the handsomest bowl In this or any other navy. It was made for exhibition at the Jamestown exposit- ion, and is lined with beaten gold. hut because of it's size. holding IS gallons. if old not find purchaser until Natchez decided to give 1t to the Mississippi.
 Senator Williams made the presentation at the opera house in the presence of an immense throng. Captain Fremont. his staff and every officer who could be spared from the vessel were upon the stage to receive it.
 Speech of Williams.
 Mr. Williams said in part:
 Tt is the time-honored custom of the British naval authorities to perpetuato by the designation of new ships those names of older ships which have been endeered to the people by glorious service in behalf of the motheriand It is a cus- tom to be honored in the observance by our own country Going back to the dawn of our history for example, the American navy ought never to be without Bon Homme Richard and a Constitution The name ''Mississippi' should always be at tached to some of the frst-class fighting ships in the fighting line of the American TN y- state which has furnished brave and great men to the nation from the battle of New Orleans and Buene Vista down to now, state of which its sens and daughters are laudably proud and also the nsrne Of tie father of wateL" ashe commercial artery and drainage 0.Ae'neI of three-fourths st a continent but if has been endeared to American sailors and patriots by illus | trious sea service.
 Such were the motives which led me at the suggestion of Lieutenant McGruder of Mississippi to request that the name be given to the magnificent war machine which now lies in this harbor and such no doubt was the motive which led Presl- dent Roosevelt and MT Moody. then Sec retary of the Navy, to comply with the request. When we consider the rapid rejuvenation of Japan, the gigantic strides she has taken in the worlds civilization and business, and what stupendous shadow she now casts athwart the hor- zon of the nations, 1t Is we'll to remem- Der that 1t was from the quarter deck of his flagship, the old Mississippi that Com modore Perry coerced and persuaded the Shogun to the signature of the first treaty which opened the Japanese empire totha commerce and civilization of the world There are those who think her service then a peril to the white race now I am not one of them I am satisfied that the white race can take care of itself" The senator then traced the history of the old warship named Mississippi up to the time of the destruction of Farragut's boat off Port Hudson. on her way to Natchez.
 Spirit of Destiny.
 Perhaps she did not get to Natchez the other time because of the spirit which presides over her destinies. which saw the vision of all who would desire to have her enter in this way rather than In the other way in bloody war; rather amid the plaudits and smiles of the Natchez fair women than amid their mal- edictions and tears; rather with hand shakes than with shot exchanges be- tween the ships crew and the townsmen Who knows? Perhaps the gallant old Perry. who served the union so we'll Is the spirit presiding over the .destinies Of the good ship still, in the service of the new and stronger union. How sweet 1t is, at any rate, to reflect that she is now to serve brethren who dwell to- gether in unity, with no thought or mem ory of enmty to divide them, and with a common destiny to achieve for as her patriotic captain has well safd The navy knows no sections
 With mission to fulfill in the name ,f for. tI,n rIr.If ..,fk7 o,f,l the mission to keep trimmed and burn ing the lamps of American liberty, fra ternity and equality, regulated by Amer ican constitutlonalism. making ready for that great day of universal peace, when the kindly earth shall sumber, wrapped in universal law. and navies themselves shall no longer be necessary.
 t'What wonderful testimony to the complete fraternization of the American people is your presence here today what a wonderful tribute to their superior com mon sense is it that the children of the state of Jefferson Davis. her sons and her daughters should, at this historic town of Natchez, his wfe's old home, welcome with full heart and a glad hand not a generation after mutual blood-letting, the gallant ship. her gallant captain, himself the son of the first ab- olitionist candidate for the presidency.
 Browning Testimonial.
 ''As a complete and crowning testimo- nial of the sincerity and fervor of this welcome, Captain, you will soon. at Horn Island receive as the gift of the state herself a silver service with the noble lineaments engraved upon 1t of the stead fast chieftain of a storm-cradled Confed- eracy which has passed not unworthily into history. As a partial testimonial. an earnest of their fraternal and patriotic welcome, I have the honor today to pre- sent in behalf of the men and women of Natchez, on the hill. and of Natchez, under the hill. for the twain are one today of sweet Natchez rose-embowered and redolent of violets. these pieces of silver to you. Captain Fremont and through you to your man-of-war of glorious name. They are not less valuable because less costly than what shall come later Their value, like that of the wid- ow's, lies in the hope and prayers, and the love that go with them. Let them remind you in distant seas, not only of the duty hereafter doubly behoden to be well performed, but of the sweet land of Dixie, the fairest part of mo- ble common country, only because 1t is the fairest part of the whole earth. When