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Invitations from the
Governor of Georgia and Representative Bodies of Atlanta Asking the
Society to Hold Its Next Congress In that City.
INVITATION OF GOV. NORTHER.
State of Georgia, Executive Department, Atlanta, Ga., May, 1891.
To the Scotch-Irish Society
of America:
It gives me great pleasure
to add my indorsement of the invitation extended by the city of Atlanta to
the members of the Scotch-Irish Society of America to hold their next
annual meeting in this city. I will be pleased to add in any way possible
to the entertainment and pleasure of the members if they will accept the
invitation tendered them.
W. J. Norther, Governor.
INVITATION OF THE MAYOR AND
GENERAL COUNCIL OF ATLANTA.
Whereas the Scotch-Irish
Congress of America will shortly assemble in the city of Louisville, and
the Scotch-Irish Society of Atlanta, representing the Scotch-Irish people
of Georgia, will send a delegation to Louisville;
And whereas a large part of
the population of Georgia is Scotch-Irish, and the race is associated with
the life of the State from the landing of Oglethorpe until now, and has
taken part in the best achievements of our people in war and in peace,
therefore be it Resolved, by the Mayor and General Council of Atlanta that
the Scotch-Irish Congress of America is cordially invited to hold its next
meeting in this city, and the gentlemen representing the local branch of
the Society are earnestly requested to do all in their power to induce the
National Body to accept the invitation.
INVITATION OF THE ATLANTA
SCOTCH-IRISH SOCIETY.
Atlanta, Ga., May 13, 1891.
To W. Hugh Hunter,
Care A. C. Floyd, Secretary
National Scotch-Irish Congress, Louisville, Ky.
Tender our compliments to,
and express our pride in, the National Scotch-Irish Congress. Urge them to
come to Atlanta in 1892.
J. N. Craig, President
Atlanta Society.
INVITATION OF THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE.
Atlanta, Ga., May 5, 1891.
To Col. A. J. McBride.
Dear Sir: At a meeting of
the Board of Directors held to-day, the resolution adopted by the City
Council on yesterday relative to inviting the Scotch-Irish Congress of
America to hold their next annual meeting in Atlanta was indorsed by the
Board, who appointed you to represent this chamber in the matter.
Yours respectfully. H. G.
Saunders, Secretary.
INVITATION OF THE
EVANGELICAL MINISTERS OF ATLANTA.
Atlanta, Ga., May, 1891.
To the Scotch-Irish Society
of America.
We, the undersigned pastors
of evangelical Churches in the city of Atlanta, do most heartily unite
with many others from our city in extending to you a most cordial
invitation to hold your Annual Congress of 1892 in Atlanta.
Atlanta, Ga., May 4, 1891.
The above was adopted by a large number of the members of the Evangelical
Ministers' Association to-day. J. B. Hawthorne, D.D., President; T. P.
Cleveland, D.D., Secretary.
P. S.: There are over fifty members of the above Association, and the
resolution was adopted by a unanimous vote of those present.
T. P. Cleveland, Secretary.
INVITATION OF THE Y. M. C.
A. OF ATLANTA.
Atlanta, Ga., May 12, 1891.
W. Hugh Hunter, Esq.,
Secretary Atlanta Scotch-Irish Society, Atlanta, Ga.
My Dear Sir: Observing with
pleasure the action of our City Council in extending through the delegates
from this city an invitation to the American Congress of the Scotch-Irish
Society to hold its next meeting in the city of Atlanta, as President of
the Young Men's Christian Association, which is among the representative
and successful institutions of our city, I beg to unite with others in
extending to your Society a cordial invitation to hold its next meeting in
this city, where the splendid manhood and characteristic good citizenship
of the American Scotch-Irish is held in deservedly highest esteem.
I am, dear sir, very truly
yours.
Edward S. Gay, President.
INVITATION OF THE GRAND ARMY
POST.
Atlanta, Ga,, May 8, 1891.
W. H. Hunter, Esq.,
Secretary Atlanta Scotch-Irish Society.
Dear Sir: I learn with
pleasure of the contemplated movement to obtain, if possible, the next
meeting of your Society in Atlanta. No better place could be selected, and
you may assure the Society of a hearty and hospitable welcome from the
residents of Atlanta. The Grand Army will unite with you in doing what
they can to bring about this result.
Very respectfully,
THOMAS Kirk, Post Commander.
INVITATION OF THE NORTHERN
SOCIETY OF GEORGIA.
Atlanta, Ga., May 8, 1891.
W. Hugh Hunter, Esq.,
Secretary Atlanta Scotch-Irish Society.
Dear Sir: We learn with
pleasure of the contemplated movement to obtain, if possible, the next
meeting of the Scotch-Irish Congress for Atlanta, and we wish to join
heartily with other organizations of our city in a pressing invitation to
hold their next session here, assuring them on our part of a hearty
welcome.
A. B. Carrier, Secretary.
INVITATION OF THE
CONFEDERATE VETERANS' ASSOCIATION.
The invitation of the
Confederate Veterans' Association of Atlanta was presented by its
President, Hon. W. L. Calhoun, in person. His remarks, together with those
of Capt. McBride and Col. Adair, who presented the invitations of the
other bodies before mentioned, will be found on pages 56-60 of this
volume.
COLUMBIA'S GREETING.
Columbia, Tenn., May 11,
1801.
Columbia, mother of the
Scotch-Irish Congress, sends a benediction to her children and hopes they
will ever remember that "there is no place like home." Here a warm welcome
awaits all the sons and daughters of the Association whenever they come to
her.
Columbia Scotch-Irish.
TELEGRAM FROM THE MAYOR OF
CHICAGO.
Chicago, May 14, 1891.
Thomas T. Wright,
Vice-president Scotch-Irish Society of America.
It is with sincere regret
that I am compelled by press of official business to forego the pleasure
of accepting your kind invitation. Hope the session will be a success in
every way.
Hemp'd Washburn, Mayor.
TELEGRAM FROM THE GOVERNOR
OF TEXAS.
Austin, Tex., May 14.
Hon. Thomas T. Wright,
Vice-president Scotch-Irish Society of America. Thanks for invitation.
Regret I cannot attend. Best wishes.
J. S. Hogg, Governor of
Texas.
TELEGRAM FROM HON. C. H.
JONES, OF ST. LOUIS.
St. Louis, May 15, 1891.
Thomas T. Wright,
Vice-president Scotch-Irish Congress.
Greatly regret inability to
attend your convention. It represents one of the most vital and
progressive forces of American civilization.
C H. Jones, Editor the
Republic.
TELEGRAM FROM THE MAYOR OF
NEW ORLEANS.
New Orleans, May 15, 1891.
Thomas T. Wright,
Vice-president Scotch-Irish Congress.
Please express my hearty
congratulations and full sympathy to the Congress, and regrets at
inability to attend.
Joseph A. Shakespeare, Mayor.
TELEGRAM FROM THE
VICE-PRESIDENT FOR TENNESSEE.
Nashville, Tenn., May 15,
1891,
A. C. Floyd,
Secretary Scotch-Irish Congress.
Accept my congratulations,
and regrets at being unable to attend.
A. G. Adams, Vice-president
for Tennessee.
TELEGRAM FROM THE
VICE-PRESIDENT CALIFORNIA SCOTCH-IRISH SOCIETY.
San Francisco, May 13,
1891.
To H. Bruce,
Secretary Scotch-Irish American Congress, Louisville.
The Scotch-Irish Society of
California sends greeting to the Scotch-Irish American Congress at
Louisville. May its deliberations be harmonious, and the results
beneficial to the Scotch-Irish race throughout the world.
Robert J. Creighton, First
Vice-president.
FROM BELFAST {IRELAND)
DELEGATE.
New York, May 13, 1891.
To Hon. Thomas T. Wright.
Dear Sir: Having had a
protracted and continuous tour in the States and into Canada, returning
via Boston, I have only got back to New York this morning. Owing to the
great fatigue on the journey, I became seized with an illness which
completely laid me up for nearly a week, and has rendered it impossible
for me to undertake the long journey to Louisville, as I had hoped and
desired most earnestly to do. It is, therefore, with the most extreme
regret that I am compelled to give up the pleasure I had anticipated of
attending your Congress as the delegate from the Chamber of Commerce of
Belfast.
Hoping you will have a
large and most successful meeting, I have the honor to be, dear sir, yours
faithfully,
Francis D. Ward.
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF
MEXICO.
Mexico, May 4, 1891.
To Hon. Thomas T. Wright.
Dear Sir: I thank you and
the members of the honorable Scotch-Irish Assembly of America for the kind
invitation which you are pleased to extend me, and am pained to manifest
to you that my numerous duties deprive me of the pleasure of attending, as
I would like, the assembly of this illustrious race which will meet in
Louisville. Mexico will always extend a warm welcome to the Scotch-Irish
people.
Your obedient servant,
President Diaz.
LETTER FROM U. S. CONSUL AT
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND.
Edinburgh, May 2, 1891.
To Hon. Thomas T. Wright,
Vice-president at Large Scotch-Irish Congress of America.
Dear Sir: I was gratified
to see the announcement of the Scotch-Irish Congress for May, 1891, so
widely copied by the news papers of Great Britain. Such gatherings unite
the whole world in closer bonds of friendship. I am sure that you will
have a hearty welcome and a delightful session in the fair city of
Louisville. I still cherish the hospitality and kindness of its people on
the occasion of a visit in 1885, when I attended a gathering to speak of
Robert Burns and Washington Irving. Yours faithfully.
Wallace Bruce.
FROM SALTILLO, MEXICO.
Saltillo, Mexico, April 1,
1891.
To Col. T. T. Wright,
Vice-president Scotch-Irish Society of America.
Dear Sir: I beg to
acknowledge your kind invitation to the Scotch-Irish Congress, to meet in
Louisville, Ky., in May. It would afford me much pleasure to attend, but I
will be unavoidably prevented on this occasion. It is, however, my
privilege to send to the Scotch-Irish Congress the greetings of
Scotch-Irish Americans residing in Mexico, who arc, in accordance with the
practice of their race wherever found, laboring faithfully for the
material development of the country where they sojourn. Being of that
stock myself, I will pledge for the Scotch-Irish Americans in Mexico that,
true to the traditions of their fathers, they will be found always loyal
to the government whose protection they enjoy and faithful to every
obligation.
When your next Congress
meets in 1892 an organization of Scotch-Irish Americans in Mexico will be
knocking for admission to your National Association.
With much respect, I am,
dear sir, obediently yours.
L. T. Woods.
LETTER FROM SCOTCH PILGRIM
FATHERS OF FLORIDA.
De Funiak Springs, Fla.,
May 9, 1891, To Hon. Thomas T. Wright.
Dear Sir: The Scotch
pilgrim fathers and their children, who colonized the West Florida
highlands seventy years ago, send greetings to the Scotch-Irish Congress
at Louisville, and extend them an invitation and a cordial welcome to the
national anniversary of Robert Burns's birthday next year at De Funiak
Springs, Fla.
Respectfully, John L.
McKinnon.
FROM THE MAYOR OF
LONDONDERRY.
Londonderry, April 29,
1891.
To Thomas T. Wright, Esq.,
Vice-president Ulster American Congress.
Dear Sir: I duly received
your very kind invitation to be present at the forth-coming Annual
Congress of the Scotch-Irish Society of America, to be held next month at
Louisville, Ky. I should much like to be with you; but I regret that my
many official duties as Mayor of this ancient and historic city, besides
business engagements, will prevent me being present in person, but I will
be with you in spirit. I cordially sympathize with and commend heartily
the important objects you have in view by your annual gatherings, and I
trust this one will prove the most successful meeting that you have held.
I am not Irish born; I
settled here from my native city of Glasgow fifty-two years ago, and am
the first of Scottish birth that ever held (and now for the second year)
the honorable position of being Mayor and Chief Magistrate of this
renowned city. For fully half a century, therefore, by the good providence
of God, I have been breathing the invigorating air of the " Green Isle."
During these years I have seen thousand's of Erin's "fair women and brave
men" leaving our port for the Continent of America, who, I have reason to
believe, have contributed their quota to make America what she has
become—so famous in education, commerce, science, and in the promotion of
civil and religious liberty. Long may the United Kingdom of Scotland,
England, and Ireland join with the United States of America in promoting
these great ends!
If there be any newspaper
report of your forth-coming proceedings, should a copy be sent me, I will
greatly value it.
Again thanking you for your
invitation, and with warmest greetings, I am, dear sir, yours sincerely,
Aaron Baxter, Mayor of
Londonderry.
FROM FLORIDA.
Pensacola, Fla.
To Thomas T. Wright, Esq.,
Vice-president at Large Scotch-Irish Association of America.
Dear Sir: I regret that
business engagements will prevent my accepting your cordial invitation to
the Scotch-Irish Congress.
Florida is indebted to the
great Scotch-Irish hero, Gen. Jackson, who captured Pensacola, for
benefits now enjoyed by our citizens. This illustrious Ulster race also
gave Florida several of her prominent Governors.
Trusting that your Congress
will prove a success, I am very truly yours.
A.V.CLUBBS.
LETTER FROM THE GOVERNOR OF
OHIO.
State of Ohio, Executive
Department,
Columbus, May 11, 1891.
My Dear Col. Wright: I find
to-day that it will be impossible for me 'to so arrange my engagements as
to enable me to be present at the Scotch-Irish Society meeting in
Louisville. The unexpected length of the session of the General Assembly
has compelled me to alter and rearrange my plans for the next three or
four weeks, and in the pressure I find it unavoidably necessary to drop
this one. You know without my saying it to you what a disappointment this
is. I had hoped to again meet my Scotch-Irish brethren, and renew the
fraternal feeling which was engendered by the re-union at Pittsburg; but a
public servant cannot control his own time, and I must bow to the
inevitable.
Will you please convey my
affectionate regards to all who are present, and oblige,
Yours sincerely, James E.
Campbell.
FROM THE PRESIDENT OF TULANE
UNIVERSITY.
Tulane University of
Louisiana, New Orleans, May 11, 1891. To Hon. Thomas T. Wright.
Dear Sir: I had hoped to be
present at this meeting of the Association, and perhaps to contribute
somewhat toward the historical records of the Scotch-Irish race; but a
heavy pressure of duties prevents me, and I am only able to send you a
line to express my warm sympathy with your movement. It would have added
much to my pleasure to have met you in Louisville, my birthplace, to which
I am warmly attached. I do not doubt that you will receive a hearty
Kentucky welcome and have a pleasant time. I trust that during the coming
year we will organize a good Society in Louisiana.
With kindest wishes and
great respect I am very sincerely yours.
William Preston Johnston.
FROM HON. E. F. CRAGIN.
Chicago, May 11, 1891.
To Mr. T. T. Weight,
Vice-president Scotch-Irish Association.
Dear Sir: I am in receipt
of the kind invitation of your Association to attend its third annual
Congress at Louisville on the 14th. I very much regret that my engagements
prevent its acceptance.
I have read with interest
the reports of your Association heretofore. Nothing but good can come from
such gatherings. May I suggest that it would be well to have a grand
Congress here in Chicago in 1893? The excursion rates will be very
favorable that year, and special facilities are being arranged for
congresses of all kinds, so that it is possible that, after investigation,
you may deem it best to hold the Congress here.
Very truly yours. E. F.
Cragin.
LETTER FROM THE GOVERNOR OF
NORTH CAROLINA.
State of North Carolina,
Executive Department, Raleigh, May 8, 1891.
To Hon. Thomas T. Wright,
Vice-president Scotch-Irish Association of America.
Dear Sir: I have the honor
to acknowledge the receipt of your very kind and courteous letter of the
4th inst., inviting me to be present at the Congress of the Scotch-Irish
Society of America, to be held in the city of Louisville on the 14th inst.
It would give me great pleasure to be present and represent the
descendants of the illustrious Scotch-Irish race of North Carolina, who
have ever been foremost in our State in their devotion to civil liberty,
and whose patriotic action gave to this country the first declaration of
independence, which will place them in the highest ranks of those early
settlers whom this State would delight to honor; but I have called a
convention to meet in this city on that date which demands my presence
here.
Please present to your
Society North Carolina's earnest wish for the continuation of this
Congress of the descendants of those noble patriots, and the hope that
they may be inspired with the patriotic principles and the love of pure
constitutional government which actuated their ancestors to such heroic
deeds and grand achievements.
Regretting my inability to
be present, and thanking you again for your manly utterances concerning
our people, I am very truly yours.
Thomas M. Holt.
FROM THE GOVERNOR OF
PENNSYLVANIA.
Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, Executive Chamber, Harrisburg, May 7, 1891,
To Mr. Thomas T. Wright,
Vice-president Scotch-Irish Society of America.
Bear Sir: I am directed by
Gov. Pattison to acknowledge the receipt of your cordial letter of the 4th
inst., with inclosure, inviting him to attend the Scotch-Irish Congress,
which assembles in your city on Thursday of next week, and to state to you
his sincere regret on account of his inability to do so. The press of
official business attending the closing days of the Legislature requires
his constant time and attention, and forbids the acceptance of any
invitation taking him away from the city. He is greatly interested in the
object of the Society, and earnestly hopes that the coming Congress will
be attended with the greatest success desired by its most ardent
advocates.
Very respectfully yours. H.
D. Tate, Private Secretary.
FROM HON. WILLIAM ELLIOT
GRIFFIS.
Boston, Mass., May 8, 1891.
To Col. Thomas T. Wright.
Dear Sir: I feel it a high
honor to receive from you so cordial an invitation to attend the
Scotch-Irish Congress which assembles at Louisville, Ky., on the 14th of
May. Unfortunately, I am not able to come, as, besides professional
duties, I am preparing for a four months' trip to Europe, leaving in the
Netherlands steamer, "Veendam," May 30. I go especially to study in
Holland, and also in England, Scotland, and Wales, some of the points of
contact between the history of these fatherlands and that of the United
States.
I consider that your
enterprise (the Scotch-Irish Congress) has a noble work before it in
gathering up the scattered threads of history and weaving them into a
great fabric. This is yet to be done concerning the influence and work of
the non-English stocks which have been so powerful in the making of our
national commonwealth. Heretofore American history in the main has been
written almost entirely by New Englanders, and to the descendants of the
Pilgrims and Puritans have been awarded an exaggerated need of praise. It
is safe to say that our United States histories are almost entirely New
Englandish, and even Federalistic. A true and fair history of the United
States from the Democratic point of view has never yet been written; and
this I say, though I have never, as far as I can remember, voted that
ticket either locally or nationally. I am not a prophet nor the son of a
prophet, nor have I any Dutch or Scotch-Irish blood in me; but I believe
the time will come when the just meed of the Dutch, the Huguenot, the
Scotch-Irish, and the German shall be given in American literature and
art. This will not be, however, until a worthy national history is
written. It will be concerning those events like the battle of Alamance in
North Carolina in 1771, where the Scotch-Irish sons of liberty shed their
blood in battle with the oppressive royal Governor (Tryon), and in which
it may be well said that the first blood of the American Revolution was
spilled, as with Bunker Hill, which now makes such a mighty impression on
the national imagination. For the first fifty years after that battle few
Americans were proud of it, and it was little thought of by the general
mass of our people; but when the monument was built, and Webster's great
oration delivered, and societies were formed to celebrate it, and the day
of its occurrence was made a holiday in and around the city near which it
was fought, then it became a mighty figure in national song, story, and
fireside conversation. So, I am inclined to believe, it will be with that
remarkable event in North Carolina which was the prelude of the
Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, on which are so many Scotch-Irish
signatures.
Pardon the inexcusable
length of this missive, and accept my best wishes for an interesting and
fruitful convention, and the furtherance of the great principle on which
our country was founded.
Yours in desire for justice
to all and in love of our common country.
William Elliot Griffis.
FROM THE GOVERNOR OF
FLORIDA.
State of Florida, Executive
Department, Tallahassee, May 13, 1891.
To Hon. Thomas T. Wright,
Vice-president Scotch-Irish Society, Nashville, Tenn,
Dear Sir: I beg to
acknowledge the receipt of your invitation to the Scotch-Irish Congress of
America, which assembles at Louisville, Ky., on the 14th inst., for which
please accept thanks and the assurance of my appreciation.
I regret exceedingly that I
am prevented, owing to the fact of our present session of the Legislature,
from accepting the invitation so kindly extended. I regret the deprivation
all the more as I may present legitimate claims upon the Society; my
paternal grandfather having been a native of Ireland, and my mother, a
Seton, a descendant of that family who occupied a place in Scottish
history. I feel that I have much cause for gratitude to my ancestors for
the concentration in me of a strain of Scotch and Irish—a combination
which has produced some of the great men of history, an illustrious
example of which was manifested in the person of Andrew Jackson, the first
Governor of Florida.
Again thanking you for the
kind invitation, and with the hope that the occasion may be one of eminent
satisfaction and pleasure, I am
Sincerely yours. F. P.
Fleming.
FROM HON. WILLIAM T.
McCLINTOCK.
Chillicothe, O., April 20,
1891. To Helm Bruce, Esq.,
Local Secretary Third Scotch-Irish Congress, Louisville, Ky.
Dear Sir: In reply to the
invitation to attend the Third Annual Congress of the Scotch-Irish Society
of America, to be held in your city May 14-17 next, I beg to say that it
is my intention (D. V.) to be present. I am a member of the National
Society, and take much interest in its proceedings; and if the meeting at
Louisville is as successful as that at Pittsburg last year, it will be an
occasion of much social pleasure, and will tend greatly to cement in
kindly attachment those of kindred blood who shall be fortunate enough to
take part in the proceedings of the Congress.
Yours with much respect.
William T. McClintock.
FROM SENATOR BRICE.
New York, April 4, 1890. To
Helm Bruce, Esq.,
Local Secretary Scotch-Irish Congress, Louisville, Ky.
Dear Sir: Many thanks for
your invitation to the Third Annual Congress of the Scotch-Irish Society
of America, to be held in Louisville May 14-17. I hope to be able to
attend. I am not certain at this time whether my engagements will allow me
to do so; but if they do not interfere, I will take pleasure in being with
you.
Yours sincerely. Calvin S.
Brice.
FROM HON. CHARLES L.
LAMBERTON.
New York, May 13, 1891. To
A. C. Floyd, Esq.,
Secretary Scotch-Irish Society, Louisville, Ky.
Dear Sir: I regret I cannot
be with you at Louisville on the 14th inst. But success to the
Scotch-Irish Congress. These annual meetings are stimulating a wide-spread
interest in this stalwart race and its illustrious deeds.
Its Western sons, in their
exaltation over the bold pioneers who founded two great commonwealths
south of the Ohio, and furnished brave and timely help to its
distinguished son, George Rogers Clarke, to rescue for the Union equally
great States north of it, must not forget the ancestral Ulster-Scotch on
the eastern slope of the Alleghanies, who wrote their names in the
immortal Declaration, and of those others of the race who with sword and
rifle made that declaration good; marching and fighting from Quebec to
Saratoga, to Stony Point and Monmouth, at Brandy wine and Germantown, to
Yorktown and Charleston.
Washington called these
riflemen his "picked troops;" and Froude, Leckey, and Brice give the
Scotch-Irish soldiers of the War of Independence credit for fighting the
Revolutionary struggle to a successful conclusion.
All credit should be given
to those of the race who participated in the "Winning of the West," and
achieved it.
Will not some descendant of
those other brave men rescue from obscurity their heroic deeds and put
their hitherto unwritten story in the imperishable page of history?
Very truly yours. Charles L.
Lamberton. |
