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Part I - The
Third Congress
BY A. C. FLOYD.
It is the intention of
our Society that our annual volumes shall contain a complete record of
all the important facts relating to the organization. Many of these
facts cannot well be included in the formal report of proceedings, and,
therefore, it is necessary that each yearly volume shall contain a
supplementary article similar to this.
The origin and objects of
the Society, and its history up to . the time of their publication, were
included in our first and second volumes. It is unnecessary, therefore,
that this sketch should deal with those subjects.
The report of the
Executive Committee for the year ending with our Louisville Congress
contains a general review of our progress during the period which it
covers. From this report, it will be seen that our executive plans have
been reduced to a satisfactory system, and that our advancement has been
very gratifying in every respect. It will also be seen why Louisville
was chosen as the place for holding our third Congress in preference to
San Francisco, Charlotte, or Atlanta—all of which sent us pressing
invitations. Louisville is about the center of our membership, and,
indeed, of the whole Scotch-Irish population of this country.
In Kentucky, as in
Tennessee and Pennsylvania, the Scotch-Irish constitute the most
numerous and influential part of the population. Daniel Boone, the first
explorer and settler of the State, and the people who followed him to
Central Kentucky, were from the Scotch-Irish settlements of North
Carolina. The great body of the immigration which poured into the State
during the years immediately following this original settlement were of
the same stock. Living as the race did, on the western frontiers of the
original States, from Pennsylvania to Georgia, it was natural that they
should constitute the first wave of population which overflowed the
Alleghanies and poured into the fertile lands of the Mississippi Valley.
The course of this
immigration was mainly on east and west lines. The great body of
Tennessee's first settlers were from North Carolina; those of Kentucky
were most largely drawn from Virginia. Being the first coiners and the
boldest, hardiest of all pioneers, it was natural, also, that they
should take possession of the fairest portions of the land. They were
the people, moreover, above all others to retain what they had acquired;
and their descendants to this day hold the vantage-ground which the
courage and enterprise of their fathers gained for them. The men of this
race have been the leading spirits at every stage of the State's
history. This fact was never more strikingly manifest than now. No State
in the Union has more distinguished statesmen and orators, and they are
Scotch-Irish almost to a man. Among them are Carlisle, Blackburn,
Breckenridge, Knott, Watterson, Lindsay, Buckner, and McKenzie. What is
true of her public men is equally true of her private citizens. The
leading element in every business and profession is of this stock. They
constitute the predominant element in Louisville, as in other parts of
the State.
The invitation to hold
our Third Congress in Louisville was extended in the name of the city by
her representative bodies, the Scotch-Irish Society of Kentucky, the
Board of Trade, and the Commercial Club. All the arrangements for our
entertainment were of the most generous character. What these
arrangements were in detail may be seen by reference to the report of
our Executive Committee, to which allusion has already been made.
Suffice it to say here, that they were similar in character to the
provisions made for our entertainment at Columbia and Pittsburg. As
first organized, the local Executive Committee consisted of Gen. James
A. Eakin, Chairman; Mr. Helm Bruce, Secretary; Maj. Clinton McClarty,
representing the Scotch-Irish Society of Kentucky; and Messrs. P. N.
Clark and John S. Morris, representing the Commercial Club and Board of
Trade respectively. After the death of General Eakin, whose loss is
profoundly felt, Maj. McClarty, President of the Louisville Clearing
House, was made Chairman of the committee. Other comitteemen, whose
names appear in another part of this volume, were afterward appointed.
To all of them the thanks of our Society are due, but to Maj. McClarty
and Mr. Bruce we owe a special debt of gratitude. Maj. McClarty was
especially active on the Finance Committee, and largely through his
efforts a handsome fund was raised for defraying the expenses of the
occasion. Mr. Bruce had upon him the burden of nearly all the details of
management. The amount of time and work necessary to the successful
discharge of such duties can only be realized by those who have actually
performed them.
Notwithstanding the
demands of a very extensive law practice, Mr. Bruce found time to carry
every detail to completion.
Mr. James Ross Todd,
Chairman of the Reception Committee, and Captain J. B. Briggs, who was
largely instrumental in drawing the Congress to Louisville, are also
especially entitled to the high appreciation which we feel for their
active efforts in providing for the entertainment of visitors.
Following the usual
custom, special invitations were sent to members of the Society, and to
several thousand prominent Scotch-Irish people throughout the country. A
general invitation to the race at large was issued through the press all
over the English-speaking world. The Governors of Kentucky, Tennessee,
and Ohio called attention to the importance of the Congress, and gave it
their official sanction. Their proclamations are as follows:
Governor Buckner's
Proclamation.
Executive Office, Frankfort, April 19, 1891. To the Public.
By invitation of the
Board of Trade, Commercial Club, and citizens of Louisville, the
Scotch-Irish Congress will convene in that city on the 14th day of May
of the present year.
This meeting will ho of
peculiar interest to Kentuckians, with whose early history the heroic
actions of this sturdy race are so closely interwoven; and the citizens
of the State will deem it a privilege to welcome to this Congress the
representatives of this illustrious race from all parts of America.
No political or sectarian
significance attaches to this assemblage. Its mission will be to revive
memories of the American Ulster race, and to collect materials for
compiling a history showing its impress on modern civilization, and
especially on American institutions.
S. B. Buckner.
Governor Buchanan's
Proclamation.
Executive Mansion, Nashville, Tenn, April 11, 1801.
To Whom It May Concern.
The Scotch-Irish
Association of America will hold its third annual Congress at
Louisville, Ky., on the 11th day of May next. Tennessee gave birth to
this Association, the objects and purposes of which are so worthy,
being, among other things, to impress upon the pages of history the
heroic deeds of the sons of the Scotch-Irish race. By this race
Tennessee was conquered from savage men and beasts. Tens of thousands of
Tennesseans to-day have this blood in their veins. Her illustrious
citizens, Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, James Robinson, Samuel Houston,
David Crockett, and numerous other of her historic citizens were of this
race. Hence Tennessee should be well represented in this Congress. I
therefore request that Tennessee sons of this blood, wherever they may
be, attend this Congress, and thereby honor the heroes, statesmen, and
patriots of a race whose deeds and fame have given prestige to our State
and shed glory upon the page of our national history.
John P. Buchanan, Governor.
Governor Campbell's
Proclamation.
Governor Buchanan, of
Tennessee, has issued a proclamation calling the attention of the people
of that State to the coming meeting of the Congress of the Scotch-Irish
Societies of America, at Louisville, Ky., May 14-17, 1891. In his
announcement he sets forth that Tennessee owes much—in fact, every
thing—to this blood for her renown. He names Andrew Jackson, James K.
Polk, Sam Houston, and Davy Crockett as representatives of the blood who
gave to the State her eminence, all of which calls to mind the fact that
Ohio is rich in Scotch-Irish blood. Had it not been for the daring and
skill at arms of George Rogers Clarke, who was sent to the Ohio country
during the Revolutionary War by Patrick Henry, also of the intrepid
blood, and who wrested the north-west territory from the British, it is
quite likely that the southern boundary of Canada would be the Ohio
River instead of Lake Erie. Ohio is indebted to the greatest
Scotch-Irishman of them all, Thomas Jefferson, for the articles of
cession by the State of Virginia to the Federal Government, in which it
was provided that there should be no slavery in the territory after the
year 1800, the first emancipation proclamation in America. Not only
this, but our first Governor, Arthur St. Clair, was of this blood. And
how great is our indebtedness to the memory of such men as General
Anthony Wayne, Colonel Johnson, and Simon Kenton, whose bravery made
Ohio a possible haven of peace for the pioneer! . . . Not only this.
There is no line of action worthy of honorable human endeavor that has
not been followed by the Ohio Scotch-Irishman. To-day he fills nearly
all the offices in the State-house. He is on the bench, at the bar, at
the head of colleges and schools, in the pulpit, and his hand is at the
helm of that great moral engine, the press. The Scotch-Irish of Ohio
have a record equal to the Scotch-Irish of Tennessee or Kentucky. The
object of the Association is the laudable one of preserving American
history (for all Scotch-Irishmen are true Americans, and their blood
stained the battle-fields of both the first and second war for
independence. They were with Scott and Taylor in Mexico; with Sam
Houston in Texas; with Jackson in Florida; with Grant and Sherman, with
Lee and Jackson in the late war between the States. And this calls to
mind that the second object of the Society is to bring together in good
fellowship the men of the North and the South.
James A. Campbell, Governor
of Ohio.
Owing to our increased
numbers and influence, the prestige coming from the success of our
former gatherings, and the more extensive press notices both in America
and in foreign countries, the interest in this Congress was more
wide-spread and the attendance of representative people of the race
larger than on any former occasion.
Unfortunately, several
other public gatherings, whose dates had not been decided on when ours
was fixed, were held in Louisville at the same time our Congress was in
session. For this reason the city was very much crowded, and many
visitors could not secure such hotel accommodations as they desired.
This gave the people of Louisville an opportunity to display the
hospitality for which they are so celebrated. All who would accept their
hospitality were generously accommodated at private residences, and the
difficulty was thus, in a large measure, happily overcome.
The crowded condition of
the city, made known through the daily press, kept away many who
otherwise would have attended, especially people living in territory
accessible to Louisville by a few hours' travel. The morning sessions of
the Congress were held in the Masonic Temple Theater, and the evening
meetings at the Polytechnic Hall. Both of them are large and comfortable
auditoriums, situated near the center of the city. The order of the
exercises and the proceedings, including the addresses of the occasion,
will be seen in the following pages. The eloquence of their delivery was
equal to their literary merit, which will appear from a perusal of them.
The programme was
interspersed with splendid music, furnished by the Rogers Cornet Band,
of Goshen, Ind., which has no superior in the rendition of popular
music, especially Scotch and Irish airs, to which they have devoted
particular attention. Mr. Charles E. Rogers, leader of the band, had
composed especially for the occasion "The Scotch-Irish March," dedicated
to Col. T. T. Wright, originator of our Society. It was called for by
the audience time and again, and always elicited the most enthusiastic
applause.
On the first evening of
the occasion, after the regular exercises of the Congress were over, a
reception was given at the Galt House by the Scotch-Irish people of
Louisville to the members of our Society and other visitors attending
the Congress. For several hours the spacious parlors and halls of this
great hotel presented a scene of rare social distinction and enjoyment.
Such an array of noted men and accomplished women is seldom witnessed;
nor was the appearance of the company less noticeable than its
distinction. The strikingly large number of stalwart men and handsome
women shows that the race still retains its physical as well as mental
and moral superiority. Elegant refreshments were served to the guests,
and delightful music lent its charms to the occasion. The
acquaintanceships formed at this reception brought visitors, at the
beginning, into pleasant social relations among each other and with 'the
people of Louisville, thus rendering the remainder of their stay in the
city in the highest degree enjoyable. This was, however, but the
beginning of social attentions paid us by our generous hosts. They threw
open their houses, their clubs, and places of public entertainment, and
took their guests to the various points of interest in and around the
city. The Louisville Hotel was official head-quarters, and here were
gathered all the Scotch - Irish visitors who could secure
accommodations. Through these various means our people were brought into
closest and friendliest contact. The result here was, as it has
elsewhere been, not only social pleasure of the highest order, but the
establishment of strong personal friendships between representative
people from different parts of our country, which are peculiarly
effective in obliterating sectional prejudices. A dozen distinguished,
public-sentiment-making men will do more toward drawing the people of
their common country together in bonds of true sympathy than a host of
uninfluential persons. The effect becomes enhanced if they represent
various pursuits, and come together for the purpose of stimulating
broad-minded patriotism, and not as the members of some sect or party,
seeking to advance some particular doctrine or interest. Some societies
have a greater number of members than we, and others as many
distinguished men; but no one of them, perhaps, brings together so many
leading molders of public sentiment from every section, and from so many
fields of thought and activity. Because of these reasons, and the
patriotic character of our his^ torical work, our Society is performing
a unique office in pro^ rooting good feeling among the different
sections of our country, and in intensifying a love of American
institutions.
The exercises of the
Congress proper closed on Saturday night, May 16, but the local
committee had arranged for religious exercises on the Sabbath. By
previous invitation, visiting ministers occupied the various pulpits of
the city in the morning, and at night there was a grand religious
mass-meeting at the Auditorium. This great building, holding about four
thousand people, was packed to its utmost capacity, and thousands more
were turned away for the want of room. The service was conducted after
the old-time Covenanter fashion. Rev. Dr. Samuel Hamilton, who had been
chosen to preside, was too unwell to do so, and his place was filled by
Rev. Dr. Hemphill. Rev. Dr. John Hall, of New York, preached the sermon
of the occasion. Only psalms were sung, and they were given out line by
line. The Scripture lessons read were explained by passages. The service
was new to many of the younger generation, but it carried hundreds of
the older people back to the customs of former years, and revived in
them affecting memories. All the assembled thousands joined in the
singing, which was grand beyond description. A spirit of deep devotion
seemed to pervade the great audience as they listened to the impressive
Scripture lessons, the earnest prayers, and the eloquent sermon,
characterized by the power of thought, yet grand simplicity of language
which distinguishes the great preacher. Being composed of a race
distinguished for its devout spirit, our Society, though entirely
non-sectarian, is thoroughly religious in character. A great religious
service, therefore, is a fit climax for our annual gatherings.
Our people left
Louisville with a deep sense of appreciation for the splendid
hospitality of their entertainers, and warm, fraternal feelings toward
each other. All were gratified with the success of the occasion, and
more than ever determined to use every effort to advance the interests
of our Society. We enter a new Society year with auspicious prospects
for the continued success which we confidently hope will be realized.
Part II -
Addresses
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Louisville's Greeting
to Erin's Sons.
A poem by Mr. Wm. McCready
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The Scotch-Irish of the
Bench and Bar.
By Hon. A. E. Stevenson, of Bloomington, Ill
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Patriotism of the
Scotch-Irish.
By Prof. George Macloskie, of Princeton, N. J.
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Scotch-Irish influence
upon the Formation of the Government of the United States.
By Rev. J. H. Bryson, D.D., of Huntsville, Ala.
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The Scotch-Irish Race
Among the Nations.
By Rev. Dr. Thomas Murphy, of Philadelphia, Pa.
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The Scotch-Irish of
California.
By Mr. Terence Masterson, of San Francisco, Cal.
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The Scotch-Irish in
East Tennessee.
By Judge Oliver P. Temple, of Knoxville, Tenn.
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Andrew Jackson.
By Rev. D. C. Kelley, of Tennessee
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Facts about Ulster.
By Rev. Dr. John Hall, of New York
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The Scotch-Irish of
Kentucky.
By Judge William Lindsay, of Frankfort, Ky.
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The Scotch-Irish in
Canada.
By Rev. Stuart Acheson, A.M., of Toronto.
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Our Pledge to
Posterity.
By Rev. John S. Macintosh, D.D., of Philadelphia, Pa.
Papers Contributed.
In Memoriam.
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W. J. Frierson,
Oakland, Cal. Born Jan 8, 1810; died Oct. 21, 1890, Aged 80 years, 9m
13d.
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James Todd, Louisville,
Ky.
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Matthew T. Scott,
Bloomington, Ill.
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John Orr, Steubenville,
O.
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Thomas Wilson,
Freeland, Pa.
List of Members
Books and Pamphlets
Contributed
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