Escorted to the city.
A special car, with a committee headed by
Hon. Hamilton Douglas and
Colonel Carter, went to
Washington last Thursday night to escort Mr. and
Mrs. O'Ferrall to the city.
They arrived back last night and from that moment to this the distinguished gentleman and lady have been the recipients of marked social attention.
As a special compliment to
Virginia,
Governor Northen granted the use of the
State Capitol for the public demonstration, which is at this moment in progress.
A magnificent audience answered the call of the
Virginia Society.
Hon. Hamilton Douglas presided and gracefully introduced
Congressman Charles T. O'Ferrall, the orator of the occasion.
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In concluding his speech
Mr. Douglas said:
We Georgians have with us to-night as orator on this occasion as knightly a veteran as ever galloped into the jaws of death.
Brave, gallant, and generous, he poured cut his blood through a dozen wounds to prevent the enemy from violating the sanctity of our State.
We have with us one who has succored
Turner Ashby and Jeb Stuart and
Wade Hampton and Pierce Young on many a stricken field, and turned defeat into glorious victory.
He is a self-made man, highly honored by his native State, on whose shoulders we hope will descend the mantle of
Virginia's gubernatorial honors.
He is one who has renewed
Georgia's obligations to him in effecting the election of
Georgia's second speaker in the
National House of Representatives, and for him I ask a hearty welcome.
I appeal to you, fair ladies, who love brave men, to you, sons of Confederates, for whom he fought and bled while you were in your swaddling clothes; I appeal to you, veteran soldiers, grander than the old guard at
Waterloo, in the name of that
Virginia hospitality which ofttimes shared its last crust with you—to join with me and give a Georgia welcome to
the Hon. Charles T. O'Ferrall.
