Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1838-08-17
PETER PEREGRINE.
SPEECH OF MR.. PRENTIss OF


DINNER, in Boston, in honot of MIR. WEB.
sTER, July "a, 1898.
The Hon. George Blake, one Of the Vice
Presidents. offered the following toast
The state Of Mississippi, and her dsling
uished representative in the late Congress
of the United States we welcome him mos,
cordially, joyfullyin this hall.consecrated by
our Fathers to Nations Independence; he
has fought the good fight, he has kept the
faith, and deserves and will receive the ad-
miration and gratitude Of his country.
The toast was received with immense and
prolonged cheering, waving Of handker
chiefs aGd other expressions of welcome and
pleasure The first part of Mr.. Premises
speech was constantly interrupted by the
most violent bursts of applause AT length,
however, the audience discovered that ii was
their best way to listen in silence, and Mr.
Prentiss was permitted TO go on with only
occasional Interruptions
He spoke as follows
Mr.. President and Gentlemen-Allow
me TO return TO you my most sincere and pro-
found thanks for the houor you have done
to me, and 10 the State which have the
good fortune in part TO represent In re-
turning these thanks, | hardly know in
what mode to express myself Ii has been
my lot 10 address bodies Of my fellow cni-
Gems in various situations and circumstan-
ces, in the halls Of Congress and under the
broad canopy Of heaven in populous cities on
and the banks Of the mighty rivers Of the
West but never before have such emotions
as now feel crowded on my soul for new
er before did hear the echo of my own
voice in old Faneuil Hall.
As | look around, recolections Of the
olden time throng on me, and hardly know
whether 10 address myself TO the dim and
dusky shadows OF the past, or TO the more
4 joyous, the real and palpable forms which
meet the eye. Old Fanoui Hall known
Iihrpnghout the Union as concentrating with
IN It's woIto s"V P"'N >-.'~ ~so''s'---~~ S-,'.~-
of Republicanism, and Whigism, regarded
all over the world as sort OF political Nee
ca, whence from all places may resort those
anxious to drink in at the fountain head the
pure principles of republican liberty. IL
! this Mecca come as pilgrim, anxious an'
ready to do honor to one of the noblest anC
most distinguished of its votaries. Every
rafter and piece of timber in this old Hal
: seems redoent of patriotism and liberty ant
4, would recommend TO those troubled will
? polnical diseases, the blind. the halt, th'
! sore of the political multitude, TO come Il
i this place which may, indeed. be looked up
: on as a sort OF Bethesda for political SINS
T and here to be healed. etthem bur plung
s in at the happy moment when the ange
+ troubles the waters, and they assuredly ma
) come forth pure and fair as when hist d.:
/ missed from the hand OF nature.
5 | came as pilgrim and stranger, br
y being here am now about to claim some
n what more beg you TO excuse my ego
$, ism in so doing, but i am about 10 addres
r YOU, not only as friends, bu. as fellow cit
E. zens for TOO claim to be a native Of IN
d Old Bay State In ioriner times whe
: Maine. now almost q match for her fostt
u mother, sought protection under the wing
q Massachusetts, and constituted q part oil u
s. old Commonwealth, drew my breath wlt
in her limits and under her broad and pr
Effective jurisdiction. But even on high
e, ground, | claim this right of fellowship, tn
I'd riobt TO address you as fellow citizens. AS
ig citizen Jointly with you, of this broad Unlo
e, | come up in common with you, to pay
I'd tribute today which we all owe to him wi
or fonts the battles OF the Constitutlon--batll
o. far greater and more important than Il
h. most tremendous contests of conflicting ply
n. icaI mower. And though | count the di
" ance TO my present home by thousands
u, long and weary miles, yet the motives al
o. feelings which actuate you, are faithful
h. re-echoed from the bosoms Of my fellow CT
zens and myself The safety and haPplane
nc of my State rests on the same broad platloI
nv as yours-that platform pointed out in
K. sentence of your illustrious guest VIII
ar now depicted before you, forms soappro,p
cd ate a motto for the present occasion. (tie
tic MIR. p. pointed to the sentence from W.
Die ster's last speech on the SubsTreasury q
re emblazoned in large letters the front
TO Ilery-"I am where ever have been
ch ever mean to be Understanding on ,,
be. platform of the general constitution, pl
IN. form broad enough and firm enough to
Re. hold every interest Of the whole country
es shall still be found, ,
ole In the best days oil the Roman Repuo
m. he who saved the life of a citizen. was
he warded with civic crown, and the high
am applause ofhs fellows. TO save the life
or. citizen was regarded as the greatest
nd vice which could be rendered to the State
.en But how much greater are the services
hle him who saves a Constitution. Constitul
les. cheaply purchased by the lives OF thousa,n
elc and which would cheapy be preserved
/, TO he lives OF tens Of thousands