Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-04-11
Gov Stewards Speech,

could scarcely get out of bed And so ended the LIST
chapter of the bloodless Croton war.
Gov Stewards Speech,
at TEE Festival Of The 81. Pahicks Society," in
albany.
After the following sentiment, Gov. Seward made
the following remarks:
''The Governor of the State of New York"-Gov-
ernors March.
Mr.. President This kindness compels me to
speak, although had hoped to remain silent parta-
ker Of your Inequalities Having risen, l should
be a chursh and ungrateful guest should express
other sentiments and feelings than those which the
occasion inspires. l must speak, as every one who
shall fJllow me, Of Ireland and lrishmsn. Yet,
have been admonished on more occasions than Que,
because it is my fortune TO be- concerned in pub
lie affairs, must not speak of your country and your
countrymen as throughout my whole life have spo-
ken, and as feel every American citizen ought to
speak, unless | may be thought unduly DESTROYS of
your good opinion.
Mr.. President. l have followed plain and simple
rule thus far and think shall not abandon it
II is to speak my honest opinions all proper occa
sions, even when those opinions may be unpopular,
and certainly shall not, such occasions suppress
the feelings Of kindness, gratitude, afiec-
tion, or sympathy, because in any quarter they may
be deemed affected insncere. say, therefore, in
all plainness, that am among you tonght, because
think it is right to be here 1t is duty which,
a citizen, / owe to my country to cherish and to
manifest feelings Of respect Of kindness, and OF equi
ty, towards adopted citizens. Why should aliena
ton exist between native and adopted citizensl-
We are all Of enc race. We have the same passions,
hopes interests, responsibilities, duties and afec-
tons Distant as our native lands asuader there
Lot. cd snntn ada
us such that our moral and faculties must
droop, or such that must lose our virtues when
we leave the spot or the country where we were
born. The whole earth is the home Of man, and he
may rightfully seek happiness and do good in any
part Of this broad heritage. As to us, however 1T
may have been heretofore, we have now cOnst-
tuition to maintain, country to defend. You may
exclude from the calendar of your Saints ministers,
whose teachings venerate, and may not revere all
the christian fathers acknowledged by your church,
vet whatever there is right in your creed, or pure
and ptabe in the worship Of either has the same
divine authority, and is imbued with the same pre-
cious hopes; aud as to all the points wherein we
differ we are alike inhibited from Judging each 9th
err WHY should the native American indulge pre-
udces against foreigners7 Ii is to hate such as his
forefathers were. Why should foreigner dislike
native citzensl IL is but to hate such his children
born here must be.
For my own part, I should be no true American II
did not feel towards your coustry and her sons as
always speak Of them. have had some opPortuni-
ty to learn somethisg Of both, and therefore know
your motives and reasons for expatriation. shall
never forget the indignation with which looked
upon the monuments of the subsection Of Ireland
Many Of YOU may remember an equestrian statue
which graces the College Green in Dublin, and bears
an inscription purporting that il was erected to com
menorate the restoration Of liberty and the esab-
Ishment Of religion in ireland by William OF Or
a.re Protestant as am, I could not wonder that
such monumcn Mt should be regarded as perpetual
insult 10 ireland and rshmen, and that for more than
one hundred years has been necessary to surround
il with a guard on the recurrence Of every seven
teenth Of March, to preserve IL from demolition -
And that majestic palace, the Parliament House
the capitol Of Ireland When saw il converted in
10 bank and its spacious halls that once resounded
with Irish eloquence, now filed with money chan
GERS my mind reverted TO the night when an IRISH
Parliament, corrupted by British influence, betrayed
their country into provincial connsxion with Eng
land felt that had seat there, would ra bet
have been dragged lifcess from the Senate Chanber
than have yielded TO such an union. Were a c'ti
zen now, 1 would "agitate and agitate," until thai
union was repealed, and Irish parlaments and Irish
( liberty were restored. I have heard Daniel O'Con
nell proclaim his country's wrongs in the British
Parliament and if he be as eloquent as you believe
and in truth he is so, how could fail to sympathis'
with his efforts for her emancipation. When emf
grants from such a country country Of brave, gen
erou, and intellectual men, conquered, degraded, an'
oppressed, seek liberty and happiness here, VII,
should we refuse them cordialasd generous greet
ing Is il because most Of those who seek our shore
are poor an. OF low estaiel Let such as can trace
their pedigree through three generations, and fn'
cause Of pride in such accident, iRdulge so meal
a sentiment have nc such advantage Thosew
prosper upon Irelsnd's nisiortunes have no need
abandon her; and for myself Il had the power
choose whether 70 confer the rights Of citizenshi