The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-06-01
CHARIEsroN, May l2,h. 1871.

CHARLEsroS, May i2,h, is4i.
GsHfiemsa--I have just had the honor TO receive
your invitation TO public dinner 70 b. given on the
18th instant, TO the Hon. NJ p. TalimAdge by num-
Der Of friends Of the administration in the city Of New
York and the adjoining counties.
am sure | need not say how deeply regret that
il will not be in my power to attend No one knows
better highly appreciates than do, the emf
nent services Of MIR. Talmadge in the long and try
ing struggle which terminated in the overthrow of
the late administration. Impartial history will record
what may be permitted 10 declare, without being
suspected of intending any invlduouS comparisons,
that it, among the many distng ished men who fig
ured in that contest there is any one individual TO
whom the palm Tin point Of efficiency ought to be
nscrbed il Is undoubtedly TO your worthy guest.
can bear him witness, from my own experience,
how his spirit acted upon others. | well remember
how calamity he bore hmsclfin the darkest period
Of the conflict just AFTER our disasters in Indiana and
Tennessee, and when the stouest hearts were ready
TO give up the contest with u foe who seemed invn
chile. Our last hope was in New York, for had MIR.
Van Buren, trumphed there, all further resistance had
been entirely vain. IL was in that ever memorable
campaign Of 1889, when the enemy was for three
month"; together in the field in person, that had an
opportunity ofjudging how much depended upon Mr.
Tallmadge, and how emnently his buoyant courage
and his active animated and interchangeable efforts
contributed to achieve The victory That victory gave
rallying point, about which the fortunate nomn-
alton Of the Harrisburg Convention soon enabled US
to gather our mighty masses.
Permit mo gentlemen, in conclusion, to offer you
a a sentiment
The State of New York and the immortal victory
Of 80 the spoer in the pride OF his utmost pow
err and the insolence Of universal success-the be-
ginning ofthe end"
l have the honor 10 be, gentlemen,
Your obliged and obetent servant,
H. S. LEGARE
WAsnseroN, May, ~ Isli.
Gentismen:--I am honored by your polite invita-
ton the dinner to be given to MIR. Talimadgc, "ss
merited tribute his private worth and public SER
vices"
Though my engagements here deprive me Of the
pleasure Of accepting the invitation, ye, cannot nc
gect the opportunity Of testiying that the tribute al
luded is richly deserved and that join you IN my
heart in bestowingit il. will take the liberty OF add
ing, that appreciate 90 highly the private worth
estimation there no honor, however high, no trust
however oasible, within tho gin ofthe Democracy
Of America which he is not worthy Of receiving aAd
capable Of adjoining. He stands upon an cminenee,
founded upon the broad basis OF honesty PATRIOTISM
and common sense, consolidated by the heaven Of
stern Republic ansm and elevated BY the tolls and e.
perience OF nearly half century He is the mpr-
sona,on Of the moral energy ofindignant and uncon
promising hatred Of locofocoism, and the Marshall
Butcher Of the late Waterloo defeat Of that abomina
BILE heiesy and its prostitute Disciples. Calumny t.
self shrinks from the conception Of assault upon ms
private character, and his town will point you 10
liz proud and lasting monuments Of his enterprise ard
enlightened philanthropy.
When the great chasn made its appearance in the
Roman Forum, threatening, according to the soo,A-
savers swallow up the Empire and demanding the
best and courage of the Roman people, the here
Curtius threw himself into the breach averted The
danger and received for The sacrifice OF his hfe The
bensdIctons of grateful people. Locofocoisn,
which, from its first small spark kindled by the Skid
moTes, the Owens and the Wrights, in the purensot
Tamn,any Hall, spread over the whole country, and
finally broke through the walls of the w bite House
in 1886, threatened the American empire with agra
ran laws, the abolition Of charters the unse,tlemsnt
OF the rights of property, depreciation Of wages the
ruin of commerce. the destruction of enterprise hard
money currency, and Sub Treasury derived fromthe
twenty-five despotc governments, and a disorganua-
ton OF the whole system under which we have lived
and prosIered from the birth of the republic Such
pelcy became alarming from the fact of its ADOPTION
part, by party then firmly fixed in power and sup
ported by large majorities. Foreseein2 its conse-
sequences to the country, and reckoning nough all
personal considerations Mr.. Tallmadge with his com
patriots, burst through party trammels as severe as
were forged in military camp, and threw him
selfin the breach, resolved, like Richmond to make
his political life "the of his bold attempt.
Shoot he deserter Hang the traitor!" were imnle-
dia,ey the "hue and cry the whole line of
the locofoco army. But the banner Of the conscrva-
tves," SO called, was erected, and small the
onmber to fight raying to it, there were enough, il
seemed, 10 die ne onset made upon them with
difficult destroy as Leonas.n and su h! bsna though
beset by myrads of Persian dolaters. And when
the final struggle came-he immortal contest Of 1870
the coDserv atives" gathering strength from every
obstacle, were, an Wayne reported Of HARRISON among
the foremost and the Efficient and every where
cheering the troops to victory" The wings
had labored for twelve yeats in minority almost hope
less the Conservatives detaching large numbers
from the locofoco ranks, and making common cause
with the wings" by their united action, headed by
the amented Harrison, and present patriotic Chief
Magistrate succeeded, in the language of General
Jackson, in blowing up the late administration"
The patriotic friendship thus exertsd | sincerely
hope will be carefully cherished. Let the Italians,
cordlng to their proverb, invoke their saints in times
Of danger mock them nhen Il is past, and elevate them
into respect when pers arrive but let not Amer
lean Republicans venture 10 initiate their ungratetul
example.
l offer the following sentiment
The History Of the Last I'ro Yedrs-Rcncws our
confidence in the intelligence and virtue Of the peo-
pie demonstrates the nsufficiency of party TO cope
with the free exercise Of reason and shows that public
men, who will remember that they have country to
both the distinction of the present. and the Immortal
lily of the future.
have the honor TO be- very respectfully,
THO: ALLEN.
J. l.. LAWRENCE Esq. and others, committee.
SENATE CHAMBsR, !
ALBANY, May oath, isil.
(TenHemen--I have been favored with your note in
forming that a number of the friends of the general
and state administrations in the city and nelghborng
counties, have determined TO offer public dinner
the 26th inst TO the Hon n. p. Tallmadge of tho U.
5. Senate, as mered tribute TO his private worth