The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-09-23
THE AsHBURTON DINNER.

On Thursday OF last week grand dinner wa:
given in New York, to Lord Ashburlon, The rict
London Banker, whose long purse negotiated on
his part, the late Treaty between This government
and England. At that dinner, marked attention
was paid to the rich banker. circumstance about
which no one would complain, were it not attend
ed by an incident, insulting TO the nation as il
was disgraceiul. The following paragraph copied
from the New York Commercial .4ireriiser, Il
wing paper, of Thursday evening last,wi explain:
" When The President Of The United States was
toasted, few drank, and not IL sound Of applause
broke The ominous silence. When the Queen was
named, the company rose spontaneously, and The
hall resounded with cheers"
"Not sound broke the ominous silence" And
now tor one moment, consider the circumstances
under which this "ominous silence reigned. A
toast was given TO the head OF this free nation, not
10 him individually, hut through him to our free
instlulons-to the American Goyernnent-to lle
people themselves. But there was no spirit ofIib-
city in that assemhly-no love Of lreedon-to
meet that sentiment in a becoming manner. The
silenca was omiaous, says the Wing print 1t was
so; omnous flhe British feeling which prevailed
that assembly, of the willingness 20 sacrifice the
country's honor Oh the shrine of low and sordid
prejudice.
Now mark the contrast; "When the Queen was
named" says the wing paper, "the company rose
spontaneously and the hall 'esoundsd wih cheers
This, after lealing the toast TO the President with
onllnouS silence, was intended rs unklndest cut
of ALL" There could have been no American feel
ing in lha, compIry-the proud crest orthe Amer.
can Eagle was placed beneath the feet of the Brit.
iSh Lion 1t was one of those aggravated insults
10 the nation, quite us revolving TO Ireemen as the
burning Of blue lights on our coast or the feeding
Of the British soldiers, who were sen, here to hutch
er our citizens, and devastut, their homes 1t is
with pain that we notice this occurrence The
friends Of Liberty in Europe will hang their heads
in shame nj its announcement, for it is 10 this conn
try more than to my other source that they look
for that stern adherence TO repnbliransm-lha
warm manifestation Of regard for freedom aud her
Institutions, which shed great moral influence
over the world, encouraging the masses, while it
strengthens the heads Of those who, surrounded by
power, stand foremost in the advocacy
Of that liberty which has been so grosely insuied
by The Ashhurlon dinner party, The occasion on
which this insult was given, was intended to he Il
great one-a splendid entertainment 10 n great
man, representing the sentiments and the interests
Of the English nation. Every incident therefore,
which occurred on that occasion, will be CLOSELY
scanned abroad as well MS ut home. Heaven knows
'''"' ''"' '"""'l ""S Vuhc cHnusH w
the adoption of The treaty, Just con.unaed But
when an insult Of this nature Is offered 10 The m
ton, by ils own citizens the humiliation is more
deep,and the pain more kccn,n the breast ofever-
~ uehrared lover Of his country.
There may be some who are unable to accounl/
for an occurrence 80 strange, and 81 unpleasant.
The mystery il solved in the following eAt1
from The New York Ereniag Post, of last
urdny:
"The explanation Of the MATER is, that the
pany were, with a few exceptions, whigs, VIII
gard their own government with feelings who
90 common among that pnIty-mcn ready to
come with shouts the name Of monarch nm
,rve with conlempluous silence the mention
plain president. The thing could have happ
~ where except in II company Of wings 7
we're some persons at the table, no doubt, who
approved it highly. One Of them left the 7
'aying. aloud, "iherc are no Americans hi
,lhcrs there doubtless were who renamed,
oreign parlia'i,ies Of the company in genera
manifested in manner too gross 10 be exp
,way." -H,riord Times.