The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-05-08
COMPLIMENTARY DINNER
TO THE HON. JAMES M. PORTER,
BY HIS FRIENDS AT HOME.

BY HIS FRIENDS AT HOME.
On Wednesday, the Goth inst the citizens Of our
borough gave TO this distinguished individual grand
COMP mentary dinner, at the American Hotel. We
have never witnessed, on any occasion, en-
be animated by the spirit and with equal de.
termination to svince tho h'ch -o.ner, nrA as,oe-~
they entertained for their distinguished fellow towns
man.
The large and spacious dining room of the Ameri-
crowded to at at early hour, and hun
drcds Of citizens, who were unable TO obtain in
gress hung around the old American, eager specta-
tors of the grand pageant within, warmly applaudng
each patriotic sentiment il fell from the lips of the
eloquent speakers.
As soon as the cloth removed the President
Of the day, HoruwrLL HErBuRS, Esq, rose amid the
cheers Of the assembled company, and delivered
neat and appropriate speech OF about half an hours
length, in which he eloquently portrayed the noble
qualities of the distinguished Secretary of War,
rendering TO him the hospitality Of our beautiful
borough, and assuring him Of the high regard and
esteem, entertained for him by those who know him
best
This address drew from the Honorable Secretary
one Of the most powerful and eloquent speeches we
have ever had the pleasure Of listening . 1t a
mastery effort OF master mind and called forth,
from the whole company.
We subioin an imperfect, sketch Of the remarks of
the eloquent speaker The sketch is written out
principally from recollection, and gives but feeble
| outline Of the production
Mr. PoRrrR said he would be wanting in the ordi.
nary feelings of our nature, did he fail to express to
his kind neighbors and friends the weight of obga-
ton under which they had laid him, by their uniform
Kindness TO, and confidence in him by their invita-
ton TO the present festival and by the sentiment just
given, which, complimentary IN itself had been so
handsomely introduced by his friend the Presidenr
Of the day. lie feared that the spirit Of friendship
had greatly overrated any talent or merit which he
possessed Whatever he had and whatever he was
he owed 10 the people Of Easton and Northampton
county II was now a few days more than twenty
five years since he arrived in Easton, a mere youth
ard stranger TO take up his residence and practice
has profession The people Of this place had taken
him by the hand, encouraged his efforts extended to
him their generous confidence, which be had endea-
yored TO Justify by life Of industry and integrity,
and II he had grown, and strengthened, II was EN-.
phatcally growing with their growth, and strength
ening with their strength. Eas,on then contained
about two thousand inhabitants; in quarter Of q
century il had trebled its population. Its growth
had not been OF the mushroom character forced for.
ward by spirit OF speculation, and left exhibit in
dapidation and decay the evils Of a premature i'm
provement which the business Of the place did not
warrant The character Of the int abitsnts, as was
to be expected, impaired 10 the place. It,
growth had been steady, progressive and solid. II
had experienced fewer Of the evils resulting from the
baneful spirit Of speculation, than almost any other
place he knew. In 1878 Easton bad but one House
OF worship IN IT, and IN that house divine service was
only performed in the English language once IN three
weeks, and a small English congregation had wor-
ship every other Sabbath in the Court House -
Since that period upwards Of sixty thousand dollars
had been expended in erecting Temples to the Liy
| ing God, and no less than such edifces have
been reared within our borough in which divine ser.
vice performed by as many pastors at least twice
Il not thrice every Sabbath. An Institution Of learn
! ing, to which reference had been mace, had also
been reared at expense Of thirty thousand dollars
and was sending forth its streams Of usefulness the
beneficial effects Of which no human being could cal
cusie in time Its fruits could only be ssccrtaIned
/ IN eternity.
! One hundred years ago, the devoted and pious
Brainarj was occupied on the very spot where Eas-
ton now stands, then known only by the appellaton
OF the Forks Of the Delaware" IN his praise orthy
attempt Ia reclaim the red man Of the Forest from
has wandering life, has savage habits and his idola-
try, and bring him TO the worship Of the true God.
What wonderful revolution has a century produced
IN our own noighborhood as well as throughout the
whole Of our land What handful, then, was the
entire population Of these United States and even
that hand al sparsely settled slorg or near the sea.
board. Yet i grew and increased. The PEG le
properly instructed IN the value Of their rights by the