The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1843-11-30

|
He it was, (whose soul swelling with the
desire that this liberty shou Id cover tie
largest possible terrilory,) that during The
Treaty of Paris, in 1882, to negotiate a
peace, successfully resisted the proposition
of the British Commissioner 10 make the
Ohio river the Northern boundary of the
United States. He ii was, that refused to
leave this smiling and beautiful valley,
all West from Pennsylvania line, and
from the Ohio North 10 the LIKES, under
the dominion Of the English Lion.
The spirit which always animated The
father has ever breathed forth from The
bosom OF the son. To the maintenance
of these same principles, in their prislin
purity, no one has been more signaIy act
i've than your honored self.
And now, sir, allow me TO add, that
these same principles are deeply embed
ded in the hearts Of all this people, who
have come up with one purpose and mind
TO pay their best tribute 10 their country
by rendering homage 10 the worth which
adorns it. Your aged compalrots, with
fearful eyes, and trembling lips. are wait.
ing 10 bid you welcome. The generous
youth, with quickened pulse, and lhrob-
bing bosom, are eager TO welcome yoa-
all, all are alike impatient to make known
their love and respect for The great defend
er OF the Rights Of Man. in their name,
and in their behalf, | bid you a hearty,
a thrice told WELCOMED
The Mayors address was received
most usiastically; when the applause
subsidized, Mr.. Adams spoke in reply as
folio VS., in manner characteristic of all
true greainess-wilh simplicity, direct
ness, and earnestness.
Mr.. Mayor and FeIlow Citizens:
| have lived long life, public and pri.
vate, during lhree-iourths Of which have
been witness to the birth, the rise and
the progress, of people, over that which
| first knew 10 be Wilderness and which
has already become what now might be
termed an empire. | have known the
territory which now constitutes the State
OF Ohio, as wilderness, in the possession
Of the savage and original prop!ielors Of
the country. Fly years have passed
away since The tears streamed llom my
eyes at the loss OF dear bosom friends, up.
on a field which now constitutes part of
your furnishing State. | have seen, in
the sequel CT that transaction, the men of
that savage race, by whom that savage
act had been performed, subdued by the
superior discipline, education, religion,
on r,f
have, subsequent to thai, seen the estab-
lshmcnt, BY the Revolutionary a Con.
gress Of the United States, Of the North
West Territory. And there, with JOY
which has never iorsaken my bosom,
have seen implanted the race who have
declared unto their posterity through all
the lapse oflime, that neither slavery nor
Involuntary servuude shall exist 10 that
territory. | have seen that principle i'm.
planted in the elementary principles Of
your existence as State. Under the
provision of that principle ofthe ordinance
for the government of the North Wcs
Territory, | have seen the State Of Oao
spring into life. On the same day in
which it was my fortune 10 enter the Sen
ate of the United States. as Representa-
tive of one Of the oldest origina States OIL
this Union, on that same day | had the
satisfaction to see the Representatives of
your people enter the Hail of the House
of Representatives of the United States;
and on that same day took by the hand
TWO members OF the Senate Of the United
States from The State Of Ohio. From that
time forward, a space Of forty years, have
witnessed the growth OF tina! State And
in the vicissitudes Of human life, and maxi
ing allowance for the impe'Ieclions which
belong 10 human nature, in the light OF
those principles which l hope may never
be eradica,ed from the bosom of man,
have seen the people Of The Stale OF Ohio,
not always right, but always intending 10
be right, and always advancing in pros
perity, in happiness, in virtue, and every
thing that can give glory to a people
All this have seen without induIging
the hope of ever Witnessing her progress,
or her territory itself 1t is so far distant
from the place Of my nativily-,here was
so little occasion TO call me here-occu-
pa!ions numerous and oppressive made it
SO improbable that it would ever be in
my power, that | had always believed
should be able on y 10 admire at distance,
and not come to the enjoyment Of personal
observation
In the course Of the last summer, being |
on an excursion some distance from my
own State, one Of yonr immediate fellow
citizens came to me, with an invitation
rom Society formed in the bosom Of
your city, for the erection of a building, to
De dedicated and devoted tothe purpose of
human improvement by the acquisition Of
in the armament over orr
,eads; the society of which he was
member having passed resolutions iuvil-
ng me 20 come and take part with them,
n lavinr the foundation of that buiidinp