The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-07-11
Friends and Felow-C Citizens, Ladies and
Gentlemen of North Carolina:

Gentlemen OF NORTH Carolina:
A long cherished object ofmy heart is ac-
complished. am at your Capitol and in
the midst of you. | have looked forward TO
this my first visit to North Carolina, with
anxious wishes, and with high expectations
of great gratiicatiea; and / am happy TO say
that my fondest antsaipations have been more
than realized. WhereeverI have passed on my
way to your city, wherever | have stopped, at
the depots of railroads, in country, town or
village, it has been my good fortune 10 re-
ceiYe the warmest demonstration of respect
and kindness, from all parties, from both
sexes, and from every age; but no where
have | met, no where had | expected such a
distinguished reception, and such enthusiast
tic greetings as those with which my arrival
here has been attended. | am relOiced TO
be with you this day, to stand surrounded
by YOU in the shade of this magnificent Cap
itol, a noble monument of your public liber-
atty and taste; and while my greatful heart
has been warmed by the thrilling grasp of
each outstreatched hand, and my eye cheer
ed by the smiles and beauty Of the fair
daughters ofNorth Carolina, who have hon
ored this occasion by their presence, | can
not but rejoice, and | do rejoice, that | am
an American citizen; and feel that, though
far removed from my immediate home and
friends, vet | tread here the soil of my own
country, am in the midst of my friends and
conntrymen, and can exclaim in the Ian
guage Of the Scottish bard, that ethis is in
deed my W native land.n own that |
have been truly and greatly but agreeably
surprised. | had expected to find some
hundreds, perhaps a few thousands, assem-
bled here to meet and greet me. | did not
expect to witness such an ou'pouring. did
not expect to see the whole State congrega-
ted together; but here it is! Fromth noun
tains and from the seaboard-from The ex-
tremities and from the centre, | see around
me the sons and daughters of the good old
North State! A State which has earned
this estimahle title by the purity, simplicity
and efficiency ofits instiiutions-by It's uni
form patriotism and infiexible virtue; by its
quiet unobtrusive, and unambitious demean-
or, and by its steady and firm attachment to
the Union, of which it is one of the surest
props and pillars a noble title, of which,
although it is not proud, because it is not its
nature to be proud, lis sister States may we'll
envy and emulate her. For these hearty
manifestations of your respect and esteem, |
thank you ALL. | thank my fair oountrywo-
men for grazing this meeting by their coun-
tenance and presence. thank your worthy
Chief Magistrate for the generous manner IN
which he has represented your hospitality.
| thank the various COMMITTEES for the kind
ness and attention which | have received at
their hands, and particularly the Committee
who did me the honor 10 meet me on the
borders of your State, and escort me to this
city.
am here, fellow-citizens, in compliance
with your own m Warm and repeat
ed invitations to visit this State, and my own
ardent desire TO see it, TO form the acquaint-
ance and share the inequalities ofiis citizens
have brought me in your presence. / have
come with objects, exclusively social and
friendly. have come upon no political er-
rand. / have not come as a propagandlst
/ seek TO change no mans opinion, to shake
no mans allegiance TO his party. Satisfied
nd contented with the opinions which | have
formed upon public affairs, after thorough
investigation and full delIberation, / am vii
ling to leave every other man in the undis
turbed possession OF his opinions. 1t is one
of our great privileges, in a free country, Il
form our own opinions upon all matters o
public concern. Claiming the exercise o
it for myself, l am ever ready TO accord t
others equal freedom in exercising it 70
themselves. But, inasmuch as the name
in which we may exercise the rights, aP
pertaining TO us, may exert, reciprocally, al
influence upon each other, for good or 70
evil, we owe the mutual duty of considerin:
fairly, fully, and disinterestedly, all measure
of public policy which may be proposed 70
adoption.
Although, fellow-citizens, | have truly sai'
that | have not come to your State with an,
political aims OR purposes, | am aware of tn
general expectation, entertained here, that
should embrace the occasion to make som,
exposition of my sentiments and views in re
spe ct 10 public affairs. | do not feel at lib
erty to disappoint this expectation. An
yet | must declare, with perfect truth, that
have not and never had any taste for thes
public addresses. | have always found ther
irksome and unpleasant. | have not disliE
ed public speaking, but it has been publ
speaking, in legislative halls, on public mea:
ures affecting the welfare of my country, {
before the tribunals ofjustice. 1t has bee
public speaking, in which there was a precls
and well defined object TO be persued by
train o. thought and argument, adopted TO
attainment.
Without presuming to prescribe to an
body else the course which he ought TO pu
sue in forming his judgment upon politics
parties, public measures, and the principle
which ought to guide US, | will state N