New-York daily tribune., 1845-12-25
THE TRIBUNE.
FoREFATHERS' DAY IN WASHINGTON
Correspondence of The Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Monday Night Dec. 22d, 1545.

Society of this City in commemoration of the Land
ing of the Pilgrims.
A little after O'Clock this evening the invited
quests with the President OF the Society, D. A.
HALL, Esq. entered the Dining Hall Of the United
States Hotel Among the guests were DANIEL
WEBSTER, LEWIS .CAss, john A. DIX, JABEz w.
HuHTISGToN, &c LEVI WOODBURY. was also
among the number, but he did not appear till the
dinner was nearly disposed Of There were be-
tween $50 and 200 gentlemen at the tables.
On the right of the Chair sat Messrs WEBSTER,
c.ss HUNTINGTON MARSH, &c; on his left Mcssrs.
WOODBURY., DIX, Mayor SEAroN. HOLMES &c. In this
vicinity noticed also the pleasant of Hon.
]. s. SKINNER, the veteran Editor of your Farmers
Library.
D. A HALL, Esq. the President of the Society,
made few appropriate remark Introductory TO the other
speeches after which the band gave specimen OF
their art in making music.
THEopHILus FISK, Esq. one of the Editors of the
United States Journal and othe Committee then an
nounced the regular toasts almost all of which replies
made.
The first was-"The Day we celebrate &c.
which followed BY Song from Mr.. DRAYroS.
The second was" The first Colony of New Eng
land" sc.
Mr.. WEBSTER spoke nearly follows-his ap-
pearance was hailed with ong.continued applause:
| believe it SO happens Mr.. President and Gentlemen,
that the only person present, resident in the Old
Colony of Plymouth. am not Native Of that state,
but the occurrences OF my life have placed my fortunes
and residence for the remainder Of my life on the
shores Of the Pilgrims and am sure express the
oeptiuent of all who surround the Rock of Plymouth
the descendants Of the Bradords and the Carvers and
Of all the early corners to that Cconyl sure rep
,,o,, ,Ln,, ,piu hear vii
delight that their brethren in Washington have this night
met 10 celebrate the patriotism mud virtues of their
cestors-hat on the a2d of December, 1915, we have
met in the great Metropolis of the Nation aud the of
our common Government for this object.
We are met here tonight in prosperous and uXu.
rous age with every thing that contribute 10 human
comfort safety and enjoyment to celebrate the Landing
ofthe Pilgrim Fathers Not did they pass the evening
ofhe 22d OF December when they first landed on these
shores Men. and children were then houseless
with place but the cold bare earth which TO rest
their heads. Nor root nor curtains had they but the
starry sky above them. They were not such Pilgrims
as Or. WATTS describes in one OF his hymns
Pilgrims n scorching sand
Beneath burning sky.
Their condition differed from this Pilgrims home
They were weary Pilgrims hoverng over strange shore
Pilgrims suffering from cold-doubting not despond,
iDs-tearing, not desparng as to the prospect before
item.
The temperature Of the sky which We have had for
sw d,ys past may give faint idea OF the priva.
inns th.y had TO suffer ON landing on shore so lar
North of " here we now are.
Bu, il peased Him in whose hands are the issues of
life and death 10 temper the wind to the shorn lambs
and IN preserve their lives Had the weather IN that
month been as cold usually is 1t would have been
impossibe for single soul TO survive I'LL the ensuing
Spring Blu, the weather was the most mild open MOD
eae md endurable known at that season oi the
ear They survived did they fail 10 attribute their
preservation TO the interpos,on OF Divine Providence
Gentlemen: The virtues and suierings OF these eX'
raordnary and worthy persons have frequently gwen
occasion TO commemoratons. discourses and euogies
would not become the present occasion, in the
few mnutes shall occupy your iie to go lar INTO these
topics. -. -,
In some respeclsin most respects-grea justice has
been done in other respects and in other parts o the
world injustice has been done to the Puritan
faith and character. Going back to the time OF Cromwei
and other early Puans they have been represented as
hnstics by the courty Tory writers OF England IRIS
has been done by such historians as Hume.
The independents Puritans had two strong ruling
feelings strong enough almost TO be called Passions one
was rational well considered love OF Civil Liberty;
the other strong Religious ieeiing which IN some
respects might be called anaucal
Tha, elegant writer Hume. and all others bred in the
School, have been in the habit o tracing ali thei
contests for Liberty not TO love OF Liberty out 70
fanaiea feeling and thus fear too many who read the
pages Of Hume feel themselves bound TO complain OF
The exirayaganzas OF those men,
Just estimate formed by student or philosopher,
viii lead men to look beyond the surface OF thines
where they will the great principles OF the fqritans
to be love OF government and OF Religious Liberty
lou uded on individual responsibility.
Gentlemen ure here tonight, some the descend
ants o the others from other parts oil the coun
ty and from 9th sr genealoges yet all vi us sympahlz
ing with them and doing them homage.
The principles Of Plymouth Rock have mingled win
every thi ng the country OF moral respectable ana III
'eleciual worth-wiih the spirit OF the thrifty German
and hol anderwith that OF the subjects OF France y
ing from oppression persecuton-with that OF thou
ads ron Ireland and other parts oil Europe-wherever
Above OF rder desire man in moral and intel
eeluai wo TIL hope may say !he spirit oil the RI
snms iront Plymouth Rock has no, been inactive ana
@ no' pee iound wanting il faithiuness = the Soou
p-vp vpFitSrat thpsn has hpnE flnnn
In alllsnds i,
Spreads undivided, operates unspent"
IL Is our good fortune that whatever origin we may
nave, similarity of feeling and the spread OF the Chris
uan Religion teud make what all desire al least
PoGhcaly, 10 be-OIle P;0ple.
nave SAID tnsi all the people OF Plymouth WI. reJoce
20 hear OF our NEE ting. great company meet to-day
co the Rock of PyI mouth itself Particular pains have
eeen taken 10 make It great gathering They will ali
hear with great pes that have felt it duty
and our inclination and friends OF New.England
to celebrate the day here in city bearing hon
osed BY all-in i:y where they hope their National
council will meet Tor ages. and ages and ages yet 70
Come. Even among the inhabitants OF this city itself
viii venture 10 say there none who desire more
faithfully tina, (, should honor the it bears than
those who come the Pilgrims seas and the Rock Of
Plymouth.
wse for us TO recur the history OF ancestors
tise who regardless OF their ancestors and OF Their
pes,er,y-who do NOT look upon themselves as Ink
connecting the Past with the Future III the
lie from their 20 their poseriy do mol per
osn their duty 10 II world To be faithful 10 ourselves
nes keep our Ancestors and posterty within reach
and grasp our thoughts and atecnons-lvine IN the
memory and retrospect of the Past and hoping WIN
Affection and care for those who ccme after US
ne are true to- ourselves only when we act Win De-
cunning pride for the blood inherit and which we are
transmit TO those who shall soon MI our places Win
ou eucroaciiing farther on your time give you this
sentiment
Success prosperity and augmentation Of numbers to
e aew.Ensland Society OF Washington.
.H. W EBsTER was greeted frequently during the
ensey OF his speech with enthusiastic applause. AT its
eGse The band struck up the air OF Hail to the Chief
n, ne next toast was" The Descendants OF the
rhgrms' &C.
u, There seemed 20 be some mistake about Judge
"oopsuRY replying 10 this After some consuita,
eua sa between him and Mr.. FISK the latter gave
ihe next toast-"The people of the United States
lovers of Law. wisely interpreted by their Represents.
hses on the Supreme Benchn
Judge WOODBURY. said that be feared Justice
Waa IN this case blind in the illusions made TO himself
ne thanked the company for the msnner in which they
asd received the compliment 70 New. England New.