Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1846-01-01
LANDING Of THE PILGRIMS.
Celebration at Washington City.

| wy Vi w dsn'hgton, met OH inc evening
OF that memorable day at the u. S..
Hotel, and for the first time in that
metropolis, comme moraiod the monen-
,ous event of the founding Of the first
colony Of New England.
\ An entertainment was provided on
The occason,,o which, at about 8 O'Clock,
nearly 200 persons sat down. Many
distinguished gentlemen, invited guests,
we're present on the occasion, and re-
sponded to the sentiments offered. The
National lntelligencer of the 25th con-
lains full report Of the proceedings,
\ To the 10Th toast, the Hon. Henry
| Y. CRANsToS, Representative from this
State, replied, as will be found below
l2. The State Of Rhods Biand-Tbough
las, in on list, she Is moi the last in our re-
nenbraEcc.
\ Mr.. CRANsroN said that hen his little
State had been named, he had looked
round for some ol her sons who mi ght be
present, and would do her better justice
than he could in responding 10 the SEN
timeDt ust given but as he had been
disappointed, it devoved upon him to
thank the committee and tho gentlemen
associated with them that on this festive
occasion Rhode Island had not been for
gotten. In n general view of our fair
national inheritance, Rhode Island would
scarce be a garden spot when compared
to the eXtcnsi7e territory Of many of her
. sister States, yet he might be allowed to
say that throughout the struggle for in
dependence, from its commencement to-
its close, there was not one among the
good old thirteen who had more lavishly
| poured out both blood and treasure in
that sacred cause.
There was one other thing about her
history, the effects Vi which would run
to times final hour, and il was the fact
that the great principles Of civil liberty
had first been taught to the world in that
little State. Those principles had been
laid down by Roger Williams, on which
rested whatever was worth living or
/ fighting for and in every moment Of her
existence, from the days Of that ilustrious
man to The present hour, whether as a
colony or a State, Rhode Island had
lived up to those principles. In the bat
Ties Of The Revolution she had given toI
this Republic name that must endure
While one page OF It's history remained
/ The ashes of the patrio; hero now re-
pose in Georgia, but his name would
ever be held in remembrance by his
country men as second only to one other
name which filled the earth. The world,
Il WAsHINGToN-A could never
forget the name of GREENE. Cheers.
Il Nor was this the only name she had in
scribed upon the roll Of fame. In our
last war she had presented to her coun-
try another deservedv illnstiious it was
the name ~ PERRY. The chamber
mere resounded with shou,ngs. How
ever much the course of his State had
been mistaken in later periods Of her his
tory, (and this was not the place nor the
time to correct those mis'akes,) Mr. G.
owed il To her and To the Occ casiOn To say
that on no spot of this eurlh's surface
were the grca, principles OF civil and re-
lsious freedom better understood or
more tcnaciously adhered to under all
circumstances than in Rhode Island
She loved heI own sons, but in her
brotherly love she knew no point OF the
compass within this Republic east, or
west, or souih--all were alike to her
Her prayers ascended for every part
and portion of tho entire land. In its
darkest day her sons had stood by their
arms, aud they were still ready and
willing TO fight for every inch of our
territory, from The circumference to the
centre. Great cheering.
Mr. C. concluded by offering the fol-
lowing toast
"Ratonnl freedom can exist only where
civil liberty shall be instIy appreciated aud
fearessly sustained by a deep and abiding
reverence for THE SUPREMACY OF LAW AND
ORDER"
"Mr. Rockwell, Of Conn. remarked
that the alusion by the gentleman from
Rhode Island Mr.. CRANsToN) to the
invaluable services Of her distinguished
sons during the last war and the war Of
the Revolution reminded hlm Of an anec-
doie which he asked leave to relate. Il
AS distinguished son Of Rhode Island
had been opposing the extension of the
Circuit Court system TO some Of the
new States, he was told that such oppo-
silion came with il-grace from Rhode
Island, and her voice ought not to be
heard on ssth a question, for in the
adoption of the Federal Constitution she
had been last at the feast. The reply of
that eloquent man had been, tina, true j,
was that when national favors were to be
distributed Rhode Island was last when
dangers were TO be encountered she was
first Last at the feast, first at the fight"