Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-11-18

The French Minister'S Visit TO The New York
Historical Society.

of the New York Historical Society, during their stated meet
ing Tuesday evening" the 9TH instant He introduced
to the Society y the Hon. LUTHER BRADIs presiding in
| the following terms
Gentlemen Of Society II is with peculiar pleasure that
you that the Society is this evening honored by
The presence of his Excelency Major Poussn the first Min
lister sent from the French Republic 10 the Republic Of the
United States. In distinguished vter this OCCASION
have only the highly accomplished and worthy repre-
sentative of his country but in him may also claim
eowcitzen for il will be recoected by the members Of this
Society that Major Poussn for many the service
OF tho United States in intimate association with
excellent and deeply loved General Bernard During this
long period OF distinguished and faithful service in
he became infinitely acquainted with interests and
institutions, and evinced all occasions marked endness
for the former he did deep and cordial sympathy with
the latter His return us therefore, under present
stances, peculiarly gratifying to personal feelings, while
his appointment and arrival the first Minister from the
young French Republic country, constitutes hsor-
cal fact full of present interest of future hope In
it pledge of the cordial and Frightening
| laions between the two great republics
But may not enlarge have, therefore, the honor
OF presenting 10 the Society Major Pousn and ask you
gentlemen to rise and unite with me- know you will most
cordially in welcoming among this distinguished represent
ave OF his country, and cherished fellow
| citizen.
| To this M. PoussIN made feeling response, and then
addressed the Society follows
Gentlemen happy in meeting, in tie city of Jay,
and Hamilton and Morris, society distinguished and
presided over by of the usous Of who
by birth were counymen OF mine, and for their love Of liberty
are countrymen Of yours mean the great Galatin who
came here in youth 20 assist your fathers and
burn again into the glorious nationality which is the admira-
ton and hope OF the world. And it pleasure be
rounded by society of reemen organized chiefly for the pu
pose OF preserving all the facts that relate the birth and
nurture Of Liberty and her noble chldenhe institutions of
the American Republic Your abors in this respect command
! the interest and good wishes Of mankind.
Gentlemen rejoice at finding myself once more in the
midst of this great community whose high privilege il to
to the world the satisfactory evidences of prac
cabily OF large nation governing itself Yes gentlemen,
the nconesabe and ncontested merit Of your Democratic
institutions the proof of their admirable influence society
at large, on the individuality is that they founded on
the equal diffusion of knowledge throughout all ranks
mercia agricultural manufacturing, mechanical oper
alive classes That the touchsone Of your Democratic
fabric; and you should be proud of
contest the saying of certain writer's who sangune in
acnbng TO the privileges OF your favored land the one
origin Of your race the peculiar structure Of your
or muscles, successful and prosperous march nation
under the glorious banner Of Liberty All these ele-
ments the invention of enemies who watch
with some apprehension for their longenoye privileges the
ascendant march OF Democratic principles throughout the
world reject them all unfounded in truth and because
they have for their object to discourage the human Of
making lawful efforts raise itself in scale of seesmaon
and dignity
God, gentlemen has made liberty one SET of people,
for class Of men All men have teen creasd and born
to be free, and to enjoy equal rights all over the world
Your taUored land, they say Surely assuredly,
the point of ruitfuness adaptation all The arts and
satisfy all wants OF men, than any other part of the great
Continents Look OF your own door Mexico or Central
Americas further South, the rich basin Of the Amazon the
Oronoco Cast your eyes that all beautul spot OF Eu-
rope occupied by my glorious country and inhabited by my
aboous and spirited couniymcn the Pyrenees the
Aps down the valley the Guadaquver Of the Rhine,
Of the Po and tell whether the Almighty has been
more bountful to the one people than to the other :
Do not let minge the Of God in the repartion Of
goods here below, solely depending upon the Of the
people
The origin Of your race but how does it differ from any
other do not among the thirty brilliant Of your
seaon whole territories settled by of great diversity Of
origin old Europe present Do not read the daily
proofs OF in the special organs entrusted with their local
personal interests: German French Spanish Italian Scan
dinaSian, English newspapers And in ine il turn the
leaves Of your history, do find in all those glorious
cords cassed with that Of the model Of men, :" the
great Washington" and which my national and official cha
racter will allow 10 recall here, Your and
muscless Since when then, will this distinction be
started by sold minds which always devsng reason,
false true, for what they comprehend Indeed this
is the last blow aimed chasing peopeboe who be
free and those who cannot Why say among
privileged who will work and those doomed work,
My nature gentlemen, rcvolts this of self in-
tuation and must say that CAN OCCASION tolerate
the idea Of the mensuraon of mans capacity this that
aocaon by the actual development Of his and muscles
Now, gentlemen, permit to touch subject Of vital i'm
portance in the present circumstances in which the whole
world carried ty the example Of my noble country and
to arrive at my end allow to reace, in very few words
the influence which the Press rightly exercises in your
country.
In your happy social organization where those who
read write form very small minority, the newspapers have
become the ordinary channel OF all free discussion, referred to
by every one, and supported by all.
is not given paper TO papers only 10 lead
the opinion IL the opinion Of the people that gives life
the contrary, to such such paper but every
express his opinion, follows that all great questions the
writers editors Of papers form insncivey kind OF great
congress meeting charged with discussing it, merit de-
merit aud thus prepare the concentrated action o the great
fractional portion Of the community the interested point
stake
This is gentlemen, must acknowledge, great privilege
enjoyed by the press in this society, and which
must tend 10 give and high and Jgni6ed cha
racier IL il will respond to it, great responsibility.
The enlightened society is the important Is
for the conductors Of the press he dgnfed by intelligence
by personal character and proud say, gentlemen
such is the tendency Of all public organs in the United States
They all aware that if your system Of Common Schools,
general education the basis in which your De-
mocratic institutions It is likewise the great trading prin
ces and the coexence Of free and enlightened press that
your astonishing prosperity rests !
Now, them gentlemen, for the point, the at my heart
and am sure al yours
II The press exercises such influence your great and
prosperous community as have very imperecy suggested
OF bow much importance be to The Of
our great cause by becoming for uncertain IN the
path Of rational Liberty Europe, beacon, guide
a cheering star ,
The labor Of the press this happy land Of yours is almost
accomplished you have but 10 keep up the sacred fire where