The Arkansas banner., 1848-01-24
The Dlnner ia SairIas and Onliman.

TheFe was some capital speaking d the enter talnnaeni In honor of these two gallant soldiers
 Mir. BUcHANAN spoke la reply to a regular toast to the heads of the Department:
 Mir PaEsIDENT This honor assure you, is en- urciy unexpected. think am coming before my betiers. tLaughter) Speeches should first be made by the distinguished gentlemen who your guests rather than by the humble civiian before you. But or you have conferred upon me and, as breyiiy is
 the very soul of vii, and there are many more dis tingushed speakers here than 1 am, shall offer but few remarks.
 rejoice 10 meet our distinguished guests (Ap- planse.l Tue heart of every true American must swell with gratitude for the honor which they have conferred upon their country. (GIcat applause have occasion to know-and God forbid that should say word here that could be constructed as politcal-I repeat, have had occasion 10 know the high character which we have acquired through out the civilized world by the gallant deeds of our glorious army. ('fremendous applause.) say, and speak from information which possess, that there Is not an American now in Europe who does not tread the soil of foreign land with more pride and self-g atuation than an American ever did be- fore the glorious, and unexampled, and astounding events of the Mexican War. Renewed applause] Gentlemen, there is one thing they don't under stand in Europe--they cannot comprehendit There are different professions there, and the professio of arms Is stsdy from youth upwards, and they don't understand how 1t is thai gentleman shs il go from the ''woolsack" of Stde. and al once be- come distinguished general without over studying the art and mystery of war-(applause) and of ali places under thr sun 10 educate general for the
 field of battle, think the "land office" is the most | extraordinary. Laughter.) But, there they are sprung from the workshop, the lawyers office, and every pursuit of life, and hop, step, and jump they go to the field of battle, and areveterans at once | (Laughter.) And what still distinguishes them
 more is, that after the victory has been won their | cemeney and their mercy win the hearts of the
 vauquished. (Appause.) Indeed, from all accounts
 have from Mexico, learn that, hard thou gh it
 wns to get 10 the "Halls of the Montczumas,' the Mcxicans have fallen so deeply in love with them
 it will be still harder to get them away. (aughter l suppose, Mir. President, have said enough will make but one other obs eryaiion. l lanen.
 most sincerely that all this glory has ben purchased
 by ths life blooI Of the b st that ever adorned any country; and h concluding these few remarks, permit me to give you--
 'rhe memory of Gen. Hamer'
 The toast was drunk standing, in solemn silence Mir. Dallas spoke in reply 'e toas. by MT. Ven
 able
 ] The Hon. G. M Dallas rose to r-spond, and was very warmly greeted. He said Mir. President, had hoped that being hero only as a quiet though very sincerely sympathizing guest, should have
 been allowed to remain silent the prossnt occa- sion. As, however. u sentiment has been riven witch calls me to my feet will make few re-
 marks, which shall be exceedingly brief, and hope hOt uudSNtpidDib 10 tHOse WnO Ee IT them.
 l There arc very few things more agreeable in lifa
 than 10 welcome back old friend who has been I absent for some time; but when that old fiend has,
 during his absence, gone through variety of per
 ils'as risked his life in good cause-has encoun. tered danger both from climate and from enemies, l laPpause;l and finally returns, not exactly as he was before, but brighter and better and stadoyed 1 Il not almost covered with aurcls then We meet
 that old friend With most extraordinary pleasure 1 tApplause.
 Mr. President, it is impossible not to be alive to | feelings of tais sort st this time. There is no
 Am arican citizen, be his age wha it may whether
 he be faiher, bro'hsr, son. that does not feel delight tn contemplating such men on their return ron snch hclds of danger and difficulty. (Chccrs)
 IEere is po American father that will not exuiting-
 ly stand m the highway, and say 10 his son, ''See there on that old Whitey-that's Zachary Taylor i (Cheers.) See there mark how As walks along and shakes hands with every as he passes that's Huffman. (Appiause. And observe now. my son, the spirited, boldhar hero that walks there that's inc Irishrnan Shields (Trcmendous ap plause.) say there is no man-rather, brother, or son--that does not kinde under these circumstat- ces, and feel deeply and strongly us these men walk by in the streets, that he debt of gratitude that he cannot easily repay. (Applaase.) What ever differences may exist anotg the Amor pc O. ple-however numerous and various their heads and judgments may be-my life upon t, that there is in thc American people, young and old, man, wo- man and child, but one heart and mind in reference 10 ines. men. Renewed applausel But am waadeiing; and as l have deter nination 10 be as brief as Poss bie, alt'r saying what have said, will close by merely offering my thanks for the kiud manner in which have myself been treated, and submitting short, comprehensive, but, believe perfectly just and sincere sentiment:
 1.-The Generals and the Country An gallantry and gratitude (App'ause. Music by the hand.)
 REV. RDY JOHNSON, "a Whig'' Senator, said
 Mir. President, diff rcnces ot opinion have existed and sti | exist among of inc best men of the landas to the necessity and jus i6abIe origin of the present war 1 entertain doubt about either, tgrcat checring,l ont thank my God that live afnong people who, if desired to entertain t. would not suffer 10 be here as iher representa- tive. [App!au:e.l B1t upon one question, Mir President, nowhere throughout our vide country, is there any difference of opinion. However the war originated whether necessarily unnecessa- rly, constiiutionaly or unconstituionay, the war hes existed, and the has covored us over with glory. A voice; That's good talking.l As far as am concerned, Mir President, not only Is the talk good, but the voting will be just sgool Applise. No man more deeply regrets than do the blood which has almost literally mircl Inc Mexican soil; no body is more disposed than am To weep over the heartrendng agones which the war his clrriel to the homestead il is the result of all was. But there will be found on hundred years hence. as the ! result of this war, that if we have not already by our army been able 10 "coaquer peac'," we have forever been able to secure peace With the nations of the world. England has heretofore imagined I that we were the universel dollar people Mir. | Buchnnan. soito roee Dollar-l2ri7g people My | friend on my left forgets the word lorer. Uaughter) repeat, sir, that England ha' here'o foic imagined that were the unve sal dpIlar-loy ing peoples but they have been taught, since the 18th day of May, is46, that, much we love the | dollar, VIC love the honor and glory o' America in fuately more, (appiausc,1 and prepared to spend the last dollW ia te locker rather than sur render single right of the American people,
 MT. President, my purpose was-besde the grati- | ncation have in being present on a occasion like this--my single purpose to offer a sentiment, | and l sh0nld have said nothing If had not been 1 called out by native of Maryland. Permit me To 1 conclude by accomplishing my purpose. give yon
 ''fhc army and volunteers: If they have not ye, conquered peace with Mexico, their deeds have conquered for us permanent peace with the other a.fi