The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-29

own heck. This 1t Is that has prevented our guest
from attaining the highest rank in the army But NO
matter for that rule; gallant guest has besides his
promotion. gained the glory which is breath to the
living. sy. worth dying for Such are some Of the diff
hculties which gallant Col Duncan had to encouu.
ter; and such some of the circumstances of the
nts which he has performed in the war With
Mexico and from which he has risen both in rank aud
fame He has risen, not as rocket to fall down like
the stick but rather the northern star to its accent
in the heaven Of fathers, guide to others to
travel the career which he has travelled.
Sic itur ad astrd
"This is the road to distinction" will longer
detan you, and will conclude by proposing the follow
SOur Gallant Guest-Proud Of him fellow. cit-
zen-proud of him accomplished soldier bid
him hearty welcome home, as worthy son OF New
This toast drank with the greatest enthusiasm.
Colonel DUNCAN rose to reply and was received with
vehement applause He said When Sheridan made
his first speech in the House Of Commons, he asked
friend how he had succeeded. His friend gave him
to which Sheridan replied" It's in me, aud, by Cd
1t shall come out!' Uaughterl Gentlemen, in the
verbs of Sheridan, (not entirely but party) will say
my speech is in my pocket, and by wrapping the
tsbe)-it sba come out (Roars OF laughter, and up
rorisus sppause in the midst Of which the gallant
colonel drew q page two of manuscript from his
p0cket0 Gentlemen, he continued, during the speech
Of my eloquent friend the left while around
to conceal my bushes, ! encountered more than ono
pair of bright eyes; and, before proceed beg to sug
gest that officer, sergeantst arms, or OF arms
or more properly perhaps WITH arms should h be dss
here and that committee be appointed to provide for
them suitable accommodation. Cloud and long con-
tinued applause amid which Col Yates Capt Vincent,
and Mr.. Chas Stetson waited the ladies; and the
Colonel resumed his eat in order to await their re-
port9
Col YATES soon returned, and said Mr. President
and Gentlemen In behalf of the ladies' beg to inform
that they comfortably situated where they are
that they prefer there to witness the festivities OF
Col. DuNcArEWell, then, gentlemen will begin
verspg the usual custom and giving toast If you
will oblige me by filing your glasses Gentlemen,
The health of the ladies behind the curtain"
| Drank with all the honors and the greatest enthu-
Air" Green grow the rushes OPP
Col DUNCAN then began what he was pleased to term
his speech proper" and that it was a very proper
'peech the rapturous applause and hilarty which it
excited abundantly proved He said =
MR PREsrDEsr-As am obliged to speak not only
to one distinguished judge but before many it is i'm
portant that should speak from the record Cain was
the first warrior of whom history, either sacred or
makes but htdrS or not ne nas
thing IL he did not deserve one and the infe
is fair that he never got It, for the public are very
ter and applause) But the discrimination that with
held this honor from Cain, doubtless caused 1t to be
| conferred Joshua, for he was an old and faithful
soldier. Not only was he veteran. but great com.
msnder for the sacred volume tells us he commanded
the sun to stand stil-and what !. very remarkable
excellent military maxim may be drawn from this fact
founded the authority of hoy writ that to soldier
| nothing is impossible. Continued applause As
summing that this great captain had public dinner
offered him. Of course he accepted it-roars oaugh'
ter) and was toasted in complimentary speech, to
which he was in duty bound to reply; and have
doubt that the speech Of which the gallant captain
was then delivered, has served as model for all mill.
| tary since, similar occasions. infer from
the strong family likeness of all their speeches. which
usually begin IS follows 0Mr. Presdent-U nacous.
pected Of me-speech making is not nay vocation my
profession is to night not to talk" SC, and 50 on to
the eSa
from this time honored cutom Of Joshua and his sue
esssors. (Cheer.) did not tell you, when got up,
that cannot make a speech for my fear is that you
will be sure to find this out before sit down. Nor
did deem it necessary to apologize in advance for
that en- surrounded by friends, who will II neoessa
~, without my asking, extend to me the hand of cha
the hand Hospitality Loud cheers) lind myself,
Mr. President much in the same position as that of
compiishments and personal charms, which her own
good and good glass tell her she does not possess
Her own Judgment oonvinces her that these compl
msnts ars unmerited, whilst that amiable weakness
attributed to the whispers to her that after all she
may be mistaken In relation to her ow qualities and
are pretty generally the victims Of this same f.
minnie weakness, and the share Of it that has
my MEND ION TT the left for his sItraVaga nee
because what he has said has been agree
military s.
been not much to receive, to merit the applause
Of my countrymsn !ApDlau.s) My prof. s.ional am.
the poet said of the reputation of Boon might be sp
picable to mine, and this is an ambition feel eona-
| dent my countrymen will approve. Speaking Of this
"pioneer of the West, Byron said
| ~--he left benin
No, s famous but Sf 'Sas sSod fame '0ns
| without which glory's uta tavern song"
These lines read when was boy, and trust
! plause) This is all, Mr. President have to say
Of myself; and at the risk Of being tedious, will
make few remarks Of general character, that have
suggested themselves to me in connection with the
| Whatever diversity Of opinion there may be in rea
that the uniform success that has crowned our arms
affords just cause for nation al pride and exutaton =
Military annals furnish NO examples that surpsss in
brillisncy campaigns in Mexico The early Italian
campaigns of Napoleon alone afford parallel. There
has been much speculation, at home and abroad
count for there extraordinary achievements, which
have sstonished the whole world, and than
the actors themselves who participated in them Some
have been so kind a. believe that much credit
due to the regular army, whe solitary and alone, set
! the ball in notion at Pslo Alto and Rssaca. Some
have thought that West Point, by mating mi
litsry intelligence throughout the country, may
! have contributed largely to this result some
that our gallant volunteers were entitled to
have attributed TO the indomitable
will and iron nerve Of Taylor and Others again to the
sw Of the o4non. o.
the water after predicting all sorts Of disgrace. and
Ieverses to our arms, when these predictions we're
falsfed by results with Characteristic took
all the credit TO themselves for said they Brother
Jonathan, is only a" chip Of the old block and his
successes must be set down the nvncibty of the
Anglo Saxon race Each CT these has no doubt
produced its effect but one all combined,
sufficient to account for the uniformity the result
Not Q few OF our coubtrymen have attributed these
successes 10 the pusilanimity Of foe Th' In my
humble judgement is doing injustce, not only to the
Mexican nation but eur In the early battles, the
Mexcans stood up to their work vel q. troops
usually do, If not better Speaking Of Palo Alto,
old Texan fighter" said to me, Sir these Mexicans
do stand killing mighty well.n fer one, am free to
confess that really thought at the tims; au the
night after the battle, doubt if were the only
| in camp who entertained this opinion daughter
and cheers) At Resaca, the American aud Mexcaa
troops fell not single individuals, but in numbers
that distinctly marked the respective lines for weeks
after the battle within less than the width Of this
room Of one another. AssuredIy this is close enough
for all practical purposes except that of the bsyone
| and in some instances. even that instrument was
used. Their officers Of rank general of fair
intelligence and education, and many ofthem
of the highest professional requirements Scarcely
battle fought in which these officers we're not
killed and nded in their due proportion