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


extend its white sails In conclusion, Col Yates pro-
posed the Navy Of the United States" which was
drank with all the honors
MIR jenkins and his associates were called upon to
sing another gee which they did to the satisfaction Of
all prssent.
To the above toast, Commander McKEEvrR replied In
a brief and pertinent speech The navy, be sail can
hardly be allowed to have had professional psrti
belongs the honor Of having conquered a peacs;h
but II the has been excluded, cannot be pre-
ven ed from joining with others in honoring the army
for the great feats which II has performed IL is to
him pleasure that he has been through the hospi-
tally Of New York. allowed to take part in doing
Honor TO the citizen soldier Who will never desert
his ship while his country needs his services" which
was enthusiastically drank.
The Glee Club struck up the " Bold Soldier Boy"
with which Col Duncan seemed to be much Pleased.
Gen. PROSPER NJ. WETMoRE was then called on by
the chair for toast he ross ana ssa mo enemy ~.
your right hand and your left this night. in such
a dilemma that which you have placed me
by this call, you have indeed surprised me. !
might complain and say with the old Austrian Mar
shs that you do not conduct the warfare Of the table
"sccordns to the rules" or II belonged 20 , yoSt
say That you should have served me with a decara-
item and given me time to plead" (Lsuyhter)
The toast which you have sent to me- and on such
short notice desired to introduce is one that ought
to stir the heart ofevery man. andtowhich no man VINO
is permitted to sit In this company and TO gaze upon
that emblazon shield behind you can for an instant
hesitate to respond (Cheers) Those who have been
guests cannot bs aware Of the exceeding excite
from the army in Mexico. But you, and !, and
this company. know hew We dwelt upon these sue
cessss with what gratitude we remembered the names
Of those lighting and bleeding for (Cbeers)
Every battle gave to tdings which made our hearts
thrill with patriotic enthusiasm that has scarcely
of the diffusion Of these glorious tidings
Every man prepared to rush to the standard OF
his country, Volunteers thronged to the held The
guished men of the Union asking to be permitted to
serve their country in the field. You have had by
your side to night one of those men General Cad
wallader)- passed from the quiet and calm are-
eide at home to the battle fields Of Mexico. Every
man Of them WAS worthy to bear his countryo stan
dard-every did honor to that standard and ],
therefore, give with great pleasure the sentiment you
have sent me
"The Volunteers of the Army in Mexico Worthy
sons of their revolutionary sires ~
Drank with veheme ut applause.
After another song by the Gee Club, Gen Morris
was called upon for toast He said he would with the
greatest pleasure respond to the call which was made
upon him; but he was unexpectedly called upon, and
either his head his pocket Laughter) He hoped,
nevertheless that the toast which he would give would
be acceptable to all present He would give THE Fly
legs Of the Mexicsns could not fy."
This toast was received with great ecat, and drank
with all the honors In response,
Col DUNCAN spoke as follows
Through the Kindness of the Committee of Invita-
TONS the company Of all the officers who have been
ted this occasion Some of them are serving at sta
tions too remote to be expected why those who are
within reach are not Ihsy Ssr
Of the enemy; and why should they not do so when
surrounded by my friendr! can assign but one rea-
SON for their nce and that is doubt the true
one-they had rather breast 'sho of grape shot"
than the shower Of compliments they would here have
been obliged to encounter One OF them, however, is
present and only one who has been with from the
frst gun till the last. In the discharge of his official
duties both on the battle field and In the camp, he
has given him more than his share Of modesty; and
hence the necessity Of my again risiug to reply.
have already occupied more time than ought to have
done In the name and in behalf Of my associates
will merely thank the eloquent gen who has just
taken his seat, for the compliment he has paid us
and propose, to BE- drank standing, 1.-THE memory Of
Ringgold"
The CHAIRMAN said he had yet one more sentiment
propose to the company and then his duty in that
regard the Of the Committee Of
would 1t had not failed to strike every Ameri-
ceu citizen who bad haen abroad how vast the
difference in respect between the appear4uue of
foreign countries and our own, and that was in the
every step The country bristng with forts nd bat
eres and walled towns and the cities daily and hour
y exhibiting the military garb and psradss which are
here Witnessed only on gala days, and at rare inter
vas This difference rested not merely with the taste
and dispositions Of the people here and elsewhere 1t
sprung also from the nature Of the estab-
lished among them here thu military power not ne
cesesry constituting part and elementin the go
v.rnng authority; and here being an essential prin
Of government mt when exercised internally, should be
exercised without the Intervention of the military
invetate ndng armies and therefore
regarded with jealous eye the accession of power
which euch an institution would give our executive
though chosen by ourselves. Hence, with the mill
tary bad not grown up to be ditnct and ormidable
order Of itself in the State; but martial spirit, in
stead had been dffused abroad among the whole peo-
pie Perhaps another feeling operated to produce this
this result-sn unwillingness on the part Of mere
civilians to have those whose trade is war, do all the
fighting. monopolize all the renown flowing from
military services Yet frem this state Of things sprung
apprehension that might not be adequately pre-
acquainted with our institutions and only
to Cover nments whose very existence seemed to de-
pend upon the magnitude md stability OF their stand
Ing armies apt at the power which could
muster only perhaps army of 10000 men to guard
q country which had nearly 10 600 miles Of coast and
frontier They however, knew not, and scarcely
selves knew until the emergency called it forth how
vast FLU nd of martial spirit lay buried among whole
people, ready athe call Of the common veal Something
Of it was, indeed, displayed during the last with
Great Britain. That was chiefly maritime struggle;
and while our rational marine was very limited pri
vate armed ships swarmed in every sea, carried our
flag to every cline and achieved some the most re-
nowned victories Of that contest Butt left for
the Mexican war fully to develope that spirit Con
srees determined to raise army Of SO 600 with
In three months four times the required number were
at the service Of the Mt and at least
men doomed to be disappoiu ted; some Of them
doubtless afterwards to evnce their anger at being
thus checked in their cravings for military experience
msttered little Of what kind or how durable was the
service that 1t but service. Were they to
for year FIVE, during the war, 1t Mastered
not-the ranks readily flied. Wore they wanted
Tor ADVANCE INTO the enemy Wnere every
step would be marked by wounds and death They
at hand Were they required to garrison in igno
Bile security ports already captured while the tide of
glorious rolled at a distance! They we're
ready. Were they wanted to penetrate far into hos
tile lands, and at hopeless distance from succor aud
supplies, to wander for months amid exasperated
enemy! Enough found willing for the enter
prize. Were they required to double Cape Horn,
and far up the Pacific to invale land al
most unknown except by name! still they were
ready. Were they wanted to cross the Rocky Noun
tains and HE away to the wild and far distant Oregon!
The cry the same-we are ready The
material thus er at hand was too of the right sort
No cowardy vassas, but free mep with brave spirits
to all up our ranks A gallant officer, who had gone
through some ten or twelve battles In Mexico, was
asked whether he had ever witnessed any cowxrdice
among men, and his answer ives, g. Never in
stance but the contrary, many displays Of wonder
full and romantic daring" There seemed to be de-
termina alton to make courage common enough In our
country, and cheap enough, in pecunary respect,
when thus any desired quantity Of could be procured
for rs I'D. day. IL must not be supposed that our
ranks filed with desperate and broken men They
were not " discarded unjust serving men, revotsd
AZ. fhac ,k.rS nF