The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-03
the Dinner to Cemmodor. Stockton.
,PHILApgLPHIA, Dec 81. lSa7

The festival In honor Of Commodore Stockton which
place yesterday the Saloon Of the Mu
sica Fund Hall, brilliant an affair as has taken
place In this city for many years There were about
500 gentlemen seated at six tables extending the whole
length OF the saloon and among them representa-
ives from 'hs army and navy the Judiciary and
Der Of members OF Congress
Mayor SWIFT presided assisted by vice president for
| each table
The viands spread in profusion upon the board
quickly dscussed but in the midst Of this interesting
occupation the entrance of Capt WIN Small of the
6rst P-nnsyv regim snt called ell their feet and
ne was greeted with the hesrtiest OF cheers
The President then announced the regular toasts
The President, Vice President aud the Governor or
the celebrated sentiment Of Comm odoss Decatur
couutry-May she always be right-bus right or wrong
! our country
The PRESIDENT, in rising announce the 9Th toast
pref,cedt with few remarks in which he said that
though there might be differences OF opinion Ia rels
ton to the origin OF the war, God forbid that there
should be- In regard to the carving 1t TO honors
BILE t-rminstos y The toast was ss follows s.
Commodore St skton-As distinguished for
his civil requirements he Is for bis military
equally at home. whether on land or sea, when called
t. meet the enemies OF his counrythe soldier
the tailor, A man who never turned his back friend
or foe"
The CoMMo to respond. amid the most en-
thusiastic chez ing: Gentlem.n-Friends- HOY can
deserve such rec- ption as this, or how
by phrase figure speech NV of
me honor which you have this dsy conferred on me-
of none and cords seem 90 i-eb a. 70 bs utterly
row.rl.ss to express deep s.nse Of gratitude r..
turuiuu, from long absence might have xpected
hnd few personal friends to gree; me- and here and
there. anticipated instances Of u.Hton but
when look around and the old and the young
the cisen and the sodier, the patriot the scholar
assembled to do honor my heart sinks Of
thu inability Of words my feelings and eau
only return my cordial and sincere thanks Atribupg
As do that this of to day has been
by the general result Of the opcratous 10 Califor.
MIA, m ~ with propriety, claim to mpgle my
orns Is under the protection United states
California 10 valuable country both for ITS pgrcutu
raj and for s mineral resources It has heshul ski+s
snd fruitful fields fine of and women. kind
hospits BILE valiant and generous and Of them 10
favor che laws of the United States for
thsir protection But 1t Ia not on account Of their
heathu skies fruitful Aids that would
you ihe annexation acquisition OF territory does
not in my opinion follow necessary result OF the
conquest of California 1t 10 for this that would
congratulate you. The glory of the achievement II
having established the first free press out the Grs
school house lighted the torch Of civil and religious
freedom within It's boundaries which yet destined to
ulume the whole country from Cape Lucas to Point
Bndess California has from twelve to fifteen thousand
,nnas,ssns. isrsr proportion Of whom prefer the
INSTITUTIONS OF the nftsd states sincere
hope, and may say my frrv-nt prayer that they shall
es secured In the enjoyment Of that civil
freedom they already prize 40 dearly and that our
friends there will not be required pay that pen lily
siways called or by the Mexican his life hs I.lity
remain uuprntected-other hands sbsl muzzls the
press, tear down the school house and put the
take part In such bidding California has within
her all tue elements Of power, and in few years che
stand republic erect in dignity aud Importance
Compo lore Stockton then alluded the investigation
in progress at Washington as preventing him from ray
lag much In relation TO the operations in California
But he proceeded it is known to all that there has
shadow thrown upon my path, which has prevented
my best friends from exercising their Judgment, and
some perhaps, may have deemed worthy Of cspeurs
will not however, omplau conscious that my efforts
put forward for the Of the country
hall look to history for a vindicStion Of my con.
duct II any Is necessary was the Of the
.quadrou we'll as governor OF the territory and re-
tanned the command Of the combined forces until it
given into other hands Far away from home with
any navy yards or dspos OF provisions and supplies
cur gun-carrisges and manufactured the harness
required; and amid all these he thought,
that, for sailors did very we'll During all opera
lions had but the thought to fscuitat
and serve our country, and in this used the best
faculties possessed Having ssid tais much in
ton to California, permit refer to the state
Of affairs between ths United States aud Mexico
While the prosperity and happiness of the former hiss
result from the social adv 'ntages aud phsntbropic
institutions blest In heavens beat gift religious, tlera
tionfor which our f.thsrs ri'ksd most aud suffered
most-we soldiers rushing, as 1t were, upon
stone walls. dpfying the brstling bayonet and tn.
thunder of Mexican arti!lrry-ieapng from bason to
oastion, from psrepet to psrapet, until, amid the
smoking ruins Of forresses the flag liberation
flying, and the remains their shattered armies dis
persed amid the mountain faetpesses Now gentlemen
how IL this? Can our successes be attributed to the
wisdom Of our cabinet, or to the proves Of
though their victorious career has overIsaped III.
bounds smot of probability y. aud extended beyond
what we ever have dared bops This 10 not tn.
With us-he spirit of John Adams ths same spirit of
civil and religious liberty tht led fathers VIC
tory in the revolution the God OF armies nghs: upon
poor wretched Mexico! Ever since the days Of the
territory ~her- revolution has
luton, until scarcely spot can be found that has
oeen moistened with the blood of her sons Lat
t.rly her troops have ben beaten in every battle Id
ADD fleeing to the mountains have called upon the
TO cover their dgrsce 1t Is du the civilized
I old ntrr. atyxfn
for cannot be kept within the bounds # party
where my country calls me forth SPEAK as the
father II large family desiring t. transmit them
anu the desc ndsnts tn blessings OF Christianity and
religious lb-rty; and not only this, but extend
| hem to nesbbors this continent As Tor
the var, | suppose that 1t was commenced by the
United States, in consequence Of the insults
which Mexico has heaped upon this nation, and that
ipdem ity claimed 10 u collateral qaesten sr
ling out Of the circumstances Of the war, which, II
do OF will soon be thrown aside in the oonsdsra
ton OF the rtsponsibe duties crowdpg upon in
sequence II the uuexamped victories Of arms Much
depends, in the attainment OF peace upon the wisdom
and humanity OF rulers in whom have every conf
dence an for whom entertain the profound re-
.pect The insults given by Mexico have been Bobly
resented washed away clean With t,ood and this cues
ton OF indemnity, if i. means pounds. shipg. ana
pence any fnsrcier will tell you IL be- ths OIL
you had better withdraw your troops and bv 40 dong
your money But the nation will weigh indeu-
uty snst blood Our position s FRI sht with higher
| considerations noblrr OBJECT commands you to in
your army, cost what 1t may. Fifty Thousand
waDted TO govern Mexio and disc nth raj her
from the state Of intssns dscord ard revolution IL
shch che has been for years bleeding at every
| Mexico is poor and wretcned, bu, will any one NJ
tribute her position The want OF men aud means,
rhe Mexican scholar viii tell you that her mental
aud bysical ample that has the men
and means ana knovsdse of the art OF warfare to
sustain her But Notwithstanding all this IL 10 svi.
dent that The curse Of insstiate .vaice and uuoend
| ing cruelty and ineo-noe, 10 upoa her, and We are
bound TO make an effort for her redemption. Th-
friends Of liberal institutions in Mexico are entitled
TO protection and the sxtens on Of this Is dury which
We cannot di'pen'e with We hsv not had liberty and
tol-ratop given to Tor spendthrf uses but
IL vas given to US trustees, and bound ali
proper occasions lend the boon neigh bore
therefore say sign treaty that has not these spu-
| iatons, and tho war should be carried uut they
consented though IL lasted tor CITY yesrs We should
BE- prepared to establish ind.pep dent republic In
Mexico. | would wish to insure that every American
would be entitled TO the protection In the