The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-05-05

ID Il nuSH, OF Pike;
Il II SpICER, Of Mercer.
For NcrrciGry ! : RcDEETS, Of Morgan;
d" assistants, i Il IIoWARp. oiJoDayieS;
c GuupY, Of Christian,
The President was conducted tothe chair
by DR.. Hope and Col. Iorman, when he, in
an appropriate manner, returned his thanks
for tie honor conferred
The committee appointed 10 wait on Gen.
Shields introduced him 10 the convention,
when he was welcomed 10y the president, in
behalf The convention:
General \hehs:-A convention Of dele
gates from the several counties # this state
Is here assembled, for the purpose of .lclb-
Grating upon matters connected with public
poIity. AN the presiding oilictr-ef this de.
Lucrative body, it gives nae great pleasure
10 bid you most cordial. sincere, ID heart
felt Welcome welcome to your adopted
state, to its capitol. aud to this convention.
GcHcrai: You are surrounded here by
those who have been long and intimately
acquainted with you; who have witnessed
aud appreciated your services aS a legislator
aud public officer, aud who have known
that the interests of your constituency and
the public have been faithfully guarded and
entirely safe in your hands. They Row Wit
ness your return from the Sauguiuarv fields
Of Mexico aN a general, 10 whom has beer
committed the guidance and command Of q
portion of their sons and brOthClS-the citi-
zen soldiers of Illinois. I'm this capacity too.
they have Witnessed with pride. that the
fame of our troops and the glory and honor
Of Our state have been rs >aCrcdly and As
faithfully guarded Is the civil trusts which
had been couiidCd 10 Won. The care and
watchfulucss extended by YOU over our sol
dicrS can be fully appreciated by those only
who were witnesses, many of whom arc now
around you, and who have participated with
you in some degree. the tolls and la,gucS oi
a soldiers life, and also have shared with
You the glory ula bloody battle field. To
those, General, your return here in health is
peculiarly gratifying; and 50 long ~ the
memory shall treasure up the stirring events
IN which they have participated with you,
so long will your conduct inspire them with
deeds Of vdlor, and your name will be treas
urrd up in honest hearts 81 hong as energy,
integrity, aud fidelity shall continue to be
virtues.
Gural: ! feel entirely inadequate 10 cx-
press TO you the sentiments " hich are enter.
tanned 10y this intelligent body iuthc manner
which desire, aud viii therefore only re-
pcdttha,l give youa most sincere and heart
felt welcome.
To which General SHIELDS replied nj
length, and in an able and patriotic manner
The want of a written report of his address.
and It's length forbid the attempt To furnish
"A copy or even To do justice to It's >plrit.
lie expressed, with deep emotion, hi,
sense of the kind aud complimentary man
ncr in which he had been received ON rc.
turning, for short time, to the bosom of hi,
adopted state, aud on finding himself sur.
rounded by 50 large a number OF his old aud
familiar friends. He advcitcd to the pa>t
few years ol his life, during which he had
enjoyed the confidence aud support Of the
people Of the State of Illinois in various pub.
lie stations, 30 which he had been called hN
their partality. Illinois had extended tC
him the hand ut hospitality aud given him q
home when a stranger lie had received
unmcritcd ilvorS aud houorS at her hands
and could not but feel a strong AN over,
towering. attachment to her chivalrouS PEG,
/ pie. TWAS indeed buta few years since hi.
/ departure. He found the city Of his Iormc,
residence wearing the same aSpcct-hc saw
the same faces and the same scenes that h,
had left. But when he recalled to mind tn,
stirring and great events which have sue
cecdcd each other during tho pasttwo years
II almost seemed that the occurrences o
/ ility years had been crowded into that mar
row space.
/ And this Is, said he. indeed time whci
men live fast, amidst the hurry of cXcitiui
/ events and great changes. Tho humat
mind every whcrGnppcars to he awakcnin.
from its Slumbcr of ages. The nations q
the world are in commotion-thc pcopl
struggling for freedom, aud nounrths for In
safety of their crumbliuy thrones. Ever
day brings us intelligence Of a rising anon
the people, aud If new concessions to In
spirit of liberty on the part of deSpotic gov
cnmcnts. The example of this country
extending It's influence throughout the worlj
aud the time isnot far distant when the pee
pie will be the only sovcreignS.
General ). referred to the wrongs Of I,c
land, his notvclanl to the grinding oprrc'