Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-07-16
LETTER FROM FATHER MATHEW.

The following from New York city's distin
mitted to the Common Council by his Honor the
Mayor. 1t will be read with interest
Tohis Honor the Mayor of Neay York-My
Dear Sir: Before entering upon the discharge
OF the important duties immediately connected
with my temperance mission, permit me to re-
turn to you, sir, to the municipal authorities and
to the citizens of New York, my most grateful
and heartfelt thanks for the generosity and kline
feelings displayed towards me--and which would
have oppressed me by It's intensity, were [ not
conscious that it was paid to that great and
sacred cause of which | am esteemed the persona
fication. The courtesy and polite attention Of
Alderman Halves, and the other honored mem
bers OF the committee, and the MANY disinterest.
ed proofs Of sympathy, kindness and affection
which have received from the citizens, has
made an impression that will never be effaced
From the moment caught the first glimpse OF
American land, every incident has awakened
renewed pleasure and delight have pazed
with rapture on the bold outline of your coast
and have admired the beautiful scenery of vourr
noble bay, unriyaled for its maritime capabilities
and designed by nature as the great entrepot of
trade and of commerce for the Western world :
have seen your ma este rivers dotted with
richly frejehted vessels, bearing the teenino rro-
duce Of your luxuriant soil to far distant nations
and oh, sir, could not look on those winged
messengers Of peace and plenty, without associ-
atlng with them the inagnanimous bounty of a
brave people to an afflicted nation.
lhave visited your busy warehouses. your .hrong-
ed streets and busting t}sorouohiares and have
been forcibly struck with those external eviden-
ces OF mercantlle greatness and prosperity, that
shadow forth the high commercial destiny that
yet awaits your already glorious republic.
have already seen the comfort and abundance
enjoyed by all, i'll the total absence of squaljd
poverty, and in the liberal remuneration which
awaits honest toll, proofs of prosperity, which
contrast stflkingly with scenes that have often
narrowed my soul in that poor old country. which
trodden down and oppressed as she is, is still
the land OF my birth and of my affections. |
have visited your god-like institutions upheld
with munilicence worthy of your mighty re-
public, IN which you initiate, at an humble dis
tance the mercy of the Redeemer making s.the
blind to see the dumb to speak" | have minute
ly inspected their internal arrangements. and
witnessed with intense satisfaction, the philan-
throplc system and the absence of all religious
exclusion on which those asylums, sacred to hui
naanlty are based and conducted I ferventlv
pray that, '1He who holds in hands the destinies
OF natlons," may make yours worthy the favors
He has bestowed and with pure hearts pure
hands and sleepless vigilance, that YOU may
guard and defend, to the end Of time the great
charge he has committed to your keeping
With the warnest gratitude for the kindness
conferred in impaftng to me the inequalities of
your city, and treating me as its honored guest.
l am MIR. Mayor, with sentiments of profound
respect, your devoted and grateful friend.
THEoBALD MATHEW
New York. July 7. I8Aa