The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-23


in the events Of those umes One Of them played
the fife on that glorious morning and moment
since, as was helping that venerable patriot 10 put
on his outer garInents-for he trembled so much
that he wished me 10 assist him--I was ready TO say
since we have alluded TO his christian name syery
pleasant art thou TO me, brother Jonathan" sup
pose, Mr.. Chairman that am indebted for the hon
or of being called upon to reply to the last toast
the circumstance that some three four years ago
held an official station under the government, the
sphere OF which placed my duties in England, and
full study Of the feeling existing there towards
can truly say, that the generous sentiment that
was expressed by the orator Of the day is fully
sponded to by the good of the people there. II
Is the general tone Of the community there much
as II Is here, that old wiped off, and the
accounts closed. think my friend said, all we
now TO do is to enter upon generous rivalry in
the noble arts of peace.
That, take ii, is the highest tone there, from
every opportunity of observation enjoyed-is the
tone, from the highest personages in the kingdom
down through all the orders OF society with which
had any intercourse whatever. have been
joiced, therefore, to see among Americans the ten
derness of feeling displayed this day towards the
mother country. was much pleased to see that
English flag at halfmas placed over the grave OF
Individual who fell near the North bridge. Very
much pleased was TO hear of the liberal sen timent
expressed by you towards the land of our fathers.
Sir, i il our duty, il will be our duty the duty Of
children, TO the end of time to cherish the mem
Dry Of the martyrs of the 10Th of April TITS, and
hope shall always do il as it has been done this
day-in manner not to cherish any feelings OF Bit
terness towards the mother country, between whom
and ourselves there are ties Of connected interest
and common affections, greater than ever existed
between any other two countries.
Sir, it has been well said, we had even at the com
mencement of the Revolution, and at that moment
Of extreme oppression which preceded those times,
with of the best spirits in the mother coun
try. Think of the words of Chatham, to which
think the orator alluded. When the stamp act was
passed. it was received with one burst of Opposition
from one end Of the continent to the other. What
said Lord Chatham? 81 rejoice that America has
resisted" The orator of the day named Burke.
Why, sir, it was not month before the war broke
out that that divine speech on reconciliation was
uttered, the nobest, l believe that ever fell from
the lips of man in the old country II was on the
22d OF March, TITS, that Burke said: "My hold upon
the United Colonies, sir grows out of the earnest
conviction that springs from common name-from
kindred blood-from similarity Of privileges, and
from equality of protection These are the ties,
which, though few, are light air, but strong az
links Of IRON"
Yes, sir, these arc the ties by which the liberal
men of England wished to bind us. These liberal
words of Burke, believe uttered on the 22d of
March, ITS. On the 10Th of April the curtain
on that glorious drama of which the plains of Lex
ngton and Concord were appointed by Providence
the great theatre. When the intelligence of
that day reached England, know Of many, from
what L have heard myself, whom it must have
struck with great surprise. was told, sir, by
gentleman now, of course, advanced in years, one
in the highest walks Of society, that when the news
called his children together at their daily devotions,
and told them the dreadf id ne,cs from America He
then ordered full suit of mourning, and when
some one asked him if he had lost relative
friend, eyes, said he, s.many friends, many breth
rem; lost in one blow at Lexington and Concord, in
America" Sir, do not mean to say that the lib
era men in England at that time wished for the in
dependence of America. They not ready for
that. We scarcely ready for it here, you
know. 1t was only some of the hrmest spirits of
the day that entertained the thought Of indepen-
dence. We all know, sir, as soon as we were all
assured that the contamination must come, that all
parties readily embraced each with the other.
Why, sir lit is most curious fact that Lord North
himself laid all the blame of carrying the war,
or at least the chief blame, upon the royal coun-
sells. Lord North was DESTROYS, very few years
before that event took place. TO retire from the min
stry, in order to lead any of the people to act con-
sistenty with the recognition of the independence
Of the United States. Sir, have seen this myself
in the copies of the correspondence between George
the Second and Lord North which is still in exist
ence, and which have had the opportunity of pc
rusing. Mr.. Chairman, in that speech of Burke to
which have Just alluded, he vindcates the Ameri-
cans from the reproach which was cast upon them,
and he turned the great issues of liberty into
ney question.
Mr.. Chairman, we have seen, o-day, some relics
of the American revolution, of different kinds We
have seen powder-horn, we have seen banners of
various descriptions, full of interest and, perhaps,
you would like to see specimen Of stamped paper.
have brought with me q specimen OF that ever
ment TO the American revolution. shall not tell
you how got it; will only say got it honestly,
without infringing on any mans rights, which is
saying good deal, considering WHAT Is must say.
Considering the part it has played in human histo
ry, we may say Of that stamped paper what Pliny
said OF the Egyptian papyrus-that that il the Ian
guage on which the Immortality of man rests:
Yes, sir, that dingy piece of blue paper sacred
TO the United States Of America, and the greatest
event. perhaps in the annals Of the world; and but
for the precious blood it cost, the sacrifices, the
tolls, the privatons incident to the eight
years Of war an event Of equal importance to both
parties. Why, sir, to speak of the growth and the
progress of America since that period would be per-
fectly idleor to refer to II. Notwithstanding
the shock of the Of the French revolution, not
| withstanding that gigantic debt which has been
cast upon her in consequence of these wars, il is
certainly true that there is period in her history
in which she has grown 30 much in strength, ex-
tent, dominion, and power the period which
has elapsed since the Declaration of Independence.
Well, sir, as to the principles Of our fathers,
which made 1t necessary to appeal to arms, it is
| scarcely necessary to say in this audience-and
after what we have heard-we have need Of no in
dignation whatever. But there is considera-
ton which think worthy Of calling to your minds
in passing-which is, that the events of the last
year have given from England the most COM
plete justification for all our fathers claimed and all
that they demanded. You very well know that
there has been complete reversion of the whole
colonial policy in the British provinces over the
line, granting them privileges much more liberal
than our fathers demanded in ITS. Instead Of the
Royal Governors being it were burdened with
instructions which the people could not submit 10,
he is required TO take his responsible advisers
from that party which has a majority in the Colo
NAL Legislature, should il be way the other.
We saw the last year the crown refusing veto, on
subject of colonial Legislation, though the friends
Of the crown were ready to go into rebellion in
the act should not be vetoed.
Mr.. Everett then alluded TO the time when,
twenty five years ago, on this memorable anniver-
sary, he had the honor of addressing" his fellow
citizens OF Concord and the neighboring towns-s
period of time In which allimportant events had
been crowded into the history Of America. He was
ready to say he had lived age in this quarter OF
a century. At that time had but twenty four
States; now we have thirty States, and the thirty
first our last born sister, California, with her wells
of gold, is already tripping across the continent
and presenting herself at the doors of Congress,
and asking for admission into the Union. When
before he addressed them, the population of the
United States amounted to eleven millions. IL is
supposed that the census TO be taken in the course
of this year will carry Il TO twenty four millions,
and some say TO twenty five millions In the short
space of twenty five years there has come into
istence among ourselves and around us, a new ma