Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-28
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE NEW ENGLAND FESTIVAL.


icent dinner at the Astor House. The great dining
hall of that establishment was crowded to over
flowing, the number Of persons present being larger
than on any similar occasion. M
Hon. Moses III. GRINNELL, President of the
Society, presided; Hon. DANIEL WEBSTER sitting
upon his right, and Sir HENRY LYTToN BULwER
upon his left. After the cloth had been removed,
Mr.. GRINNELL introduced the regular toasts of the
evening, prefacing them with few pertinent re-
marks upon the prosperity which had attended the
New England Society, as well as the section OF the
country which trepresents. The first toast was
l. The Day An era in the history of human progress
be honored and commemoated by all the Sons OF
New England. .. H...>t..
This toast was received with three cheers, as
were also the two which followed: ..r
. The President ofthe United States. ..
3. The Governor Of the State Of new York;
The fourth toast was then read as follows
The Clergy of Ne,e England Their standard of faith the
Word Of God their rule OF practice the Illustration OF s
principles
Rev. Mr. Bellows responded to this toast. He said the
band Of our Pilgrim gave better response to that toast
even than the band music which they had just listened
The toast meant not much the Clergy the Religion Of
New England, and there present who did not
meeky how his head the memory Of religious founda
ton. Ii glorious peculiarly OF beginning that
both clergy and ay COMPOUNDED in the religious tide
which made every priest This old colony OF New
England had for time minister did they need
one every could interpret land sppy the Word Of
God for himself. Those came hihe not SO much for
federation of conscience as for religions own se-fo purify
Of religion, far than for freedom OF religion IL was
that which had made all lib. ties safe, and its perpetual
ton alone could give security for them was only after
affairs had settled down that the clergy became Important and
then they took great share in the formation OF the political
institutions OF the country and they had continued TO exercise
of Tho
try Their exhortaions not always follow
ed for when Just the election, CorroS preached
against rotation in Office the people listened with profound
attention, but elected new Governor Immediately afterwards
The Clergy allowed to ntrude into affairs which
did them but they still exercised great sway over
political affairs and there regular election ser
preached at Boston every and the clergy IN New
England lock upon Thanksgiving Day made for nothing
else than unburden their hearts affairs OF State This
is quite proper and they ought always to be allowed to set
forth what they believe be right and according to the
word Of God. We have different functions to perform, and
let all perform those which belong to them The clergy
the lungs of the country, whose buslness IS to bring
the breath of the country contact with the truth and the
wisdom of the word of God. Mr. B. held in his hand the
copy of the Bible brought the Maso,o and he thought
less of it because bad been safely kept for many years IN
the State OF Georgia He joiced that New England prn
cs had gone thher and he believed they would there, as
every where else work out their proper fruits He would
initiate the example of New England ancestors far
make discourse OF many heads he thought that dis
like kiss in that consisted of co heads and dpph-
cation. Y" pc .a...
Mr. BELLOWS sat down amidst great applause.
The next toast was then given: esq.,. .., @
S. The Common School The tree of knowledge origin
ally planted in New England-s seeds waited the
continent. "t.# ...... .-t@a..@.
J. PnEscorr HALL, Esq responded to this toast. The
sentiment he said, must carry every New England
back to the days of his chldhoodo those schooboy days
associated with the light heart and happy days when he
sheltered by the rooee of his parents Much there might
be that sad in the recollection Sht when he recalled
how much he TO those eIce Institutions in which
he was nurtuIed his heart be moved by gratitude
those whose first labor establish system of public
instruction which should embrace every member of the Com
monweah This system fathers could have derived
from home because they far advance of England
upon that subject. @ " ~"
From the very first they held that every owed i. to
the contribute of his the education of
child in the Commonwealth and the sernes. enactmen
were made enforcing the duty of educating the children
in all the elements of English knowledge. And this de-
gree of education gradually extended, first grammar
schools, then colleges and then to the universities The
effect of these provisions early visible in the character
and institutions of the New England people. And in it
were found vgor and the virtue which gave all their his
tory much merit and attraction in the eyes Of the world
Mr. H. traced the development OF its effect upon Ellsworth
Adams and other eminent New England men, and referred
him who has illustrated department of American
greatness. See him. said be- he carries the schooboys
sache the granite hills of his native New Hampshire.
See him drawing drafts from those fountains Of knowledge,
the schoohouses of his early home and him rising step
by STEP from point of greatness another until he
reaches the utmost summit and now, when consider
these great results which have sprung from such humble
causes, may not raise voice in praise Of this first
this greatest and best of gifts the schools of New England
That germ has been anpanted from New England TO New
York We have recently defended and sustained it here
Let il take and flourish and bring forth abundant fruit
Mr. GRINNELL then asked attention to toas
which was not on the catalogue, but which HI
thought every one would vote ought to be place.
there forthwith. He gave
"THE CONSTITUTIONS UsIoS, AND THEr
CHIEF DEFENDER. ....a.. .. .
This sentiment was received with great applause
and when Mr.. WEBSTER rose to respond to it h
was greeted with the most prolonged and tumulsu
Gus cheers. When the applause had subsidized, hi
spoke as follows
Mr. President and gentlemen Of the New York New Eng
land Society: Ye Of New England Ye brethren o
the kindred tie have come hither tonight not vthou
inconvenience that might behold such congregation
whose faces bear lneaments of New England origin
whose hearts beat with full New England pulses. Cheer
willingly make the sacrifice. Not young man-witf
blood in veins not young but thank God yet pretty
fully aud freely fowing-I here meet this pesen
great ofshoot OF the Pilgrim Society in Massachuses-ths
Pilgrim Society of New York. And, gentlemen, shall be
gin what have to say which is but le by rendering
you my thanks Tor the invitation extended me- and by wish
ing you all all sorts of happiness and prosperity.
Gentlemen, this has been stormy, cold boisterous
and nclemen day The winds have been hash the ske
have been and had no houses our heads
had security against the nclemency Of the skies if
and If half of sick, and tired