The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-11

SPEECH or the Elk SECRETARY OF 1nE TREAS
URY.
The members OF The American Chamber Of
Commerce, in this town, gave grand banquet,
on Monday night November Gath, at the Adel-
phi Hotel Liverpool, 10 the Hon. X. ]. Walker,
late Secretary Of tbs Treasury of the United
States The object Of the chamber was to
mark their appreciation Of the exertions of Mr..
Walker in giving facilities to the commerce
between Great Britain AID America. Wi liam
Brown, esq, the member for South Lancashire
consented TO preside on the occasion, but st the
last moment, In consequence of severe indispo
sition, he was compelled to decline the honor,
apd his place was occupied by William Rath-
bone, Jr., esq, the president of the American
Chamber of Commerce.
The chairman then said--To be elected by
Congress Of an enlightened nation like the Uni
ted States, to preside over their government, Is
so great an honor, that it would be absurd TO
suppose that words could add anything to il.
therefore give you, without further comment,
" The President OF the United States Of Amerl-
ca" Drunk with loud cheering.
Mr. Corbin said he might be pardoned on
that occasion, as citizen of the United States,
without any official position here or in his own
country, acknowledging the sentiment which
had been 80 kindly, and he was sure to all his
Applause He was an humble party to reply
10 the toast; but as the representative of his
own countrymen, at this particular place, was TO
be called upon to reply TO a specific toast, he
begged pardon for preceding him, on this ocea
sion, in acknowledging, in as genial manner as
it was rendered, the compliment to his country
Here, upon this SOIL the land of their forefirth-
ers, they knew no distinction of party APP
plause they had presented an undivided front;
and in making that front, they acknowledged
all gratitude for the kindness which they re-
ceived in this town. Applause. In these few
and unprecedented remarks, he could not do
better than at once, 10 bringing them to close,
proposing as a toast, in reply to that which had
been given to the honored head of his own coun-
try, "The Land of my Foretathers."
The toast was drunk with applause.
The CHAIRMAN.---The next toast call upon
you to drink is, g The clergy on both sides of
the Atlantic" and | associate it with the name
of one who though many of Us may differ from
him OF some points, we shall all agree has ever
been promoter of that cardinal object of our
common faith--peace and good will among men.
[Cheers.l "The venerable Arcbdeacon Brooks
and the clergy on both sides of the Atlantic"
Loud cheers.
The venerable Archdeacon Brooks acknowl-
edged the compliment. He said he begged leave,
on the part of the clergy of his own country,
and he assured them he had equal pleasure in
being allowed to do SO on the part of his brethren
across the Atlantic, to offer to them their best
thanks for the honor which they had just been
pleased to confer upon them. Cheers. He
could assure them that it was source of great
qualification to him to be classed with those who
were employed in the same vineyard with him.
self, and in the same work and labor of love !;
and he hoped and trusted that it might be their
earnest endeayor to inculcate those principles of
our common family which were the essence and
spirit of all true religion, and which were calcu-
lated to bind them together in the ties of bro
therly affection and love. Cheers.
The chairman then called for bumper for
the toast of the evening. He said, gentlemen,
as individuals, we all, probably even those who
think that older and less vigorous nations want
little nursing, may believe that the vast untold
natural resources of America might be best left
to the unshackle led youthful energy and intelli-
gence of her sons to develop them fully, and that
all is wanted to allow the giant to attain its full
growth is to remove the bandages which impede
its free action. Hear. But, as a body, we
are all equally agreed that it would be most un-
becoming in us to attempt to intrude our opin-
ions upon America or her citizens to what
their future course should be. As a nation we
have shown them our opinions by our acts, and
may safely leave the rest to their acknowledged
shrewdness and Saxon love of fair play. Cheers.
But what unites us all here tonight is to do
homage to the talent ard industry of one of
Americas distinguished citizens and statesmen
--(loud cheers and to the exertion of that
talent in the promotion of those measures for
extending commerce 10 which America has,
through her legislature, already put her seal of
approval Great cheering. Prob,bly, most
of you read Mr. Walkers report when Secretary
of the Treasury, and, if so, will feel how de-
served was the encomum the late Sir Robert
Peel passed on its distinguished ability. Cheers.
You will also feel how unworthy anything fur
Their from 80 unpractised speaker myself
would be on the subject. No, mol | would
therefore only add, that we welcome Mr.. Walker
most heartily first, as an American, and second,
because in the words of the toast, both countries
are so much indebted to him for mis- eXertions to
promote commerce, that great bond of union
between the two branches Of the Ango-Saxon
families Loud cheers.l ] give you, "The
Hon. X. J. Walker, TO whom both countries are
so much indebted for bis excrtons to promote
commerce., that great bond of union between
the two branches of the Anglo. Saxon family"
This toast was received with the most enthus-
as.c cheering, which was renewed again and
agao.l After the applause had subsidized,
THE HON. II. j. WALKER
Rose to respond, and was received with loud
cheering.
He said -
Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, it is with no
ordinary emotions that rise to endeayor to re-
turn my heartfelt thanks for this kind and cor
dial reception for the Aattering and friendly
sentiment proposed and the warm response
with which you have been pleased to welcome
it, [Cheers ! am sure it is not the humble
American citizen, without office, power, or
patronage, at home or abroad, now standing on
your hospitable SOIL that you have thus selected
TO honor 1t is my beloved country to whom
this compliment ispaid to her policy of CON-
lnercal freedom, and to myself only as one of
its earliest and most jealous, yet one of its
humblest advocates. This policy has remained
unchanged for the last FIVE years, sustained by
ever increasing najorities, and may be regarded
now as the settled doctrine of my country. In
1910 n hiphIv restrictive tariff was passed by