The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-02

of having my respects 10 the President OF the
Rebublic of the United States Applause
And although il would i'll become me, stran-
ger, TO presume to eulogize the conduct or the
services of President Fillmore, yet as bystand-
or, as an observer, and by no means an indli-
ferent or careless observer, of your progress ana
prosperity, think | may venture to athrm that
it is the opinion of all impartial men that Pres
ident Fillmore will occupy an honorable place
on the roll of illustrious men on whom the man
tie Of Washington has fallen Applause and
cheers. Somebody must write TO the President,
and tell him how that remark about him was
received. Laughter
Gentlemen, have felt very deep interest IN
the progress Of the lines of railway communi-
cation of which we are now assembled to cele-
brate the completion The first railway that |
ever travelled upon in North America forms
part of the great line which now unites Mont
real to Boston had the pleasure, about five
years ago TO be travelling with friend OF
mine whom see now present Gov. Paine)
think as far as Concord upon that line.
Gov. PAINE, of Vermont 1t was Franklin.
LORD ELGN He has contradicted me; he
says it was not Concord but Franklin. But
will state another thing, in which he will not
contradict me; which is, that although we
travelled together two or three days, over bad
roads part OF the way We never reached
| place which could have been with any propriety
| christened Discord. Laughter and applause
! Well gentlemen, although take a deep in
terest in this line, | must tell you, because |
never wish to sail under false colors, that it is
not the exclusive object of my preference; for
am free to admit that there are other lines
connecting the Canadas with the ocean at other
points in which | also take q lively interest
| But come here to express my sense OF the
great obligation which the trading portion es-
pecially of the people of Canada are under TO
the city of Boston for their liberality and enter
prise not only because they have opened new
channels of trade, but also because by the great
outlay in these works, as stated by the Mayor,
and by the satisfactory results of these OUTLAWS,
you have shown how greatly the settlement of
new country may be advanced, how greatly
the value of property may be increased, and
how largely the general aggregate wealth may
be augmented by expenditures of that kind,
when judiciously conducted think that from
your example, we Canadians will return home,
n@yteiplv not .sadder.n but wiser meIr dian
we came here Applause.
There was another reason for my coming
here at this time wanted to say, by my pres
ence here, that | appreciate and value the
moral and social as well as economical effects
of these increased facilities of intercourse. BY
coming here over your lines to tender to you
the hand of good fellowship, | wanted to show
that was aware that your lines were made
to transport men and women, as well as for the
carriage of bales of goods and barrels of -four
cannot forget that the year in which thus
come to tender you the hand of good fellow,
ship is likely to he memorable year in the
history of our species 1t is year in which a
new planet has been added to our solar sys-
tem-a planet which has been, with singular
felicity and singular appropriateness, christened
Irene, the planet of Peace. Applause
And, as have touched upon that point, al
low me to say that have felt most deeply the
kind terms in which England has always been
alluded to by all whom have met, since en-
tered within the territory of the United States
! Applause, and cries of hear, hear cannot
say that feel surprised when hear Americans
speak in the way his honor the Mayor has
spoken of England; but am sometimes sur
prised and shocked, although now much more
rarely than some years ago, am happy to say,
to hear language Of different kind from
Americans respecting England. | remember
that the code of an illustrious lawgiyer of an
ancient Grecan republic was remarkable, be-
cause, although it contained a vast number of
special provisions and details relating to all
sorts of crimes, there was no mention made of
the crime Of parricde. 1t was perfectly well
known that the oniscica did not arise from any
doubt as to whether parricide was crime.
And although it may be a cosus onissus in the
criminal codes of your Republic trust that
no person will be allowed, without being con-
sidered blameworthy to speak ungenerously
or dsparagngly of his old grandmother ON
the other side of the Atlantic. Applause
Sir, it is impossible to live as long as ! have
done in America without entering very keenly
into the feelings of pride and qualification with
which Americans, and Canadians too, talk OF
their country 1t is wonderfully progressing
and has wonderful resources But when hear
boastful language INDUCED in, partaking of a
| tone somewhat disparaging as respects other
countries which are less advantageously situated
than themselves | cannot help thinking of an
eloquent passage in the writings Of my most
eloquent friend, now no more, the late DR..
| Chalmers in which he refers to the simutane-
Gus discovery of the telescope and microscope.
| He diates in his gorgeous and emphatic Ian
guage upon the vast lights shed by each in its
respective sphere upon the benefcence, the
WISDOM and the power of the Almighty. So
would say to such speaker as | have just
| referred to-
Sir, when you have satisfied your gaze by
contemplating the magnificent scene spread out
| before you: when, with the aid of the telescope
you have scanned those mighty prairies which
the ploughshare has not yet broken when you
have cast your eyes upon those bOundless for
ests which the axe has not yet touched when
you have travelled over those extensive terrific
ries which are underlain by valuable mineral
fields which the cupidity of man has not yet
rihed--when you have gazed upon all these to
your hearts content just lay your telescope
aside, and take this little microscope from me.
and will show little island, far hidden behind
that eastern wave--an island 80 diminutive
that you might take it up bodily and toss it
into the lakes which lie between the Canadas
and the United States without filling them up
but which, nevertheless, us my friend the Mayor
has pointed out, was the source whence came
forth the valor and the might which laid on this
continent the foundations of empires IAp-
pause Permit me to say, that all wisdom and
judgment have shown that without love Of lib
erty and respect for order and for law you can
have no sufficient security that your empire will
prove enduring
Now, gentlemen, before ] take my seat per-
nit me TO close-Icrics Of Ego ono Why,
gentlemen, it must be the air of Boston, for ]
never made so long speech before in nay life
| ILaughterI will now offer to you as sent-
ment-
Prosperity to the trade and city of Boston"
No one, am sure will question the sincerity
with which propose this toast for most as
suredly if | had not wished well to the trade of
the city of Boston should not be here now. II
may be that some of those Western towns
which spring up in a night and grow in the
twnkling Of an eye from small villages to
towns of respectable population, may progress
more rapidly than Boston but there is sta
bility and solidity about Boston which | must