The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-11-15
rather Matthew's valedlctorv.

The distinguished philanthropist, Rev Thcobald
Mathew, sailed last week for Liverpool in the
steamship Pacific The following Is his valedic-
tory:
TO The Citizens of The United States:
DEARLY BELOVED FRIENDs My mission amongst
you closes to-day. cannot take my final depart
urc from the shores OF your great and prosperous
country without publicly recording my deep and
grateful appreciation of the generous sympathy,
tue DELICATE attention, and the unremittlng kind
ness which have experienced in every section Of
THIS vast Union. The noble reception which you have
spontaneously rendered to stranger, known merely
as an humble missionary in the cause of moral
form, proves the devotion of your people To the
interests OF humanity, however icebly championed,
and has endeared America and her people TO me
by thousand ties too sacred for utterance. Though
the renewed attacks OF painful and insdous ma
lady have rendered IL impossible that I could
without imminent danger TO my life) make those
pubic exertons which were never spared by me
in the days of my health and of my vigor wet
thank Heaven, have been instrumental in adding
to the ranks Of temperance over 200 disciples
in America have been much cheered, during the
past week. by the receipt oil letters from all parts OF
the States, bearing unimpeachabe testimony to the
strict fidelity with which this voluntary obligation
ID observed. need scarcely add, that virtue, and
the duties which religion incucates, together with
peace, plenty, domestic comfort, health and hap
piness, have everywhere followed in its train.
l cannot omit this opportunity OF bearing my
grateful testimony to the generous and valuable
cooperation which have received in the prosecu-
ton of my mission, from the public press OF Ameri-
ca. Whatever may be the party or sectional diff
ierences that separate those influential expositors
OF public opinion, all recognised, in the simple
principle which enunciated, common ground Of
fraternal union; and acting in that Christis spirit
have, with scarcely an exception, freely ten
tered their valuable support and advocacy to the
cause OF Observation-Disclosures the cause Of
virtue, patriotism, and morality. If the affection
ate sympathy and kindness OF the American peo-
pie have AT all times been generously extended to
Inc during my tour, how much more intense has
noble feeling as he oh cd
for my departure. How can find language to
thank the generous, the high-souled, the noble
Henry Clay, my disinterested advocate-my dear
ly cherished friend? How express the mca-
sure OF my obligation TO the benevolent VIM. Cor
coran, of Washington? to the public spirited and
philanthropic Henry Grinnell? to your merchant
princes, +. X. Collins and Robert Kermit? To the
amiable and gifted archbishop of New York, whose
delicate and unremitting attention will never be
forgotten by his honorcd guest? to the host of kind
friends in this city, in Philadelphia, Boston. AL
bany, New Orleans, st. Louis, Cincinnati, and
through the Union, who have responded to Mr..
Clay's appeal, and in their farewell presents have
furnished memorial of gratitude and generosity
too highly appreciated by the object of their sym
pathy and socitude-too deeply engraven on his
heart to be acknowledged in the hackneyed phrases
sanctioned by conventional usage?
There are emotions of gratitude too intense for
language to convey; were it otherwise gladly
would attempt to give expression to my profound
| thanks to my gifted and amiable countrywoman,
Miss Catherine Hayes. Never will forget the sym
y,
taneous generosity ESQ characteristic Of her irish
| hearty which prompted her recent grateful and
substantial compliment. Never will this noble act
| be forgotten by Father Mathew; and when his
earthly pilgrimage is over, when his stewardship
ceases, and he is called to state OF future exist
ence, where even the envenomed shaft Of the elan
derer cannot reach, long may her honored name
| be pronounced with gratitude and respect by the
and daughters Of that beauteous isle which she
loves SO well. To my own beloved countrymen
| most affectionatey tender u few words of parting
advice. You have, my dearly beloved friends, re-
linquished the land of your BIRTH endeared to you
by thousand fond "reminiscences, to seek these
distant shores that remuneration for industry and
toll too often denied you at home. You pre-
scented here with boundless field of profitable en-
ployment, and every inducement to perseverine-
industry. You are received and welcomed into the
great American family with feelings OF sympathy,
kindness, and friendship After few years YOU be-
citizens of this great Republic, whose vast terri
torial extent abounds in all the materials Of mineral
agricultural and commercial wealth; the avenues
to honor and fame are literally thrown open to
yos and to your children, and no impedment
(savc OF your own crcation) exists to prevent you
attaining the highest social and civic Distinction
and will you any longer permit those glorious OPP
portunitics to pass uninproved-or, rather, will
you not, by studying self-respect, and acquiring
habits suited to your position, aspire to reflect
honor alike on the land of your birth and of your
adoption! implore you, as | would with my
dying breath, to discard forever those foolish divi
sions those insensate quarres those actious brols
(too often, alas, the fruits of intemperance) in
which your country 10 disgraced, the peace and or
der OF society violated, and the laws of Heaven
trampled on and outraged Oh, how painful is the
contrast between tho feelings which generate those
foolish local animosities amongst the common in
habitants of country, the entire OF which
would but form an uncomfortable section of some
oil the larger States of this Union and that broad
and comprehensive spirit of patriotism which
makes every inhabitant of this mighty Republic
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from Maine to
California-glory in the title of an American
citizen.
Friends and fellow countrymen now bid YOU
n reluctant, final farewell. A few hours more
will separate me from the hospitabe shores of
America forever. | carry with me to the poor
old country" feelings of respect and attachment
for it's people. that neither time distance can
obliterate. Citizens of the United States, fer
vently pray that The Almighty Disposer of human
events in whose hands the destinics of nations
may continue those blessings and favors which you
have so long enjoyed-that your progress in every
private and public virtue may keep pace with your
uncxamped prosperity-that you and your chill
drcns children may be true to the great des-
tiny that awaits you, and to the spirit of thoee
situations under the fostering care of which you
have 80 rapidly progressed. May your country
still extend the hand of succor to the helpless exile
afford an asylum TO the prosecuted, and home to
the oppressed-and thus inseparaby connect her
future destiny with the interests OF universal hu-
manity.
Citizens of the United States, and beloved coun-
trymen, again adieul May Heaven pour its choic-
est blessings your favored land, is the farewell
prayer Of
Your devoted and afTectonate friend,
TBEoBALp MATHEW.