Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-06-05
From the Louisville Courier,
The Presidents speech 1t HufFalo.

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From the Louisville Courier
The President's speech at Buffalo.
We have found itwholly impractcable to pub
Presidents trip fromW ashington to Dunkirk. ow-
ing to the number of demonstrations on the part
of the people towards their venerated Chief Ma
gistrate, unless we excluded all other matter from
our columns. The following speech, however,
delivered by him at Buffalo, is so replete with
pure patriotism, that we cannot forego the temp
tation of publishing it, disconnected from the &C
counts of the enthusiastic reception he met with
on the part of the people and municipal authors
ties Of that city:
After the Mayor had concluded, Mr. Fillmore,
deeply affected, and moved even to tears replied
substantially as follows:
Mr. Mayor and Fello,c Gti.ens:
cepton from my friends and neighbors. l am
oppressed and overwhelmed by the cordlality-
by the unanimity with which you have come to
greet me on my return to my home. 1t is a re-
ception with which any Roman General in the
palmiest days Of the Commonwealth, might have
been satisfied. l can hardly persuade myself that
it is reality. 1t seems more like some hallu-
cination Of the mind. But no! here is the reality
in the thousanl Is Of this mighty throng. came
among you, not many years ago friendless boy.
For all that am, for all that I hope to be. for
all that can hope to do for my country, / am in
debted to you. And hope to be permitted to
return to you and spend my days with you, and
at last to sleep in yonder grave yard and mingle
my dust with yours. The tempest tossed mariner
the merchant who iourneysii in distant climes in
search Of wealth-theC California miner who leaves
home to dig for gold far away, return to their
early associates to enjoy the fruits of their labor
So with me. Whatever of honor may have ac-
quired-whatever Of distinction among nv coun-
trymen has fallen upon me- would be valueless UNI
n..A T n N
this honor, all this generous enthusiastically these
marks of respect and confidence are not intended
for me personally 1t is the high Office, which,
through an affecting dispensation of ProvdenceI
now fill, that has called forth this spontaneous
gathering of thousands. All classes are mingled
before me-all political considerations are thrown
aside and receive this tribute as did the ''Wel-
come" stretched across your Main street-as
did the flowers that were thrown into the car
riage we passed along, as the offerings of pat
riotism to the high Office of Chief Magistrate Of
the country.
Your Mayor has generously and with general
approval referred to my administration. l was
called to my present position by painful dispen-
saton. 1t was at time If great peril to the con-
stitution and to the country. In the course which
have felt compelled, from a firm conviction of
duty, to pursue, am not unaware that have
lost the confidence and support of many whose
friendship highly value. But there was no al
tentative left-no other path to pursue, and pre-
serve our cherished institutions, and hand them
gratifying to know, and it is with pleasure that
am permitted to speak of it. that this spirit was
not confined to any class. 1t is not to me alone,
nor to those distinguished gentlemen to whom l
| owe whatever of success has attended my admin
stration that the country is indebted for the hap
py termination of our difficulties. As partizans
we may differ-questions to the manner in which
mt Sha ha adm m 10
us. But when the Union is endangered-when
treason stalks abroad at the South and rears its
snaky head at the North. all rally to its support
All classes, all parties forget their differences and
make common cause against the common foe
Distinguished Democrats, one Of whom (Sena-
tor Douglass, of lllinois,) is by my side now,
gave me their confidence and support, and came
forward nobly in the cause of patriotism to save
the Union and the Government. 1t was then
that they stood by me in my humble efforts to
preserve the integrity of the constitution.
Your Mayor has alluded to the measures
adopted by the administration to preserve our
neutrality and to prevent the invasion of the ter
ritory Of friendly power. In doing what
have, was but discharging my duty, and acting
upon those principles which have governed the
policy of the government from the beginning, in
its intercourse with other nations. If we depart
from this policy we shall array all the other
powers against US. There is no liberty-no Sc
must be enforced. II any portion of our people
are permitted to rush headlong to the conquest Of
Cuba, it would weaken or destroy the confidence
of other nations in the integrity of neutrality
and we should soon find ourselves placed beyond
the pale Of international law and international
comfy. Congress wisely made such invasion of
the territory of friendly nations criminal offence.
And have sworn upon the Holy Evangelists to
execute the laws, of all knds-I have endeavored
to the best Of my ability to execute them. in
tend to execute them, and God helping me, will
execute them.
But did not rise to make a speech. This
was not fitting occasion to dwell upon grave
affairs Of State. rise to give vent, fully, to the
grateful emotions of my heart. But in the over
towering strength Of the feelings, called into ac-
ton by the scenes around me-by the warm con-
fidence Of my fellow-citizens, as shown in the
thousands before me, can but family tell you all
feel. When look upon your many familiar
faces, they seem to me like the faces Of brothers
and sisters. again thank you for this reception.
thank you, Mr. Mayor, for the cordiality with
which, on the behalf of your fellow-citizens, you
have welcomed me to this my cherished home.
The President was repeatedly applauded du-
ring the delivery Of his reply, and sat down
| amid enthusiastic cheering.