The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-04-10
RECEPTION OF Mr.. WEBSTER At HARRIS.
BURG - SPEECH OF GOV. JOHNSTON.

his post, our foreign relations cannot be In crit
il or complicated condition, and the Department
Of State, we presume, has little to attend TO bu
mere routine business At all events, our Secre
tary Of State appears to be far concerned foi
the interests Of the Interior than for those Of the
Exterior.
Oriental magnates in ancient times shrunl
from the public gaze, and shut themselves up in
their palaces, under the impression that the re
serve of their lives would invest them in the
imagination of the People with a kind of mysteri
Gus sanctity But in those days they had nc
steam locomotives, or penny papers, and people
had little TO think of but mysteries Great mer
cannot now shut themselves up, without being
forgotten by world going by steam, and where
everybody thinks more of himself than anybody
else. No one understands this better than Mr.
Webster, who bids fair to become the great
traveller, speech maker and lotter-wrter of the
country. lie is kind Of ubiquitous presence
seeking everywhere to stamp his image and super.
scription on the popular mind.
On the first of this month he paid visit to
Harrisburg and was received in the Hall of the
House of Representatives by both branches of
the Legislature and Governor Johnston and his
suite. The Governor did the honors very hand
somely, but his speech, unexceptionably cautious
in emitting all allusion to Mr.. Websters late
policy, and cOmplimenting him for former services,
was throughout grateful to the Secretary. In
truth, it does honor to the head and heart of
Governor Johnston, and clearly shows that, I'M
like another prominent member of the Wing
party in Pennsylvania, he cannot change his opin-
ions to suit circumstances 1t is thus reported
Mr.. WEBSTER: In behalf Of the constituted
authorities, and at their request in the name of
the citizens of Pennsylvania here present most
cheerfully perform the duty of extending to you
most cordial welcome to this Commonwealth 1t
has ever been Distinguishing and lively trait in
the character of the American People to venerate
talents, and to render to the long public services
Of individuals the homage of their respect and
appreciation
g In this most excellent and beautiful property
Of our national character it has been the constant
effort Of the citizens of Pennsylvania to be con-
spicuously prominent. Under no circumstances
and at no time have her people failed to appre-
Ciate and reward the patriotic labors Of sran-
gers to her soil, or render the Just tribute of
pride and admiration of transcendent mental
abilities, without regard to sectional location or
the field Of their operations, whether the same
may have been in the discharge of religious, civil
or military duty.
:" In the fair fame usefulness, and worth of the
public men of the Union, our Commonwealth has
felt the same pride which the mother enjoys in
the well-doings of beloved SON. We may differ
in political partialities, but it is confidently hoped
never to such an extent rs to forget or sully the
ancient and honorable reputation which we have
justly earned of awarding to all men the respect
and regard due to their merits and services If
not the self-styled mother of great men, Pennsyl-
Vanla has always endeavored faithfully to cher
ish, protect, sustain, and honor the great and
good Of other lands Ii would afford me great
pleasure to extend these remarks by q reference
to Some Of the important acts of your long public
life, about the patriotism and propriety of which
no diversity Of opinion can exist if did not feel
that in 30 doing was OBTAINING this vast assem-
blage Of fair ladies and worthy citizens from an
intellectual treat which, from its promised rich
ness and beauty, they may well be inpatient to
enjoy. Permit me then, fellow citizens, turning
TO the audience) TO introduce to your kind atten-
tiOn and respectful regard the distinguished Sec
rotary of State Of the National Government the
Hon. Daniel Webster"
There was no Aattery in all this-no recopni-
milton of the propriety of Mr. Websters course
in relation to late agitating questions On the
contrary, but a single personal allusion is made
to the Secretary, and that is so shaped as to COM
piment him for those acts of his life, "about the
patriotism and propriety of which no diversity of
opinion can exist, implying plainly enough that
about more recent acts, there existed great d.
versity of opinion, of which, however courtesy
required him to say nothing. The Governor de.
serves praise for his independence as well as for
his political sagacity.
Mr.. Webster, in his reply, although he knew
that many of those who had assembled to extend
to him the Inequalities of the State, did not ap-
prove of his course on the Compromise measures,
could not refrain from clarifying himself for the
part he had taken in their passage
of had happened" he said, "to have been
before this assemblage, in this place, one year
ago to-day, on the first of April OF last year, |
should have met you with a far less gladstone
heart than now do; for it is not TO be denied
that occurrences of great import have taken place
within the last year-that measures haze been ADOPT
ed, by me general concurrence OF men Of all parties
calculated oadjua local dBerMeeS and settle the agi
tafUg questions Of the country Ii is time that we
should feel kindly one towards another-that we
should feel that we are one people-that we have
one interest, one character, one liberty, and one
destiny
~ bore an hunble Jnt earnest pant in the procure
8lent Of that adjustment established by the last Con-
gTesS. If not everything that all could wish, 1t
IL as much as the raliona, could hope for | trust
TO your own perception to see the great degree of
cheerfulness prevailing in society around you,
and the general progress Of all interests under
the influence of the industry Of your people and
| ask you whether do not meet you under the
better auspices for you and for me, for united
liberty for established differentiation among Gov
ernments of the came republican faith, than
would have met you year since"
Under the circumstances it seems to us that
there would have been no indecorum in abstain
ing from all allusion to topics about which he
must have known his entertainers greatly diff
fered. At the dinner that followed soon after,
the Secretary, as if bent on extorting some sane
ton for his recent course, took occasion again to
refer more emphatically, to the Compromise.
Rising to respond to toast by Mr.. Randall, he
said
lie felt that HGr era IN Ow social and political
lDduS hGd damned upon ms, "a consequence of The ac-
hon Of me last Congress. lie alluded again to the
gallantry Of Pennsylvania, and rejoiced that she
was where she always had been, in the front rank
or patriotism
1.-THE Union, he blsued, 'ras now safe, and the &C.
casion was therefore past for calling upon men to
consult together, and present Hao basis for action
The ComprOmiss had accomplished rs purpose and
we now breathed in pure air-prosperity again
fourished around us, The evidences were too
manifest Of return Of p,rnan,Hcy and aaJadv
among u.s. for any one 10 Hnpeet he ultimate fend,,..
nes and bene6tS of tie COmpOmiss acts Or only
duty nom rGS 10 sustain those ac'S and l,gl,a,h 10
our children, as ne Teeired 4 f,Vm oar mcesors, TuE
Union, oNE AND INDWIslBLElO
The Union was nOv safe! course il had been