The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-04-25
THE REPUBLIC.

OtutI papers, tndt the ITleuuS vi WI. w cuStei
proposed to meet in front of his lodgings, at the
Revere House, at eleven O'Clock that day. No
previous announcement of this purpose had
been made, and it was not circulated by fam
ing notices or sound of trumpet, but it brought
together one of the largest assemblages that has
ever come togesher here upon such an occasion.
So short was the notice that no preparation had
been made at the Revere House, but after ten
o'clock the ever prompt landlord, by bringing
out tables, and placing one upon the top Of an
other, and lashing them carefully, made Sc
cure platform This was covered with car
pet, and the movable steps used in lighting the
lamps of the house furnished an access to it.
This sudden arrangement Of the rostrum shows
the impromptu nature of the whole proceed
ings.
In the mean time, the square was filled by
eager vistants, and the windows and balconies
Of the Revere House and the surrounding houses
were filled, chiefly with ladies.
At few minutes after eleven O'Clock Cap
tain Newell A. Thompson assembled the stage
and said:
"FELLow-crrIznNs: This, as you are aware, Is a
spontaneous meeting you will have learned its
purposes from the handbills distributed this morn
ing. There viii be no regular organization; but
if be your pleasure that the following gentlemen
him that the people are in front and prepared to
pay their respects to him, you will please to mani
fest it. The gentlemen proposed are-Hon. Joseph
Bell, John Il. Heard esq, Daniel L. Gibbens, esq,
Adam w. Thaxter, esq, George Darracott, esq.,,
and Levi A. Dowley, esq.''
A loud ay responded to this announcement,
and Mr.. Thompson declared that it was a
| unanimous vote.
Mr.. Bell and the other members of the COM
mittee waited upon Mr.. Webster, and brought
him, as they had been requested, into the pres
ence of the meeting, which greeted him with
loud and repeated cheers. He mounted the ex-
temporaneous platform we have described, and
spoke nearly as follows:
"FELLow- CITIZENS OF BosroN: Fellow citizens,
you rather take me by surprise this morning; but
it 10 very agreeable surprise to me. am much
pleased to your cheerful and satisfied faces;
much to see the cheerful face of that luminary
which shines now in the heavens above u.s. And If
you half as glad to as ! am to meet you,
| there is great quantity of human happiness and
good feeling at this moment in Bowdoin square.
| lCheers.]
Gentlemen, long and violent convulsion of
the elements has just passed away, and the heavens
the skies, smile again upon US. There is often an
analogy between the occurrences in the natural
and occurrences in the moral and political world.
Sometimes political agitatons pass away, bringing
after them sunshine, joy, and gladness. May it
be SO now. [Cheers.] greet you as citizens Of
Boston: welcome you offer you my heart and
hand: present to you my warmest gratitude for
what you and your fathers have done for me, from
the days Of my early manhood, when came
from the North TO dwell among you, to partake
your fortunes for good for evil to the end of my
life. GCheers.]
Il
81 am not vain enough to suppose that have
rendered any very essential services to my country
in my day and generation; but if ] may suppose
that have rendered any service, however little or
however much, owe it mainly to the constant,
warm, unwavering friendship and support of the
people of Boston. shall, ere long, follow your
fathers and my fathers to mans last home; but
while live and breathe, while have language or
thought, while my heart beats, my tongue
moves, shall feel and speak of Boston as my
home; as the cherished object of my public and
private, of my political and friendly regards.
-[Cheers]
Gentlemen, you do not expect to hear any dis
course from me. come to you and you come
to see me; it is not occasion for the discussion
Of any political topic. You do not expect me to
deliver any opinions of my own, or to state the
grounds of any political transactions.
"Lct me congratulate you, and ask you to con-
gratulate Inc, tnat cNcutS VI inc laSt year or
two have placed under better auspices: we see
clearer and breathe frecr; We feel new assurance
that the rich blessings which we have inherited
from our fathers will endure; will be perpetual;
will be immortal-if any institutions of man or of
earth can be immortal The youngest of your
children, the youngest of your grandchildren, will
grow up to manhood with the proud feeling that
they were born to, and that they will inherit i'm
periahabc liberty in these United States Of North
America, and in this ancient, beloved, and, under
all circumstances by me veneratcd, Common
wealth Of Massachusetts. ICheers.l Why, fell
low citizens, we need not be vain; need not be
too much self satisfied, after all. Who among you is
there who would exchange his own political and
social condition for that which befas the nhabitants
or residents Of any other country under the wide
scope of the canopy over US? Where is the foreign
country that would satisfy you? Nowhere. You
stay at home satisfied. The institutions of your
country give you entire satisfaction. You enjoy
political power universally disseminated under a
republican government framed upon popular prn
ciplcs. Every citizen feels that he is If he
is governed, he is also one of the governors. He
has voice in every great transaction of public
policy and national concern. Let others praise
what they will and admire what they please. Let
| others prefer government more royal, more des-
potic, or more democratic. For myself, and be-
leve for you, may say satisfied with our
condition az people of the United States and citi-
zens OF Massachusetts. Our free, popular, and
glorious representative Government makes us
known reputaby all over the world.
| Gentlemen, let despair of nothing; let us
despair of nothing in behalf of our country. We
shall see it go on in continuous prosperity We
already see the returning sense Of the community
The love of liberty, and, let me add with all the
emphasis can pour out from my breast, the love
of UNION, that will keep us together. [Cheers.
If had ten thousand voices; if could reach the
shores of the Pacific; if could gather this whole
vast nation within the sound of my voice; would
say, fellow citizens, Union, UNION, UNION, now
and forever! loud cheers.]
"what are all these petty distinctions What arc
all these cavils' these questions? these sectiona
quarrelss They are dust in the balance; they
are not fit to inhabit the heart Of true American
| for the heart of true American embraces the
whole country, and if it is not big enough for that
he had better tear it out and throw 1t from him