Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-07-19
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
! SPEECH FROM MR.. WINTHROP.


The subioined Speech of the Hon. ROBERT c.
WINTHROP, delivered at public dinner in Faneuii
Hall. Boston, on the late anniversary of American
Independence, possesses, no doubt, for majority
of our readers the same interest for US. 1t was
elected by the following toast:
"TRe Past Mem6ersef Congress: Boston justly proud
Of the list of those of the usous dead and OF the respect
a and hcnored yag who have represented her interests in
the Naticnsi Councis-msy their enlarged patriotism and
devotion TO the Constitution be the guiding PrinciPss which
shall ever animate their SUCCESSORS
This sentiment having been received with great
enthusiasm, and three times three heartily given
for Mr. WINTHROP, he rose and responded as fos-
lows:
could not find in my heart, Mr. Mayor, to decline the
hind request of ycsx committee that would be present
here TO-DAY and say few wosds in reply TO the sentiment
which bias lust been proposed. greatly honoed y be-
ing desgnaed respond to such sentiment and by thus
being sshozed 70 sppropsce to SOME humble share
of the compliment which oynains has been my fortune
to serve the people Of Boston 10 the Congress OF the United
States for longer PERIOD believe than any who has
rep esented them since the adoption OF the Constitution
do forget however, by whoml have been preceded do
not forget thst upon the Inst Of my respected ald iusroUs
predecessors which you hs~c alluded coaned tho
names Of OTIS and Ecsis and Ames, emong the dead Of
Quincy and Goham and Lswrence and Webster, among the
living IGtea applaesel I remember these and other
names, am Essply sensible Of my deficiencies, both
comparative end positive. Bet while freely confess myself
inferior s who have preceded or followed me, in the
ability and success Of my svices do not yield to any Of
them, either among ke dead or the vDg, in the warmth OF
my attachment my country and its institutions, n the
Of 6prts sdvance the interests OF con-
stuen oTn the sincerity Of to promote hssmony
conciaon, and ccocord among the whole american people,
This sentiment received with great cheering.
And now feIow-ciizeEe. know not how to thank you
for this cordial asG aiateog reception here, you
know, with M tocosoidefaton save such as may result
from apubc which has recently been brought to
close Alter sxsen seventeen years OF ofcisl employ
in different branches Of the State and National Legisla
,ures in the rank and file Of private citizen
ship My place in the procession and At the table to-day
among the Ercs An Gmeuiear OF the Genessl Court an
member Of congress, GSPeakers an ex-senator,
e1-evsry thing. excepting Only and always thai
which, thank Heaven party combinations and no personal
prsudces prevent me from beingE oson boy,
Massachusetts nan, aeizen Of the United States, Anne
rican feemanha bsart full fgraEude those whose
unmeried favo, hsAeTcr homer have enjoyed and
full Of love and oyssy aso to the Constitution and the
Union of whose councils have 50 long
served .[Cheo-s.l Sg;
Let me add ,ha cm content with my position and it
will be owing egt soicitaioo, desire of my if
it shsh ever be.chsnged. There my Judgment quite rs
much Of rushes hes Of wit in the saying Of distinguish
Of philosophy, che KS least door the
Ys, (we) dLaughter. Twill say that 6 the post of
homo. is private station !; but will say-and you, Mr.
Mayor, will know how to agree waa meshat the post Of
personal comfort of sa,isscoc and Of inward peace
not swsysa nrblic Certainly, fsllowrzens, you viii
all give cssdt for ssalzng th hour, that temina
ton Of my Congressional had secured other
boon than that Of hereafter enjoying comfortable Fourth Of
July dinner ie this old Fsseuil Hail. instead Of being
doomed endure the anset bse.Eg rays Of Washington
every aitesnse year. might we'll congratulate myself
he result.
Why, sir, .rhere should an Aupercan desire TO be on
Fourth Of Juysbu, in Fsneul Hall, Where else be
breathe the very natal mir Of American independence Whece
else can be qnsach bis thirst at The very feunanhead Of
American liberty Whatever part Massachusetts, may have
sustained in the great which have sgaed the
country in later yearserd ready admit that
has been nnwor by inferior will
ture to suggest that she played any thing less than the fret
that drama whose opening
bed commemorate. a. how many of the grea, Of
the Resslaion not Massachusetts, the stage How many
of them enacted amest wiihnye-shot and earshot Of
the spot which stand The heights which overhang
the right ha0d and the ethe plains which lie be-
hind themthe hsrbor feethe Hall in which
assemblsd-Sate street.-The Old State Hooee-lhe Old
Souh-where else sEscndered that noble spirit that
fearless purpose that uncoaqueabe resolve Of which the
Declaration Of Independence was after ALL only the mere
formal and cSremonkous proclamation We sometimes talk
playfuy about the walls having oh, .ir if these walls
could have had three quarters Of century ago. and
they cnuid Fad tongue now, what tale would they
fold of the sze rise and progress Of American liberty Geat
applause.
Let odisparase the particular act which we
meet to celebrate or to Be disposed 10 deck these haowed
columns with l,ure stripped from other theatres There
are enough for all The Declaration itself bold and
noble Honor the pen which draughsed Honor
the tongue which advocated it Honor the hands which
signed IL HoDar the brave hearts and gallant which
maintained and snaicaed Honor the five Massachu-
sets Delegates the Congress that day, second
to none in that Qustous body for ability eoquence, and
pairioti-H-Hancock nRder whose sole signature j,
originally pubishe1 the Adamses Ebridge Gerry, and
Robert Tseat Paine Honor 10 them sll
Indeed the rejects the real character of that
act the full Of noble courage appears Remember,
sir that there nssdvded responsibility that Congress
There checks and balances in sys
tenn. There was vote Of second branch
there Executive sgnstue, Executive fall
back upon Delegates chosen, you yourself have
just suggesed long before there any distinct contempa
tion OF such ed1rse, sitting in single chamber with closed
doors in the caps Of colony BY the most ripe
for such movement. found, doing what Taking the
Tremendous responsibility of adop,ng resolution and pro-
mitigating insnment which may only subject their
properly conGscson and their necks the hal
ter but which must involve their constituents and their country
In orexieDce and ofncacuabe duration with the
powerful nation the the EARTH There example
for such deed There precedent file for such de-
csrstion. And who wi ssyhst, put ones such
40 nsumen under such circumstances in the clear bold
courage less heroic than that which has rendered many
name Immortal on the 6eld Of battle [Applause.l
s slr the way had been opened for such proceeding
Inc popular heart had been prepared for it. well said
py John Adams At the tGe, e The question whether
Declaration Of Independence should make ourselves
"hs we are not but whether should declare fart which
already exists" And how did that fact exist How had
been brought about By. what bu. those which
nad occurred at Concord and Lexington, Bunker Hill and
ID aneuh Hall BY what men but by our own Ots and
Suaey' sna Hancock, and Hsvey, and Bowdon, and sa