Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-03-31
TRENTON, March 27, 1852.

The Webster Reception by the New Jer.
ssey Legislature senator Stockholm
| TRENTON, March 27, 1852.
| yesterday forwarded to you by telegraph al
account of Mr.. Webster's reception by the legs-
lature of New Jersey. Commodore Stockton was
one Of the lions of the occasion, and | subjoin
copy of his speech:
Gentlemen Of Tie Senate and General assembly o
the State Of New Jersey, and teliow-citizens You
may perhaps imagine that l am very fond o.
making speeches. 1t is therefore proper for me
| to say that this is not the time or the occasion
should have selected for such purpose. 1 an
altogether unprepared-I did not, l could MOI
have anticipated this event. or that any power on
the face Of the earth could have dragged out O
me speech, or an attempt at speech, on this
occasion, SO worthily appropriated to your dis
tinguished visiter
If Senators and the members Of the House OF
Assembly require any additional proof of my re-
gard for them, or my desire to serve them, or OF
my Willingness to sacrifice myself for them, you
have 1t in this prompt but hazardous compliance
with your wishes.
This venerable hail. distinguished by so many
proud "reminiscences and hallowed associations
connected with the early history of New Jersey,
has this day been honored in u way that, if the
will applaud the spectacle.
Friends and fellow citizens, if there is any
thing that can raise up the best emotions of the
human mind, 1t is the contemplation of the spon-
taneous affections which gratitude sometimes be-
slows upon the possessor of high virtues and
great intellectual attainments When we can lay
down on the altar Of patriotism all our selfish
and unworthy feelings-forgetting party predilcc-
tions and sectional differences to pay just hom-
age to the great and good,-wc may feel that we
have achieved triumph over human inirmity of
which we may well be proud.
This is II proud day for New jersey. feel it
as u Jerseyman, rs a man, as q patriot This
day, here in this hall of the representatives of
the people, the men and women of New Jersey
have assembled to testify their regard for the
talent, the patriotism of Daniel Webster, one OF
the wisest and best of mankind. Whenever
contemplate the character of Daniel Webster
his extraordinary endowments-my heart goes tc
heaven in thanks to God that he has made such q
man-that he has thus endowed one of our spe
cies.
1t is not simply that manly form or noble brow
(Which seems to have been placed rs a crown t.
mark the man to which our homage is paid
but to one of the strongest hearts and most gi-
gantic minds of the age. | have known him for
thirty years, and have seen him sitting among
the wise and good in the councils of the nation.
| myself, when boy, have sat beside him, and
drunk in every word that fell from his almost in
spired lips. | say before this assembly, and be-
fore the world, that if there is patriotic heart
that warns the bosom of any man, that heart is
in the body of Daniel Webster
| have heard him discourse in private, at va.
rious times, on the subject of our public affairs
and | never heard him say word that might b,
construed inimical to the interests of his countr,
or his race, or that might not well have emanateC
| from the heart OF great and pure man. | have
| seen him engaged in the sports Of the field, Will
his gun upon his shoulder, following my owl
dogs; in short, whenever and wherever | have
heard or seen him, he has always been the same
great and generous man. You need not, then,
be surprised at my hesitation to speak on this
occasion, or think my concerns affected.
The exalted patriotism and great talents of
your distinguished visiter arc quite enough to
disturb my poor abilities.
But still could not refuse your wish to hear
me speak, or let the occasion pass without raising
my feeble voice in welcome of your guest-nay
more, ] am proud of the occasion, and rejoice III
the opportunity to pay my fealty to exalted worth
Now may turn from your noble vsiter and
say u word or two about our State, and 81 my
self myself" no unpleasant theme
Mr.. Webster has justly, and / believe truly
said, that whenever he has crossed our territory
patriotism was knded in his breast to greater
degree than anywhere else Mr.. Webster is ono
of the few who have studied the traditions of New
Jersey, and recommend them to the study Of all
my fellow citizens; her history has never yet been
written; when it is truly written it will make
some of the brightest pages in the history Of our
| country, not only where it recounts the military
exploits Of the Revolution, but where il may tell
of her steady perseverance in maintaining the
institutions Of the country in time Of peace \
wcll-writtcn history Of the State of New jersey
will make the national heart leap with Joy and
pride.
New Jersey haS heretofore had too much dig,
nifty to boast Of her achievements and too much
pride to complain of injustice. New Jersey has
scarcely ever been heard to demand from the
councils of the country her just and equal rights
but she has at last protested. The other day /,
as your representative, called on the wisdom OF
the nation, then around me in the Capitol, 10
witness that New Jersey had suffered and sacri-
feed much for the country and the Union-that
she had fought as valiantly and performed as
important services to this nation as any Of her
sister States, and that she had received as few
direct benefits from the general government rs
any other State.
In the history OF nations you can hardly find
such an exhibition of set-dcpcndcncc and moral
grandeur as may be found in the annals of our
State. New Jersey has proceeded OH steadily III
the path of patriotic duty and noble sacrifice,
without complaint yet remonstrance. To cs-
innate New Jersey by her own prctensions, you
could scarcely imagine that she had ever made .
sacrifice, fought battle in the cause Of liberty
or the constitution. When you come, however,
to examine her records, you will be amazed to
see that she has accomplished 50 much for the
public welfare, and astonished that she has re
ccivcd nothing worthy name from the general
government. Her mineral resources appear to
be inexhaustiblc but they are buried in her
mountains her hills are filed with iron and
copper, all useless inactive, dead, in consequence
Of continually huctuating revenue system.
\ ,.,n al, 80, Il, hut