The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-12
MIR. webster,s Reception at Boston.

lne reception or the ZION. DAHiEL w EB-
srER at Boston on Friday last was of the most
enthusiastic character. The military mustered
very strong, and it is estimated that there
were not less than thirty thousand persons
gathered on the Common, who vehemently
cheered the great statesman as he reached the
platform. Thereupon Mr.. WEBSTER was wei
coined by j. THOMAS STEVENSON, esq, in an
appropriate and eloquent address, to which Mr..
w. responded as follows:
Mr.. SrEvEssos AND FELLOW CITIZENS: This
honor which you confer on me as much exceeds all
my expectations feel that it exceeds my merits.
[Cries of"No," "No."l owe it all to your kind
ness, to your friendship, and to your constant re-
gard. rejoice in it; ! am proud of it. Nothing
on earth be more gratifying to me than to come
to the bosom of q community in which have
lived for 30 many years, and which for so many
years have endeavored to serve to the best OF my
ability, and find that am not disowned. [Cries
of emo" "No."l
Gentlemen, the hour Of the afternoon will allow
me to address to you but few remarks, but will
out of the abundance of the heart, speak to you.
("Good."l am known of you; have lived among
you more than half my life; have been honored
by the concurrent power of the citizens of Boston
and the Legislature of Massachusetts, and with all
humility and all modesty, before you, am ready
to account for the manner in which have dis
charged the duties which their kindness devolved
upon me. tCheers.l ....
1t is now, gentlemen, thirty years since came
10 this city OF Boston In my early manhood III had
had some, but not much. experience in political
affairs had left the world of politics as thou gbt
forever, and came here to pursue my profession.
to earn my living, and to maintain and educate
my children. From my brethren of the bar re-
ceived a most cordial welcome. From all the citi-
Gems OF this then town, CITY, the kindest n
m M
expectations in life, that should be able mode
rately to provide for my own necessities by my
professional abors and enjoy the pleasures OF the
intellectual and agreeable society of the town of
Boston. remained here, gentlemen, some years
in pursuit OF these private objects, neither looking
for nor desiring any change in my position,
But no man knows his own destiny-at least
did not know mine. As l was sitting in. my of
flee. porting over Mansfield and Blackstone, in the
year 1928, in the month Of October, there came
committee to me. They did not look like clients
ILaughter.l did not believe they had any law
suits. Thomas H. Perkins was chairman. Anoth
er OF the members is now iving-Mr. William
Sturgis; and they stood up straight in my pres
ence. threw down my law books; and they
said, "sr, we have come to tell you your destiny.
You must give up these law books. We come
to tell you thaton Monday next you will be chosen
to represent the city of Boson in the Congress of
the United States. We come to make no request;
answer" and Col. Perkins made graceful bow.
and with his committee went off.
Well, gentlemen, submitted to what suppos
ed to be the will of the good people of Boston, and
although it has interfered with private purposes
and private emoluments, do not regret it,, but
joice at it. And if may feel this day that my
conduct in that capacity, and In the capacity in
which, afterwards served as Senator, be satisfac
tory to this great and ancient and glorious State of
Massach Observation-Disclosures in riches or in poverty,
in health or in sickness am rewarded. [Cries
of Good" and loud cheers.l ........
Now, gentlemen, must be allowed to say to
hat
when began to read and understand political
matters and political history, the political history
of Massachusetts had been sort of beau ideal to
me. have studied it from my earliest youth, and
loved it and honored it always; and wish to say
to you to- night what was Massachusetts when !
became member of Congress at the bidding of
the people of Boston. What was she! To answer
this question must 60 back to her history. The
great history of Massachusetts, begins with TIE
revolutionary struggle of the country; and what
was that For what did Massachusetts str uggle?
For what did she offer to pour out her blood like
water, and exhaust all her treasures as il they were
worthless, and all the risk of war, and Of civil
strife, and of the galows, and OF execution trail
tors! What did she do it all for? Why, depend
on it, gentlemen, it was not any narrow principle,
any local object, any sectional concern OF her own
She did not brook the power of England for q strip
of land of fifty miles width between Connecticut
and New Hampshire. She did not do it even to
protect this glorious bay before US, 80 beautiful!
and studded and gemmed with 90 many islands
and isieSa. No, no, no; Massachusetts struck for
the liberty ofr continent lCriesof "Good, good"
and loud cheers. 1t ia her everlasting glory
everlasting unless she terminates it herself
I"Yes.nl That war was the frstefIort ever made by
man separate America from European dom:n.
ion. LApplause.I That was vast and comprehen-
sive. Weiook back upon it nov, and we'll may we
wonder ~ the~gfeat sextcnt Of mind, and genius,
AID capacity, which influenced the men Of the
Revolution. ..... ..'s..# p,
Gentlemen. friends, fellow-citizens, let me tell
you that Massachusetts had all America in her
,kae haas hrla atr
her army and gave blow for the liberty of the
American world. ICries of 'Good," and hearty
cheers. 1t was nothing less than that; il was
nothing less than that. Warren did not die for
by receiving his blood-but the world is not wide
enough to circumscribe his fame. All the genera
tons of mankind upon this continent will never lie
able to rccoinpcnse for his devotion to republican
institutions and his death in the cause of liberty.
Well, gentlemen, that is the original character
OF Massachusetts; that is the foundation OF all
her rcnown that is worth possessing. Ii ia her
original devotion to liberty as cause-to the
whole OF America as a country. Her renown, in
that respect, Is placed on Deep well laid, and firm
Observation-Disclosures never to be disturbed,
unless in some day OF darkness and OF death, in
some moment of folly and OF phrcnzy, and Of mad
mesa, che shall herself subvert, with that same
arm, the foundation of ali her greatness and re
nown. ICries ot."Never, never."l That will not
happen G"No" iPray Almighty God, al least, if
that is to happen, the Judgment of that day may
be postponed till my head shall be covered with
the sods of the valley. [Cheers.l
Well, gentlemen, let us adhere to that spirit OF
union, OF nationalism, of America nism, and let
narrow, selfish, local policy, no rifling of
day and moment influence the councils Of Massa-
chusctts. In the day that made Massachusetts
what she was, and what che has been, her policy
was large, comprehensive, united. She never
drew a breath that not national breath. She
never had an aspiration which did not embrace all
her colonies; and if the crown Of Great Britain on
that day had offered her exemption from all
rigid enactmepts-ifit had offered her free trade,
unrestricted by colonial legisation-if it had
offered her twenty seats in her House OF Commons
and two hundred nobcmen, she would have reject
ed them all. t"Good''l She went for principle
she went for America. II America could free her
self, she wished to be free; and if America was to
be subjugatcd, and that was the will OF God, she
was willing to be suIjugatcd. and remain ia sub
jugation until a more fortunate hour should arise
for the freedom Of the whole. a ...'
Now, gen,lemepf1et US dwell on that; and any
man at this day who sets up peculiar notionc, sec
tiona dst;nntlons, who would have US believe that
her interests essentially disconnected from aud
alien to the interests Of other members OF this Re
public, is an enemy to you, 10 an enemy to the
republican cause, and enemy to freedom all
over the world. tCres Of "Good," and cheers
That was the original character OF MassaChu