The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1852-04-08
Joseph Holt, ESQ.

Upon the arrival of Kossuth at Louisville,
the reception speech was made by Joseph
Holt, Esq, formerly of this city, and wen
known throughout the Southwest as one Of
the most gifted orators of the age. From
this speech we make an extract, which we
think unsurpassed as a specimen Of true elO-
quence - Vicks. Wing.
"Sir, the great West, in the midst OF
which you now stand, little more than half
a century ago, was an unbroken wilderness,
whose solitudes we're only disturbed by the
cry of the wild beast or the yell of the saw
age. You now behold it gemmed with cities
and villages and smiling fields Of agriculture,
the home Of teeming millions, free as the
mountain air, and happy as, in the allOt-
ments of Providence, it is permitted to man
to be in his earthly pilgrimage.
This wonderful progress, with all its asso-
ciated blessings, we owe, under a benifcent
heaven, to the working Of our peculiar sys-
tenn of government system which may be
emphatically termed the christianity Of PO-
litical philanthropy. Here in all gentleDess
and blessing, the virtue and intelligence Of
the people administer that political rule
which elsewhere the arms of despots have
administered in wrath and desolation, almost
from the foundations of the world. Here
the OK is not muzEled that treadeth out the
corn and no lordling rapacioas hahds gath
er what the hands Of honest toll have sOWn.
He who soweth in this broad land, soWeth
in hope and reapeth in perfect security.
But, sir, as part of this picture, we can
present to you none of those scenes of luxu-
ry and pomp which too often dazzle the eye
of the superficial observer in the old world.
We have no sWarming legions clad in armor
and ever marching to battle or in differing
military review, at once the delight of tya
rants and the terror of stricken covering null
} titudes. Our soldiers are fonnd in our work
shops, in our contingencies, and upon our
fields Of agriculture producing, not eOnsum-
ing others labor. Nor are our streets Sled
With brilliant equippages Of the naughty
great-Of hereditary nobles-for he who
would be the greatest among US must be-
come the servant of the people, and walk in
simplicity and Difference in the presence Of
the masses whom he serves. Nor yet, can
NC PO4uG 9Ou W any VI SuOS6 kOIkSOGS pdAa-
ces encrusted with precious stones and jew
els, the crystalized spOils Of plundered pro
Vinces.
Our dwellings are simple and humble, but
they are the abode of comfort, and manly In
dependence. The espionage of no jealous
despot dares invade their sanctity; and,
though their walls tower not in magnifcenee
towards the skies, neither have they been
cemented by the sweat and tears of the toll
ing millions that surround them. Such, sir, is
the land in the midst of which you stand
and such are the people who bid you vel
come. It is our trust, from their eontem
7 plation you will derive new strength to The
hallowed faith which you have adopted
$ faith in human progress-faith in the ulti
: mate triumph of human rights-faith in The
: capacity of man to govern himself, and 4
$ work out, with his own hands, that lofty
destiny which Providence has stamped il
! inefaceable characters, alike upon his geniul
t and his aspirations"