The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-07-14

RsCsrrIoH AMP stEEcH.

The Bodton papers contain full details Of the
great reception given to the Hon. Daniel Web
ster, in that city, on Friday last. He was well
coined, in the presence Of about fifteen thousand
persons, BY J. Thomas Stevenson, esq. When
Mr.. " ebster rose to respond, the cheering was
tumultuous, and it was long time before he
could proceed He spoke as follows
Mr.. STEVENSON AND FELLOW CITIZENS -
This honor, which you confer on me, as much
exceeds ell my expectations as | feel that it OK.
ceeds my merits. (Cries of NO." "No."1
owe it all TO your kindness. to your friendship,
and to your constant regard. rejoice in it;
am proud of it, Nothing on earth can be more
gratifying to me than to come to the bosom OF
a community in which have lived for so many
years, and which for so many years have en-
deavored to serve to the beat of my ability. and
find that am not disowned. [Cries of "No, "
"No."l
Gentlemen, the hour of the afternoon will al
low me to address to you but few remarks but
| will, out of the abundance Of the heart, speak
to you. [Good.] am known Of you; | have
lived among you more than half my life; have
been honored by the concurrent powers Of the
citizens Of Boston and the legislature Of Massa.
chusetts; and with all humility and all modesty,
before you, am ready to account for the man
ner in which have discharged the duties which
their kindness devolved upon me. [Cheers
tits now, gentlemen, thirty years since came
to this city Of Boston. In my early manhood !
had had some, but not much experience in polt
cal affairs. had left the world of politics, as
thought, forever, and came here to pursue my
profession, to earn my living, and to maintain
and educate my children. From my brethren
Al. oak 1:clF
From all the citizens of this then town, no !"
city, the kindest reception. 1t was enough for
me, and fulfilled all my expectations in life, that
should be able moderately to provide for my
own necessities by my professional labors, and
enjoy the pleasures Of the intellectual and
agreeable society Of the town of Boston.
remained here gentlemen, some years in pur.
suit of these private objects, neither looking for,
nor desiring any change in my post on.
But no man knows his own destiny-at least
I did not know NINE And as was sitting in
my office, porting over Mansfield and Blackstone,
in the year 1923, in the month Of October, there
come committee to me. They did not look
like clients. Laughter.] did not believe they
had any law suits. Thomas Fl. Perkins was
chairman. Another of the members is now liv
ng-Mr. William Sturgis--and they stood up
straight in my presence. threw down my law
books, and they said --"Sir, we have come to tell
you your destiny. You must give up these law
books. We come to tell you that on Monday
next you will be chosen to represent the city of
Boston in the Congress of the United States
We come to make no request, we come to enter
into no discussion, we take no answer" and Col
Perkins made graceful bow, and with his com.
mittee went off,
Well, gentlemen, submitted to what sup
posed to be the will of the good people of Bos.
ion,-,and although it has int -fered with pri.
vate purposes and private emoluments, do'not
regret it, but rejoice 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 satisfactory to this great, and ancient, and
glorious State Of sachusetts-whether in
riches or in poverty, or in health or in sickness
Il am rewarded.-[ Cries of "good," and loud
cheers
Now, gentlemen, must be allowed to say to
you that from my earliest age,-trom the mo-
ment when began to read and understand pc.
litcal matters and history, the political histo y
of Massachusetts had been a 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 tonight what YVES Massachusetts
when became member of Congress at the bid
To answer this question must 60 back to her
history. The great history of Massachusetts be
gins with the revolutionary struggle of the coun-
try, and what was that? For what did Massa-
chusetts struggle? for what did she offer to pour
out her blood like water, and exhaust all her
treasures as if they were worthll ss, and run all
the risk of war, and of civil strife and of the gal
lows, and Of execu on as traitors? 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 strip of land
of fifty miles width, between Connecticut and
New Hampshire. She did not do it even to pro-
tect this glorious bay before US, 80 beautiful, and
studded and gemmed with SO any islands and
nlets No, no, Massachusetts struck for
the liberty of a contnent [Cries of "good,"
F" good" End loud cheers. 1t il her everlasting
glory--everlasting, unless she terminates it her
eelf-( yes that war was the first effort ever
made by man to separate America from Europe
an dominion. Applause. That was vast and
comprehensive. We look back upon it now,
and we'll may we wonder at the great extent of
mind. and genius, and capacity, which Influenced
the men of the revolution.
Gentlemen, friends, w-citizens-Let me
tell you that Massachusetts had all America in
her heart when she summoned her whole strength
into her army and gave blow for the liberty of
the American world. [C.ies of "good," and
hearty cheers. 1t was nothing less than that ;
it was nothing less than that. Warren did not
die for Massachusetts only. MOL Her soil
is honored by receiving his blood-but the world
is not wide enough to circumscribe his fame.
All the generations of mankind upon this con
tinent will never be able to recompense 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 renown that is worth possessing 1t is her
original devotion to liberty as a canse-to the
whole of America as country. Her renown,
in that respect, placed on deep, we'll laid, and
firm foundations, foundations never to be dis
turbed unless in some day of darkness and OF
death-in some moment of folly ard of frenzy
and of madness, she shall herself subvert, with
that same arm, the foundation of all her great
ness and renown. [Cries Of "never," "never."
That will not happen. mol Iprsy Almighty
God, at least, if that is to happen, the Judgment
of that day may be postponed till my head shall
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