The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-22

enlivened the dinner with its dsooursinrs
Col. $. w. Oakley presided, assisted by Col VIM.
IL. Garland, Col Josiah Cole, and w. w vaught,
as Vice Presidents. The invited guest, Mr. j. S.
Thrasher, sat on tae right Of Col. Oakley. There
were about one hundred persons present After a
choice and sumpuous repast, tho cloth was removed
and the toasting began. The regular toasts. road
by COL Garland, were as follows
sour Guest--Americsn in thought American in act
lis recent ia Cuba has abundanty proved his
birt5rght." Muslc-Yankss DOODLE
= The President OF the United Statesn A;r-nan
Columbia
The Star Span,lsd Banner-Let ts glories sever be
dimmed by neglect o. our couRtrymer aoroad" star
The Press-Fraedoms best frieni-hs .yrs,t,s worst
foe" Buy Broom
Republican prinoiplss-Lke the sun. may they u,u.
Martyrs for Struggling Freedom-kvery age and
every CLINE have seen themeserY heart venerstes
them !" Marscillss Hymn.
The ladaS-
Aud nature swears the lovely ie,s
Her noblast work sie Glasses o.
Her prentice hand abs tried on mar
Ani then she made the asses Ohr
Coming Through the Rye
10 the first toast Mr.. Thrasher answered in the
following eloquent remarks. We publish them in
full, because we think them well worth perusal---
Mr.. President and Gentlemen In rising to re-
turn thanks for the exceeding kind ami aatter.
ing reception which you have accorded to
me, and for the. eloquent salutatory to which
you have just listened, my heart is Cypress.
Cd Cd with =, the weight Of is honest gratitude.
fuent-and should the warmth Of my expressions
fall short OF what you have just right to expect
beg you will attribute it, not to any GOODNESS on
my part, but to that depth of feeling which sur
passes all expression feel how inadequate il my
tongue to give utteranco to the emotions which
now swell in my bosom. l cannot look around me
and contemplate the kind faces which you now turn
upon me, without conviction that language cannot
yield due return for such friendly greeting; Let
me then cut the Gordian knot, and in words not
more simple than they are sincere, let me say from
the bottom OF my heart, thank you'll thank you
thousand times overland through You my fellow
citizens OF New Orleans and of all Louisiana, for
their unbounded sympathy in my suferings, and for
this warm and generous reception. If l have be.
fore to-day felt that there was between us feeling
akin to that Of brotherhood-a tie more CLOSELY
knit than that which binds man to his broth
or maI-how much deeper, how much more intense
ly must this sentiment now. burn within mo- Yes,
gentlemen it has always seemed to mo that the feel
ines which reign in my bosom found most sympathy
in the warm, impulsive, true. hearted citizens of
louisiana and for some time past, have felt that
this seeming has become fixed fact. 1t did not
need the kind enthusiasm Of the present hour it had
already become indeiby engraved upon my heart
whence it can never be erased The gentleman
who has so eloquently addressed you, has been
pleased to ailude, in terms honorable to himself
and most fattering to me. to the poor exertions I
was able to make in behalf of those of our uufor-
tunate countrymen who have but lately returned
from chains and prison in foreign land. / did
10 more, gentlemen, than what | conceived to be
duty to men who had periled fortune and life, as
they fully believe, in tho sacred cause of liberty
did no more than what every true hearted Anne.
rican, no more than each and all Of you who now
hear me, would have done under like circumstances
take to myself no credit for it. 1t was the impul
sive act Of that American character which we in
herit from our fathers, which we draw from every
zephyr that ians our boyhood's cheek, which
strengthens within us under every association of our
youth. and which reaches its full and perfect matu-
rity with the intercourse of our manhood and the
study OF our country proud and glorious history
iron any act OF mine there has accrued one single
shred OF honor to our American name-if through me
there has been saved single blot upon our national
character. my rewadha exceeded my utmost desires
would embrace the present opportunity to say to
you, under your kind indulgence, few words in
regard to myself | do not wish to be misunder-
stood come among you not as an agitator nor as
iiretrand propagandist. | come not to attack
nor. to detend-l have no expianation-nor have
any appeal to make to you. While il is pleasure
to thank you, rs willingly do. il the most warm
and sincere manner, for the eifec;ual sympathy you
have SO lately expressed in my behalf. | would
SIMPLY relate to you few plain facts, as
have found them, in regard to that country with
whose aspirations | am supposed to be connect
am 10 reEaHa t. Gne sa.e and her vital question
word. am no advocate, aud never have been, for
the fitting out Of petty and unlawful expeditions.
c noble enthusiasm for sacred idea, inundated TO
appease the rage of tyrants. Neither do wish to
country suhjugated by the brute force Of arms
to laws not instituted by them. or to sway not
their own. 1t has been the misfortune Of Cuba that
her situation, her aspirations, and her capabilities
have been misunderstood. We have measured her
by our own standard of national enterprise and pa.
triotic duty and we have expected of her too much
Born in the land of freedom-nurtured in the cradle
of liberty-fondled in her very lap-we are not
qualified to judge of people over whom long years
of despotism has cast its baneful influence, sowing
a moral terror in every mans BOSOM and roofing
out every high and noble incentive to duty.
When we talk Of Cuba, and the efforts Of her sons
to free her from that national degradation under
which she groans, we do not appreciate the mighty
difficulties with which they have to contend. nor the
few and weak means which are at their disposal.
Among us, if the smallest of our rights IL assailed
free press sounds the clarion notes of alarm. and
the majesty Of the law steps boldly in to shield US
In Cuba far other is the case a venal press lauas
every act of the government; ana should any one
be SO bold as to cry out, the Law is omnrotent. and
n prison or scatiod awaits the wretch If an cppo-
sition is carried on by secret and covert means,
sayish press holds all who urge It up to the PUBLIC
view rs traitors and thieves--as men who would
overturn the existing order Of things for selfish mo-
tives--as anarchists, who only seek. in the general
ruin their own gerandizement-yillains in society,
traitors in patriotism, infdels in religion. Not a
word of contradiction is allowed--not patriotic
sentiment is permitted--not truth can be uttered.
cd. conservative, is dinnod into the ears of the
people, until
Men grow pale
Lest their own judgments should become too bright,
And their free thoughts lie crimes, and earh have too
much lisht.
Under such circumstances, the efforts Of the pa
triotic Cubans to free their country from the gno-
minious chains that bind her, viii always have, in
our eyes, tie appearance OF want OF spirit and
manlinoss-ot want Of moral courage and self
ablegaton--0f a want OF that true spirit which
apimates mon determined TO be free. On tho other
baud, thor own countTymen. viewing these ehcrts
from al entirely different point O. view, stand
aghaSat lie audaciy Of THEN fitnds, and ccnte mp
late with horror the dangers which surround them.
There does bot exist upon the earth tyranny more
absolute han the present government Of Cuba. NOT
does there east one more interruptions az TO the
means 10y which it pepetaatCs IT, sway The Cap
tain General !. clothed Win butterfly - DO all Il.
may deem necessary Tor TIE preservation Of the
island. aui life or death hang upon his word
The only responsibility that weighs upon him i
that Of retaining for tho spanish crown its
Lr;rb4osf laval uis ALIENATION that any act he