The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1852-06-26
Thomas r. Weaeher.


a public reception by the authorities of New
| York, which he declines in the following eloquent
and touching manner.
However this decision Of Mr.. Mcaghcr may nil
titate against the wishes Of his numerous friends
and disasppoint their expectations, all will agree,
we think, that it affords very strong evidence
Of his good sense
Z" have sought to serve my country, and been
anxious to contribute to her freedom This shall
Lot assume the m0desty TO deny. Long before !
mingled in the strife Of politics, it was my anb-
ton to be identified with the destiny Of nv coun.
try-to share her glory, il glory were dcrreed
her-to share her safferng and humiliation, if
such should he her portion. For the little have
done and suffered, have he'd my reward in the
penalty assigned me To be the last and hahn
blest name III the itany-names which contains
the naInco- Of Emmrt and zgerald-names
which waken notes Of heroism in the coolest
heart and stir to lofty purposes the most sluggish
mlnd-is AN honor which compensates me fully
for the priyalions | have endured. ANY recon
pense, Of more joyous nature. it would Ill be.
come me to receive. Whilst my country remains
in sorow and .uhjecton it would be indicate Of
me to participate in the festivities you propose.
when she life her head and nerves her ann for
a boIdei struggler-when she goes forth like
Mlrlam with song and tmbrel to celcbra her
ylctory-l too shall lift my head and join in the
/ hym Of freedom. Till then. the retirement seek
will best accord with the love bear her, and the
sadness which her present fate inspires. Nor DO
/ ! forget the companions Of my exile. Nv heart
is with them at this hour, aud shares the so-
tude in which they dwell The freedom lhat has
been restored to me is embittered by the reco-
lection Of their captivity. While they are in
/ prison shadow rests upon my spirit, and the
thoughts, that might otherwise be free, throb
heavily within me. II Is painful for me to speak.
! should feel happy in being permitted to be
silent For these reasons you Will not feel dis.
/ pleased with me for declining the honors you
solicit me to accept. Did | esteem them less,
should not consider myself so unworthy. nor de.
cline so conclusive to enjoy them. The privileges
Of eminent a city should be sacred to those
who personfy great and living causc--a past
/ full uf fame, and future full Of hope--aRd
whose names prominent and imperi,hable.
II pans me deeply to make this reply being
sensible of the enthusiasm which gows around
me, and the eagerne,s with public opportunity
/ OF meeting mc has been awaited. ! know II will
dlsappOint generous anxiety, but the proprety
| of the determination have come to ls proved
/ by the ineficiency even of this consideration to
overcome me. know too, that A, it grieves me,
it will greve others; and that, perhaps, the mo-
tive that have led to it may be misunderstood.
miscunstred and ceusured. But am confident
that after II little while. the public judgment will
sanction the act which due regard to what |
owe my country, my companions, and myself,
seriously dictates. Yet, 80 Gar a your invita-
ton recognizes the fidelity with which | adhered,
/ and still adhere, To good and glorlOus cause be
assured that it has not been exaggerated nor mis-
! placed. The feelings and convictions which in
h----I -. ---~s. i..,t. sls.nd have undergone no
change.
"Still, as ever perceive within my country
/ the faculties that fit her for a u,eiI and honor
able position, and believing that they require
only to be set in motion To prove successful ,ul
would prompt her to put them forth. Besides,
there Is within me pride that cannot be sub
durd--therc Is within me an ambition that can
not be aprea-eG. desire to have a country
which work out a fortune of her own, aud depend
no longer for subsistence on the charity OF other
nations. | desire to have a country which ! can
point To with eNutatIun-whoSe prosperity shall
be my iie-whose glory shall be my guerdon
desire to have country which shnl occupy "a
brnrfccnt position in the world and by her in
du-try, intellect, integrity and courage shall con.
tribute, in community with all irce nations. To tie
T'"'"'n {, ""l 'n''S anu grandeur "' nu'h'h'y'
J H'I'S 'u"e nave u"'N'"e"' Uut ','t I'r"'! i"
""'" zee "H sunny "'''u = oe''Ie ine
",'-"' "He "''' u, '"""'' ''"W"eu " i'h
n,' ''e,"'' sui Is u''" "''o',,'n' our ~, W WIS
I ""c 0"""'S 'ou'" nave ,"he "'h'r ine NO
n'"' we se' "u' i"o' uP"" ne' 'h'r''" we utho,"
''e '"> '"S :" II''"'','-- we we ''sN, 'hS "'"
"' "P"i''''e """'" SI'e "'' SN'n "t"-""u
". =" b'''''' We '''i "'' |"'"'' "'''N
W"nS anu 'P'Tnu"' we o'"",u 'ne "ohu,r'
sue ""s N'o"5"'--''e ue'''"neu "'"S'"''"eu-
the crippled colony sprngng into the robust pro
portions of an empire which Alexander might
well have sighed to couquer-the adventurous
spirit Of her sous compensatlng by its rapidity, IN
little more than n half century, for the thou
sands of years IN which the land lay still in the
shadow of the ancient fnrests-we behold all this
and the worship OF our youth becomes more i'm
passion'd and profound To this lana ! came
as an outcsst, to seek an honorable home-as at
ancient legislators it was ,ecreed that all thos,
VINO were drNtn forever from their own country
ffNN y flaa