The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-26

q
., saturday sfssrsson. al early hour, with both
ladies' sna geat smss. eager 10 hear Hon, DAsiEl
wEssrsss great speech. wehase never seen the
ola Grads 81 LdDsrty throngod. Every inch Of
room ~hsss any l,sdy could piacs hmseif was oc
eapisd The galleries aud floor were filled 10 their
asmass capacity AZ the doors were opened,
and loag bsfors the time arrived at which Mr..
wsssrss ~ss " begin 10 speak.
Tss members u the Methodist Conference, nov
In session n this city. placed Ia the south gal
lsry; la the other galleries a numerous concourse
Of LADIES' were esied.
Before NJ. w sssrEs arrived the crowd upon the
asor had beooms intensely dense. and s~ayed TO
and iro with each accession. Among the maze
ws noticed many old snsn, d.isrmilcd no, 10 iose
tss opportunity VI hearing the eioqacnoe Of the Ia
yorits VI their liiesimo.
A. hour o'cicck Mr, wKssrxs entered the build
ing. escorted by nis honor the Mayor. under the
gaidancs " Francis foksy, CHIEF marshal, and
followed by several distinguished gen,lenen, who
took seats upsa she platform. Among these gen.
lleuea bcs,des the Mayor and members Vi the city
government, ~sre his sHcrlsn6y Governor bout
~ell, Hon Henry Wilson. Psesldent u the Senate;
Nathaniel r. Banks. j., speaker Vi the House;
Hon. n. n Perkins, Cheyalier Marcolcsa. Charge
VI the repablc o. Nicaragua Chief Justice SHAW;
Judge n. y. Thomaa, 81 Worcester; Hon. Samuel
N. valley, VI Roxbury; Hon. Thomas q. Cary,
lion. william Appleton, IA n. Isaac y. Davis.
Hon. George r. Curtis, James w. Page, esq,,
Hon. George w. Gordon, pos,masscfj Professors
FELTON,. Agasaiu and others, VI Cambridge, &c, &c
AZ Mr.. wEssrxs entered he WAS greeted with
the most enthasias,e aud protracted applause,
which continued long aiser he had taken his place
upon the platform. The iwdies ia the galleries
waived their bandkerchicis. the gentlemen raised
their hsls and chcered long and loud.
wbsa the enthusiasm had la some degree sub.
sided. his honor Mayor SsAyEs rose and spoke as
follows
FElLow -Ctrixsss tshall not presume 10 occupy
any more VI the time VI hs meeting than is neces
ssry jor proper introduction " its proceedings.
We have assembled la this Cradle " american Lab
sgfy 10 an ho0orcd American fellow citizen,
~botn always delight 60 see and to hear THIS
10 the appropriate place 10 meet hun; these walls
have often res6unded with his patriotic eloquence;
the echo Of his voice sli fingers upon our car, but
wish them To be awakened once more, that our
generation Tor wAsnisGros aud our love ior the
usios may be strengthened by his words Of via
dom and warning.
l am most happy. fellow citizens, TO say that the
circumstances under ~hich receive our honorcd
AID listing pushed friend are fortunate and pccu'
liar; he hitner by the unanimous Invitation
ofihc members Of both branches VI the city govern
ment, without distinction Of party, 10 exchange
with Ne the Kind congratulations and warm SYM
psthies vi the heart. Party considerations may
well give place 20 the higher and better feelings
which belong 10 this occasion. Applause.
Sir, no more agreeable duty can ever deyolve
upon me than thar Of now welcoming you, in be.
hall vi the city government, and u the ciiiIens OF
Boston, within ihcse balo~ed walls. We wei
come you, 10 borrow your Own woFds-we well
come you ''as friend and member Of that commu.
nifty in which you have lived Tor the greater part oi
your life; which you regard your home and
which home has been rendered happy to you by all
the endcarments OF domestic affections, the warmth
OF social relations. and that mutual respect and
kindness which constitute the unbougbi grace of
life"
You have said that you should not, on this ocoa
sion, enter upon the discussion oI any political
questions subjects whatever. This, am author =.
ICED 10 say, 10 in accordance with tho feelings oil
your fellow. citizens. We receive you here, SIR, on
. platform much broader than any which poti-
clans or political parties could frame. We wei
come you a friend whom we value, as fellow
citizen whom we honor, and who has done honor 10
Us as the consistent champion and supporter OF
constitutional liberty and the rights Of man We
reciprocate all the kind and frsternal sentiments
so fully and beautifully expressed IN your letter
accepting our invitation, aud ardenty wish mar
your Lie and health may long be spared, 80 that
our city and our common country may continue
20 enjoy the beneft Of your wisdom, PATRIOTISM
and eloquence. tChccrs
Fellow citizens. we are alec honored ON this oc.
casion with the presence OF many distinguished
strangers from distant parts OF the Union, repre-.
senting one Of the most respectable and inhuentai
religious denominations OF our country, nov as
sembed in convention for the promotion oil thclr
common interests. We welcome them warmly
add cordially 10 our city and 10 this hail. and as
sure them that there is no community which holos
more firmly than ours 10 the conviction that reh-
Qious faith 10 the only foundation Tor civil liberty
And now, felow-citizens. my duty II Performed,
not as could wish, but ms have been able; and IL
only remains Tor TO announce TO the meeting
our esteemed friend aud townsman, The Honorable
DANIEL WEBsTKR.
,n,r al Mr.
again greeted with loud applause. On account, OF
the great heat and confined atmosphere OF the hall,
Il was necessary that all the windows should be
opened to afford air AZ II was Saturday afternoon.
there was much noise In the streets about tho hall
which In some measure drowned the voice OF the
orator at times and particularly rendered the last
words of sertences souis what inaudlse Our re-.
porIcr. however followed him n well as he was
able, and his notes fave since been revised by Mr..
wrpsrsR. Mr.. w rBsTra spoke Ne iolioss
Ma MAyop, AND GEsrLEass 90 Tss CRY
CousciL OF BosTos ! tender you my hearty
thanks my deep felt gratitude, too this unexpected
expression Of your regard towards me, ss one OF
your fellow citizens; and thank you, Mr. May.
or an old and constant friend Of mine, lor ss hihd
manner in which you have been pleased IA express
your sentiments towards me this occasion.
And now, fellow. citizens of Boston, by the good
providence Of God, am here. ] am glad "a see
every face that iumes and 10 illu,nined IN TINS as
sembly. This occasion IL altogether agreeable u
left the place OF my appropriate public duties, at
the approach Of summer, TO vist my home, and 10
see 10 some personal Affairs which demanded at,
tcntion I came with no purpose OF expectation of
addressing any popular assembly, or II meeting
any mass of my fellow citizens. l have been ar
rested by the Of the City Council OF Boston la
viting me, with unaniniity which sfocis IN y
feelings deeply, 60 meet my fellow citirens here
not az a puLlic man, but IA a private man not AZ
one who exercises any share Of the public au'hpfi.
ty but as one OF themselves, one who has pasaed
the greater part Of his life in the midst OF thein
joying their association and acquaintance, and
cultvsting their regard.
Gentlemen, ! have already said that 1 should
come here to day 90 discuss political question
TO enter upon the discussion ~ no eon,rosertcd
points Of policy, any thing growing oot 81 the
present state OF opinion in the community about
which men differ. In the hrst place, fellow otis
zens, abstain from all such discussion, becaus.
this 10 not fl occasion This, Itakeit 10 friendly,
social, personal, neigbborly meeting, and not one
assembled for political purposes. A. the same
time, you will allow 60 say In the nert place,
that II this fit occasion for 60 express po
iitical opinions, that have no new opinions toer'
press no new political character 20 assume.
loud cheering What ! think upon important
pending topics has been 40 often spoken and writ.
Zen by me with full heart and honest purposc,