The southern press., 1852-01-07

between this port and New York, and which
was, in great measure, brought about by the
support given by the cabinet at Washington. OF
which you were a valuable and influential mem
Der, as we'll as further to evince their most cor
dial feelings of kindness towards that great ma
tion of which you are distinguished citizen.
The Mayor desires me to add the expression
of his full concurrence in the sentiments con.
tanned in the requisition, and to express the sin
cere pleasure i. would, personally, afford him, AS
well as the inhabitants OF the borough. gener-
ally, if you could honor the town with your
presence at public banquet, on such day as
may suit your convenience.
| have the honor to remain, sir,
Your most Obedient servant,
| CHARLES IT, DEACON, Town Clerk.
To the Hon. X oBERr j. WALKER &c, LONDON.
REPLY.
| 10 HALF Moon STREET PIccADMLY,
December 10, 1851.
Sir Il have received your kind letter Of yes
terday, inviting me, in the name of the mayor of
Southampton, and numerous body ofthe mer-
chants and others connected with your port, %
a public dinner there, on such day as may suit
my convenience.
| In consequence Of my short stay in England,
and accumulated business, have been COM
PEELED to decline similar requests from other
points 10 your country, prior in date to yours.
II is with extreme regret that feel constrained
to torego the pleasure of dining with the mayor
and merchants of Southampton. There is no
one in England for whom entertain more re-
spect and esteem than the mayor OF Southamp-
ton. This feeling is general in America, and
embraces your worthy intelligent, liberal, and
patriotic citizens, from whom we have received
30 many marks Of kindness and regard.
II is quite true, as referred to by you that, as
a member Of the American cabinet, was an ad-
vocate Ofthat great steam communication which
now 80 happily unites various points of your
country with my own. 1t WAS most benefc al
system, and hope it is destined to great and
successful enIargements.
thank you also for the kind and cordia! sem
timents you have been pleased to express in re-
gard to my country. 1t is most clearly the in
terest and duty OF England and America to en-
courage and maintain the most friendly reia-
tions. In some remarks, heretofore made BY
ME at your city, took occasion to express the
opinion that neghboring republic so called
based upon half million Of bayonets, and II
state OF siege would soon be merged in ab So
lutte or imperial power. Those predictions are
already fulfilled; and France is now passing
into a government more military and despotc,
than any that prevails in Europe because it il
purely the government of the army. and Of
single chief Already this fearful change il
hailed with delight by all the despotic powers,
and especially by Russia, Austria, and Naples
The continent has become despotic, except a
few remaining points, which are already men,
aced, and where the light Of liberty, it is feared,
i'll soon be extingu he'd. These islands alone
remain to breast the fury OF despotic power, and
already il is iDtimated that it may become ne
cessary to re establish against England the con-
tinental system of the first Napoleon. The
principle Of the despotic powers will be this:
that England must refuse an asylum to the ex-
lied victims Of continental oppression, and that
she must abandon the liberty of speech and of
the press. The question, fear, will soon be
proponnded to England-Wil you reinquish
all the principles of free government and sink
quietly into the abyss of despotism Or will
you manfuIly resist, and if so when, and how
and where, are you willing to begin the resist
ance Will you wait until every free govern
ment is overthrown on the continent Or, when
the principle Of armed Intervention from abroad
announces its determination to subvert these
govern ments, will you then interfere for your
own security, and whilst yet you may have
friends and allies upon the continent! Should
the latter be your wise and patriotic resolve, and
should you, in that event, desire the co-opera
ton of my country, it will be given by the gov
ernment, and sustained by the people, with zeal
and unanmty
/ know nothing, since the days of the Cru
sades, that could excite in America feeling so
deep, universal, and enthusiastic, or which would
call out so many millions, if necessary, of my
countrymen, as an invitation from you, to your
children in America, to fight together the last
great triumphant battle for the Liberties of man.
1t would be certain and easy victory
achieved chiefly by the naval forces of England
and America and succeeding this victory, there
would then be enduring peace and extended
commerce.
Indeed, doubt not, that if England and Amer
lea would inform the continental dcspots that
they must not intervene beyond their own limits
to overthrow other governments, merely be
cause they are free, that such an annunciation
would arrest their march in 1851, as it did in
1920, and accomplish the same result without
the necessity of war or bloodshed.
Be pleased to present to the mayor, and to
the worthy merchants and citizens of Southamp-
ton, who have united in this invitation, my most
sincere thanks, and accept for yourself, my
dear sir renewed assurances of my regard and
esteem.
Yours most faithfully. r. ]. WALKER
CHARLES E. DEACON, Esq, &c, Town CLERK.
The inhabitants of Southampton have pre-
sented to their mayor, Mr.. Andrew, magnif-
cent service of plate, valued at $4,000. Mr..
Croskey, the American consul, was present at
the banquet and made speech, in the course
of which he said
"People imagine that there is vast differ
ence between us in America and you in Eng.
land. We are republican-you are called mon
archical-but maintain that you republican,
with me march to govern you; we are repub
lican, with President as our chief magistrate
Cheers,
SILVER PLATE PRESENTED TO The MAYOR OF
SOUTHAMPTON :, PEECH OF THE AMERICAN CON- !
: SUL-PREsENCE OF U. s. NAVAL OFFICERS, ETC. |
A few days prior to the departure of the
Franklin, a magnificent service of plate, valued
at upwards of $4,000, was presented to Rich
ard Andrews esq, mayer Of Southampton, as a
testimonial of regard and esteem from the inhah
itants Of that place. An immense concourse of
persons, Of both sexes, assembled to witness the
ceremony OF presentation. The Mayor of South !
ampton has world wide reputation for acts of
hospitaiity In the course OF his speech Nj |