The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-06-09


Be9re the Ns'S York Hs0rest S0eisy. at Ms,royot,an
Hall, BY The Hon. Edelrd Eueret, on Wednesday
E0ening. June /, 1858.
Mr. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN or THE HISTORICAL
SOCIETY Although appear before you al the season at
which the various religious moral, aud phianlhroplc
ciees usually hold their annual meetings TO discuss The
stirring and conlrovered topics o. The day, need not
say TO you that the prophecies Of this occasion require
TO abstain from such subjects, and TO select theme
falling 10 some extent at least, within the proyface OF
historical society. propose, accordingly, this even
ing TO attempt sketch Of the history Of The discovery
and colonization OF America and Of emigration 10 The
United States | can OF course offer you, within the
limits OF a single address, but most superficial view OF
so vast subject but have thought that sketch
of such subject would suggest importast trains OF
fecon TO thoughtful minds Words written spoken
are al best but kind OF shorthand TO be filled up by the
reader or heaer. shall be grathed if, after honorng
my hasty sketch with your attention, you shall deem ii
worth filling up from your stores of knowledge and
thought You will forgive me if, in The attempt 10 give
certain completeness 10 the narrative, may be led "
glance al few facis which, however interesting, may
seem to you familiar for repetition.
In the last quarter Of the fifteenth century an ltslan
Mariner citizen OF the little republic OF Genoa, who
had hitherto gained livelihood pilot in the
cal maine different countries, made his appearance
successfully at various courts in he south and west Of
Europe soliciting patronage and AID Tor bold and novel
degree favorable 10 the adventure. The Portuguese
had for half century been pushing their discoveries
southwark upon the coast OF Africa, and they had ven
lured into the Atlantic as lar the Azores Several
conspirng Causes, and especially the Invention Of the art
OF printing, had produced general revival OF n,e-
genes. Su however, the state OF things prevailing, in
this respect, very renl from what witness in
the middle OF the nineteenth century. On the part of
the great Of mankind there was but little improve
ment over the darkness OF The middle ages. The new
culture centred in the convent, the court and tie un
vesity places essentially L,slrus2l OF bold novelties
The idea of reaching the East by voyage around the
African continent had begun TO assume consistency but
the vastly significant idea that The earth is globe.
and capable OF being ccumnavlgaied bad by means
become Incorporated into the general intelligence OF the
age. The Portuguese navgaors felt themselves safe as
they crep, along the African coas-venurng each voy
age few leagues Misunderstanding new hcadland--
ascending some before unexpored rver-holdlng pala
yer, with tribe OF the naive races but 10
The pows oil their vessels boldly To the West, to embark
upon ocean no, known in The popular geography OF
the day, to have outer shore, 10 pass that bourne
from which no traveller bad Ieiurned, and from
VIII ch experience had not taught thai any traveller could
Teturn and thus to reach the East bv sailing western
reclon, this was a conception which no human being
is known have formed before Columbus, aud which
he proposed the governments OF Italy, OF Spain, of
Portugal, aud oil England. and for long without,
success The STATE OF science not such TO enable
men Discriminate between the improbable and the alb
snui. They looked upon Columbus as we did thirty
years ago upon Captain Symmes. Applause
But The iustrous aiveatufer pesesered. sorrow and
disappointment clouded his spirits. bat did not shake his
too had taken hrn hold OF The idea that The earth
sphere What seemed TO the multitude OF the edu
Gated OF that day doubtful and somewhat mystical
theory--whal appeared to the uninormcd mass mon-
srous paradox by every step take upon
the broad fiat earth which we daily tread beneath our
feet-iha great ard fruitful truth revealed itself TO the
serene intelligence OF Columbus practical fact
which he wllling 10 stake all he hadcaaracier and
hte And ii deserves ever 10 be borne In mind The
most usttious example OF the connexon OF scientific
theory with great practical results that the discovery Of
Apa with all "a uspQ n
kind is owing TO the 6~ncl conception ~ The mind OF
Columbus OF this single scientific proposion-tbe ter
raqueous earth is sphere. lApplause
After years OF iuless and ne1ftsick solielation-af
Ter offering In effect 10 Ibis monarch and TO that monarch
the gift OF hemlspherethe great discoveer touches
upon partial He succeeds not in enls,ing The
sympathy OF his counlrymen al Genoa and Venice ior
brave brother sailor not IN giving new direction 10 The
spiri, OF maritime adventure which had 50 long prevailed
10 Portugal not IN stimulating the commercial thril OF
Henry VII the plous ambition OF the Catholic King
His sonowu perseverance touched the heart OF noble
Princess worthy The throne which she adorned. The
New World which wasjusl escaping the subtle kingera
Of Ferdinand, saved to Spain by the womauly COM
pas siCn OF Isabella. tContinued applause.
II truly melancholy, however, 10 Contemplate the
wreched equipment for which the most powerful PIN
cess in Chrisiendom was ready 10 pledge her jswes.
Floating castles will be ted out to convey mis-
erable natives of Africa to the golden shores OF America
towering gaeons will be dispatched TO bring home the
gully treasures 10 Span but three small vessels. OF
which was without deck, and neither of them probs.
bly, exceeding the capacity oi pilot boat and even these
impressed into the public service, composed the exhibit
lon fitted out under royal patronage 10 realize that mag
nihcent conception in which the creative mind OF Coam.
bus had planted the germs OF a new world.
No chapter OF romance equals the interest OF this
petition. The most fascinating Of the works OF fiction
which have issued from the modern press have, 10 my
tasie no attraction compared with the pages ~ which the
fret voyage OF Coumbus is described by Robertson and
still more by our Irving and Prescott, the last two
enjoying The advantage over The great Scottish historian
oil possessing the lately discoveed journals and olies OF
Columbus iaasvlf The departure IRON Paos where a
few years before he bad begged moree OF bread and
cup Of waller for bis way-sorn child his hna farewell
the Old Void al the CaDares hrs entrance upon the
trade winds, which them for the first time filled Euro
pean sail the poi,eDious variation oi The needle,
before observed the fearful course westward and vest
ward, day after day and night alter night over The
known ocean; the mu,nous and i.sppeased crew at
length when hope had turned despair IN every heart
but one the tokens Of land the cloud banks the
ern horizon the logs Of DRIFT wood the fresh shrub
floating with lis leaves and berries; the ocks OF lard
birds; the shoals of Gsh that nhabt shallow watef the
lndescribabe smell OF the shore the mysterious pre-
tment that ever goes before great event and finally,
on that ever memorable night Of the 18th of October,
i92 the moving light seen by The secpless eye OF the
great dscoverer bimse from the deck OF the Santa Ma
ris and the morning The real nrdoubied land, swelling
up from the bosom OF lbe deep with It's pains and hills,
and foress, and rocks, and streams, aud strange
races OF men these incidents in which the authentic
history OF the discovery Of continent exces The spe
cnus wonders OF romance. much gold eKces nsel
or the sun IN the heavens ousbnes that ckeng taper
Applause
Bu, il is no part oG my purpose 10 dwell upon this in
teresng 10 follow ou this most wonderful
for Columbus himself and before long ending in one Of
the most fghtful tragedies in The annals OF the world
Such seems 10 be The law of humanity, that events the
most desirable and achievements the mos, important