Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-05-07
q he % ailp Spy.
DINNER TO HON. JOHN p. HALE.
Great Gathering Of the friends Of free
sATURDSY. NAY 4. 1888.

On Thursday 9Th inst, the great hall oil the
Fiichburg Depot at Boston, which was approprl-
a.ely decorated and disposed for the occasion,
occupied by 1900 good and true Free Democrats,
10 do honor to John p, Hale, for his services in
the cause Of liberty, and 10 testify their admira-
ton of his talents, and integrity.
The hall was occupied to its 'fulIest extent"
and the veliest pleasure was manifested by all
who were present. Amongst the distinguished
gentlemen on the platform, were John Jay, Esq,
Of New York; Hon Amos Tuck; Joshua Leay-
i'll, Hon Charles Sumner, VIM. Lloyd Garrison;
Hon Henry Wilson, Hon Edward l.. Keyes,
Richard H. Dana &c.
Hon John G. Pallrey was called to the char
After some preliminary remarks the eloquent and
learned chairman introduced the honored guest
to the meeting in The following words, for a report
Of which and the speeches that follow, we are in
debled 10 the Boston Commonwealth
Ladies and Gentiemea:-Assenbled here by
the common Interest, in cause holy as the
lnadness of man oppos, d. or The righteous
ness Of God ever sniled upon--a cause worthy
the constant courage of nisn, and The sweet
sympathy Of woman--you have been pleased 10
honor NE ~lh the trust Of off rug your welcome
to statesman, who, -four power had been equal
TO our wlshes,or had been equal Ia the confidence
whichhs great services had inspire IN as, we
would have called io.he helm of the patioa, as
sured that then the nation would have had
prosperous voyage
New Hampshire, to The advantage of his inter-
est it may be, but little to her credit and .nuch
TO the national loss has found that she could dis
pense with his official services But, ladies and
gentlemen, there are boAors higher than official
station can give, the withdrawal Of official sta
ton can take away
Far more true JOY Marcelius exiled ecls.
Than Cesar, with the seaate AT has heels"
To have turned away from party when party
turned away from him, and from the path of right
to have stood in the high places oil the national
council amid angry assaiants-to have stood
until Ohio and Massachusetts sent worthy AUX
ilares 10 his side Cheers 10 have mingled
the gentleness 18th the clearness aud lirmness of
wisdom, IN such manner as 10 eXlait the good
will and respect of opponents, aid at the same
time TO command the enthusiastic admiration of
frIends-to have fought the good fight OF truth
and honor, with a sagae lily that was never eluded
with vigilance that never slept with courage
that never quaied, with AN ACTIVITY that never
tTed-this, i say, is to have acted "A part of which
the history Of the nation, or the history of the
race, can attnId but lew eminent examples
When the Roman cenqueTor, returning from
lis distant fields was borne on the shouts and
embraces OF the frantic city, crowd up the steps
of the capitol, what was This bat a Vulgar and
selfish, too often vulgar and bloody liumph-
When some popular idol, or some popular pup.
pet OF party, some King SOrk or King Log some
hardly worked distributor of the contents of the
public crib, goes through your streets amid the
bray of trumpeis and the Haunting of banners
What wise man does not see how venal and ho.
low and heartless is such pageant' But when
the wise and vlrtuous sta tesman comes from the
fields where he has struck for Justice and human
Ity-wheu he comes, followed by the blessings
and prayers of the oppressed, cheered on from
stage to stage, by the plaudIs OF the good-it
seems as II the common beneditions wcfe too poor
TO pay the tribute which we owe him. 1t seems
as if we could scarcely be content till I'VE have
coined our hearts, and poured our treasure Of
gratitude and admiration into the welcome with
which we greet his presence
Francis H. Underwood, Esq, then announced
the first regular toast, as follows
Our Guest. John P Hale-In the House of
Representatives party could not command his al
Elegance In the commission of national iniquty--
In the Senate, the insolence Of malorities could
never awe HIM TO silence. As an advocate. he
has added to the learning of the jurist the merit
OF successful resistance executive and judicial
tyranny. As the champion of the principles of
Free Democracy.
Our hearts leap forth to answer
And echo hack his words,
As leaps the warriors hen he sees
The flash o kindred swords"
[Husic-"hail Coumhia.'
In obedience to this sentiment, Hon J. p
HALE rose to the assembly, amid reiterated
cheers, the waving of handkerchiefs, and other
demonstrations Of applause, long continued
"hen silence was partially restored, Mr.. HALE
said-
Mr.. President, and Ladies ami Gentlemen:
In the few weehs which have elapsed since
received your kind end generous invitation to
meet Won on this festival, have sometimes en-
deavored TO tax my thoughts, that might find
hitting phrase wherewilh to pour forth the gener-
Gus emotions of gratitude which your kindness
has awakened in me; but have been Obliged to
return from the boolless task and forego The ef-
fort; and stand before you To-day determined TO
practice, al least on this occasion, the precept Of
christian morality, which incucates to take no
thought for the morrow, but let each day take
care Of itself; and so stand before you to day,
my friends, at this festival of the heart 10 bring
you no other Offering than that which the sponta-
neous action OF the heart may suggest But |
will not, my friends, SO Ear pass by the propre-
ties of an occasion like the present as TO lorbear
altogether, some alluslon to the sentiments that
we entertaln,-the principles " bch we cherish,
anu the policy that we would uphold.
do not know that | can better introduce the
subject to-day, than by relating little conversa-
ton which casually came TO my ears, when |
suppose It was hardly intended for them. / hap
pened few days since, to meet one ofthe doubt
ing sorI-one of the incredulous kind-one who
Is hard to be convinced, notwithstanding the proof
came like the rain.drops, pattering constantly up
on him What did he say--yvith light flashing
all around him-with proof thick as the atmos.
phere
lie said he ibid not know, - he was mot GER
tall;" but he said il really did not seem 10 him.
after all-aiter the great Compromise had been
made-ailer the giant speeches Of the giant intel
lects by which II had been carried-alier lis en-
phatic endorsement by the Conventions of The
two great political parties Of the land, and after
the Overwhelming result at the polls, by which AN
individual pledged TO carry out these sentiments
which, he said, were principles in accordance
with the history Of his whole life-alier such nm
one had been eevptsd TO the highest office in the
gift Of the people-he said he did moi know. not