The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-08-11
MEAeHER FESTIVAL IN BOSTON.

ton of his rhirtieth bir.E-daY. Several other
military companies Of Boston also joined in 1be
celebration Dvpnfations If civil and mill tarv
associations attended frou. New York and man
other places. Inc military were IN full dress
uniform AMI I large nuInoer CT ladies' also being
in attendance, shs affair was truly splendid.-
Altogether, about seven hundred persons were
present, arnoHg whom was Mr.. O'DoaoHUE, who
SO recently escaped from Van Dieman's Land,
and whose adventures we're remarkable
Capt. B. s. TREANoR, of the Meagher Rifles,
presided on the occasion.
After the viands provided had been disposed
Of in the manner customary such occasions,
letters Of apology were read from distinguished
invited guests. This being done, the following
toasts were proposed "The President of the
United States" which was received with all the
honors; ''The Press which was responded to
by Gao. ROBERTS. ESQ, Of the Boston IEages;'
'.The Health of Thomas Francis Meagber, ]" which
drank with the greatest enthusiasm, and re-
sponded to by Mr.. MEAcEER We hnd his speech
reported IN the New York Herald, as fol-
lows:
Mr. Psssideatand Geatten:en,-T5a7ing to speak
for myself, I have not much to say. You are
aware that, since NY arrival n this country, I
have sought au exemption from the honoTs
which, at this festivity, you have been pleased
to Fay me. Did 1 consult my own disposition,
and permit myself to be governed exclusively
by motives of nature purely personal, l should
have still adhered to the resolution with which
set out, and il this instance likewise, have de
clined the favors which, in the midst Of SO much
elegance and worth, and a spot so noted, you
have extended to me.
But, in this city having on other occasions
met with SO cordial welcome, been helped in
my efforts By so liberal hand and altogether
been made sensible of so generous interest
and SO steadfast friendship it struck it
would be somewhat ungenerous to deny to you
the qualification of the wishes you had cher
ished.
Here, in this city, upon my entering into
wider expanse, and noiser scenes, from the still
and shaded waters of the seclusion had first
sought, ms coming with ardent anxiety
awaited. Here, III the discharge of those duties
which TO me were irksome and dstasteful, but
to which the changes and exactious ola new life
imposes, was my footing made good, my doubts
dispelled, my wavering prospects streng thened,
and widened, and sufused with the light of
better fortune. Here, was the presence of the
stranger hailed with fervor which from his
mind at efaced the impression which the
satirist of your steady and cultured habits might
have wrought; and herein the gloom of win
ter, when the white fakes the trees spoke of
the leaves that were dead, and the great heart
that was for a season dead-there came the sun
shine On his path, and with that sunshine, flow
ers in clustering profusion to bis feet. Here,
better than all this-more fragrant than those
votve flowers sweeter than the kindling sun
shine deeper in its significance and more inspi-
ring in its effect than all that friendship, zeal
GUS SctLsoy ST0u0IGoJ PI0uiRbf ftS II ndS-h ere
heard around me those strong vibrations of
public spirit, tshich, for every word spoken,
claims and ensures ample hearing; which
for the play of intellect and the workings of the
conscience, demands the widest field which
discards, deposes, and annuls the tyranny which
on the one and on the other would inhict the
garb of fashion or the chain of fear; which, in
conscience, in history, in politics, in religion
instinctively conforming to the provisions under
which we liye-would to the death maintain
Of tha oil lactI
becomes cripple and the conscience n slave if
not something more debased which, in word
mindful of the good deeds done upon the earth
by those who have broken loose from. and soar
ed above all base restraint, would hedge in with
honor and do homage to the mnd-iutrepid,
inAexibe, and nspiring-whlch had the future,
with all its mysteries, its perils and its glores,
to explore, and the sceptre of truth piercing the
clouds, and glittering like sapphire in the eter
nal hand, and pointing out the way as the sole
guide in the pilgrimage and battle.
That this spirit was peculiar to the city of
Boston it would not be the truth for me to say.
OF my experience in other cities preserve a
distinct recon ection; and in the face of that re-
collection, shall not err previously as to ar
rogate TO the community amongst whom now
stand, the spirit which is diffused throughout
the Union.
Of that Union l have visited five and twenty
States; and that the spirit of which l speak,
was evident, active, paramount in each and all,
IN strict truth, L here assert
For my part-so far as this question is con-
cerne3 and it is the vital question, if not the
supreme question of ALL have seen no differ
-ence between the North and South, between the
East and West. Differences of climate, differ
ences of race. differences in the capabilities of
the soil, IN the pursuits of the people in the
lays, IN social tastes-narked and inefaceable
differences, In these conditions and accidents of
life, | have observed; but erywhere-every
where amongst the citizens of this marvellous
repubic-amongst ali who look up with loyalty
to that unviolated and nviolable flag and love it
as the symbol of their confraternity-every
have l found that freedom of thought, freedom
OF speech, freedom of discussion, are rights sol
emnly declared in the instruments under which
these various States, are moulded, admitted by
the willing sense guaranteed by the laws, and
by the intuitive conservatism of the people
made irreVocable
Yet, if this can be said without exception, of
the several States have visited and be spoken
of them in terms of congratulation, it must be
also said of Boston, and be said especially Of
those whom / now address-be said of them.
with marked feverence-in consequence of the
holtilities which / am told, secrets and accu-
mulates itself against that spirit and those citi-
zens in certain quarters, to which for one, am
not sufficiently disposed or interested to al
lude.
Let it, then, snfice for me TO say, that having
been made sensible, to singular degree, of the
kindness of the citizens of Boston, and been i'm
pressed with the spirit which actuates them,
came to the conclusion that it would be nicoh !
siderate of me not to make some return for that
To-. Il. - h. u