The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-12-25


history that they ever sighed for that broad
arena in which all that is beautiful in the ma
ture of woman, and all that is reverential in
her soul, so speedily and surely finds grave.
They were not strong minded in the above
sense, but they were true and strong hearted,
strong in home attachments strong in ODE
dent d trustful affection to those whom God
and their own choice had given them in life
! long union. Such were the founders of the
New England homes.
The speaker described the homes and their
influence, and concluded after happy allusion
to evening cheer and cider ere it was sin to
drink titus =" Let us honor and reverence
the Pilgrim Mothers, as we do our own, and
from this time forward, whenever we meet to
celebrate such events, let the pilgrim fathers
and pilgrim mothers receive an equal recOgni-
ton and an equal remembrance.
Sd. New England, the land Of our nativity in the
| East, Minnesota, the home of adoption in the
West-May bands Of Iron bind together,
and the ties of brotherhood that exist grow
stronger and indissolube.
Mr. M. f. AMEs responded. In being call
ell upon to respond to this toast, l have not
the vanity to suppose that | am named from
any supposed eloquence on my part-for sir l
possess none. But presume that the compli-
ment arises from the facts of my New Eng
land birth and MinnesOtian citizenship. l am
not used to speak on festive occasions or at
convivial gatherings, yet [ cannot but express
my qualification in thus mingling with the sons
of New England, and with New England's
friends. Why are we here sir, on this the 22d
day of December, 1854? To commemorate
the landing of the Pilgrims 23O years ago? Is
that they were Pilgrims? that they were
driven by persecution from Europe? no sir !!
they were to establish institutions that stand
proudly forth upon the annals Of our history.
Why did they thus seek all asylum among sa-
wages? Why incur the perils and necessary
sufferings of a voyage upon the treacherous
bosom of the broad Atlantic? 1t was for
the maintenance of religious freedom-it was
~ on account of political suffering, they had
a higher motivc-the gaining which has Sc
cured to the sons and daughters of New Eng
land all over the world the right to meet thus
on the 22d of Dec, to record the virtues of
New Englands founders. Mr.. ANEs, dwelt
happily upon the schools, colleges aad institu-
tions of New England, and noted With much
force the contrast between the first settlement
of Minnesota and the present; between 1949
and l954-at the former date there were
about 5000 people, now nearly $4,000 in the
Territory.
4th Old Folks at Home-Thcy are remembered
tonight with love, veneration and respect.
Mr.. II. NJ. NEwsoN rose to reply: l am not
unmindful of the honor done me, but the late
hour at which l was notified of my having
been selected, and the extreme nervous state
of my SYSTEM owing to my late severe indls-
position will fear prevent my doing the sent
iment full Justice. | will however say with the
Juvenile aspirant for rhetorical hOnOrs-
| You'd scarce expect one Of my age
To speak in public on the stage,
And if chance to fall below
Don't pick me up but let me go.
Sir, those Pilgrims who left their childhoOd's
home, endcared to them by associations, the
memory of which death alone could efface, have
given their impress to the world. They left
fathers whose whitening hairs and tOttering
steps, marked too surely the decline OF life
mothers, adOwn whose time-wOrn cheeks the
parting tears were coursing, as they babe a
last adieu to those about embarking on the
God speed, to find, if He so willed it, home
in another, distant land. Good angels guiding
their barque, they feared neither shipwreck
nor disaster, but braved all things for
the sake of principles firm as the rock up
on which they landed. They planted their
standard, with their religious faith stamped
indelibly upon it, in tho highway of existence
and to-day we look back with pride upon
that standard and those principles because
their supporters could for the sake of free wOr-
Ship leave the old folks at home. Strange,
sir, that that little band, stern of spirit and
bold of heart, by daring execution of a
daring project which might have appalled, 9th
ers less courageous, should be the founders of
the six States of which we are sojustly proud.
And now each happy valley, each fertile hill
is dotted with New England homes.
The speaker then referred to the wide spread
influence which the New England character
exerted everywhere, and closed in most heart
felt tribute to 1.-The Old Folks at Home"
9Th. MISREPRESENTATION rocked the cradle
of American Liberty. May she never be called
upon to act as chief mourncr at its grave.
Responded to by Mr.. MURDOCH. We have
no room for his remarks this morning.
9th. NEw-Y oRK The political and com.
mercial metropolis of the Union - New Eng
land, the home of its literature and science
their interests are cOmmon-may their amity
be perpetual.
Mr.. Brisbin responded. New York needs
no eulogium from me- In the great events
that dawned upon us, she was the first in
battle, and she is the first now. With ref
erence to her might use the words of an
eminent New England statesman, "She needs
no cncomium; there she stands; look at her. u
Mr.. B. eloquently alluded to the vast inter
nal improvements Of the Empire State, Of
her Institutions, her eminent jurists, her
commercial enterprise; but made fatal
error in branding the New Highlander as a
bigot, self-opinionated, and being amid all
the changes Of life still an illiberal man.
His response was for the greater part