Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-01-23
DAILY EVENING STAR.
LOCAL lNTELLIGENCE.

The Hay DiRMer--0n Saturday eyeuin,
complimentary dinner was given by the
citizens of Capitol Hill, at Fields Hotel, to the
Hon. Henry May, at which about $50 gentle
men sat down. b. b. French ESQ.,. presided.
having on his right the Hero of the evening.
the above mentioned distinguished gentleman.
and on his left. Alexander Mccormick. ESQ
The dinner, it would be needless to mention.
wa. excellent; Major Fields reputation as
caterer requires no comment from our pen
everything was excelently got up. and the
tOHt ensemble of the dining table displayed
much taste in its arrangement Prosperi's
Brass Band was In attendance, and play ed in
the eour.e of the evening, several lively and
na,riotic ai.s The following dis.in, uished
Gentlemen were invited the greater part of
sbom we're present The President of the Sem
a,e the Speaker of the House. Hon. A. r
sellers Hon Moses Norris, Hon VIM T. Ham
ilton. Hon Benton Craige, Hon. J. W. Forney.
Clerk of the House, Hon. S. A. Douglas, &c
After dinner had been finished, B. B. French,
ESQ. the Chairman, rose and made very
eloquent address, with we regret that we are
unable to give from the crowded nature of our
columns
Col Hickey afterward arose and said. that,
as an old inhabitant of Capitol Hill he could
not be silent on this occasion, and adverted to
the father of Mr.. May, who was endeared to
their neighborhOod, while living. and who.
when dead, had left an impression upon their
memory that time could not efface His chill
dren had all distinguished themselves in the
career of life that they had seyerally selected
TO pursue. The speaker mentioned singly the
pursuits Of the brothers of Mr.. May, and then
adyertei to the early career of the last named
gentleman. The career of their guest in the
legal profession commenced in their native
city and was marked by that prudent reserve
which showed his wisdom But when arrived
Mt manhood, his genius could no more be re-
strained than the river torrent or the eagles
fight. The contracted sphere of their disfran-
chised District WAS not ample field enough for
those mental qualities that are required of a
statesman. Ii was found in MARYLAND the
maternal State. to whom the District of Column,
bis, a return for former fayors gave one of
her sons whom old Maryland had sent to rep
resent her interests in the councils of the ma
ton. Applause. 1t was not alone for these
considerations that they were met to do him
honor. ii was for the banner that he had un-
furled, ON whose ample folds was inscribed
civil and religious liberty Applause
With this banner in hand he had nobly ad-
vanced, and by genius and eloquence had
maintained those princi pies against opposition
Their warmest sympathies had followed him.
step by step, until they were met to celebrate
his triumph, the triumph Of order and peace.
Their admiration for him, as lawyer and a
in his integrity. Applause. Col Hickey con-
cluded by proposing the following toast, which
was responded to with twice three cheers and
= tiger
Henry May-The champion of civil and
religious liberty, the worthy representative
of the ancient fame of Maryland
The Chairman then gave the first regular
toast:
''Our guest and friend, Henry Msy-Like
the ancient patriot, ostracised by the action
Of few, he returns in triumph by the voices
of many-we bid him thrice welcome to the
home OF his youth. Air-Auld Lang Syne
Mr. May then rose, and having advanced
half way down the room to the centre of the
table, so that he might be more conveniently
heard, addressed the company for a long
period of time. The following are some parts
of his speech:
'Mr- Chairman and gentlemen friends and
companions OF my you h, my fellow citizens
The favorable manner in which you have re-
ceived me, the high compliments paid, and the
touching illusions to those that were of nv
domestic circle. as we'll as to others that are
now within its limits-these things make me
incapable Of responding, properly. to this
high compliment. L cannot thank you for this
distinguished honor-this extraordinary COM
pliment. When / see thus around me- on
either side, those familiar faces. the friends of
my childhood, with whom have played since
infancy, who were my schoolma.es and COM
panions. and who, in all the vicissitudes of
life, have been faithful to every claim of
friendship, when I see them offer me thi.
high compliment, it is not within INV Door
ability to respond in suitable terms. This is
the proudest moment of my life-the proudes,
moment Of my existence. / am happier here
among you. who have been so kind to me, for
these compliments, happier than 1 supposed
that could have ever been in any moment of
my existence IApplause.l Why, the ground
on which l stand Is rs familiar to me as your
this door. have played at marbles and pegged
the top Laughter aid cheers
Mr. May continued in playful manner to
amuse the company with illusions TO the Soc
merry and localities about Capitol hill during
his boyhood, his observations being received
with continual bursts of applause from his
auditors, who were highly delighted at these
former "reminiscences. Our neighbor, the
worthy old lady, the cditress of the Huntress.
was made the subject of good bumored re-
mark, and the satirical verses of Tom Moore,
in Washington as it was quoted by the speak
er as contrasting with Washington as tits.
discontinued: These things all come back to
my memory, and L wish that 1 could dwell
longer upon many ofthese early recollections.
when We went las scheol-boys, with satchel
on our backs, reluctantly to school" Mr..
Auoy SPohe ioI sOlIe tiuic Oh enlS SUBJECT. CON-
plimenting Mr.. Mccormick, who, said he.
lpOinting TO that gentleman, who was seated at
the upper end Of the table, first taught 90 my
SOung idea how to shoot"
After remarks, to the same purpOrt, which
elected fresh demonstrations Of applause he
resumed: Let me, however, refer to the adj
yancing prosperity of py native city, the heart
of this great country, the focus of all that is
bright and free, and independent and happy
inhabited by people remarkable for their in
telligence and integrity Of character, let the
slanderers Of the day say what they will.
say that thu calumnies leyelled against this
good city of ours, saying that decentralization
prevails in ii, are false. Loud cheers.
whatever decentralization is here is not of the
soil of Washington, its roo:s have never been
planted in this ground, and will never flourish
here, the blame is due to trangers-sharpers
men who live by preying upon the public
establishments. And take this opportunity of
making the assertion, here and every where, in
yindication of city and q people that / love
I ON the bottt m Of my heart, Applause. that
tins ealumny may not be repeated where 1 am
without being rebuked Is it deserves. Zap
piause Onmy native soil / shall stand firmly
and hurl defiance at those who put SO foul a
falumny upon it. Applause.
.hr. Msy then adyerted TO the growing pros
pert; of Washington, and continued g But
IN the space Of 50 years, next February, there
has cot been the same progress in the judicial
establishments of this people. (applause.) The
old musty system, of laws, that prevailed in