Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-01-02


like Saul among his fellows, ga head and shout
ders above them all - have not cause for pride
when remember that on her soil rests Plym-
outh rock - that the event we this day celebrate
happened there, that the first Christian Common
scealth in America was founded by men who had
chosen Mass. for home; that she is the mothero OF
New England and the Grand dame OF the West,
for New England's sons are scattered wherever
the axe has laid to the root of the primeva forest,
or city or a village has sprung up by our wes-
tern waters. What school boy does not know that
the Revolution began in Mass? The names OF
Concord, Lexington and Bunker Hill are "famil-
lar to us as household words" And in the long
and dreary contest that followed, Mass. sent her
bravest sons to the battle field. Among her repre-
sentative men at this period were Hancock who
signed the Declaration of Independence, Gas with
a weaver's beam" stout old John Adams 81 the
tongue of the revolution - Gen. Warren whose
requiem the winter winds are signing around the
noble monument that marks the spot where he fell
and "many a hundred more high hearts and
brave. - But not alone on the battle field or in
the council chamber has Mass. won her laurels, in
that education that fits her children for christian
citizens she has ever been precm;nent; in every
city and villagein the State the school house and
the church rise side by side and the sons of the
millionaire and of the wood-sawyer are friendly
rivals in friendly strife. F.om old Hazard Col
lege and her younger sisters Amherst and Will
liams going forth year by year hundreds of her
noblest sons fitted to impress her principles on far
distant states. On the literature of the country
she has left her permanent mark, the theologian
must ever turn to her with admiration and respect
as he peruses the pages of Edwards, Stuart, Park,
Claiming and tho Wares. Who're is the library
in which the poems of Longfellow, Whittier and
Pierpont are not welcome guests? The histories
Of Bancroft and IIildrctl are read wherever the
English language is spoken. The essays of Whip
pie and Emerson rival those Of Macaulay and his
fellows. Uncle TOMS Cabin has moved us now
to bursts Of laughter now to binding tears as we
read its magic pages. Mass. has ever been dis
tingushed by her zeal for universal freedom and
brotherhood, tale of oppression is told in vain
to her citizens. In the year 1910 the first negroes
ever brought to New England were sent back to
their homes on the coast of Africa at the expense
of the Colony and though slavery afterwards
crept in yet its yoke easy and its burden light
ard it was finally abolished by her first state con
stituton and ever since Mass. has always jealous
ly opposed the extension of the curse and to
day though she seeks not to interfere with the
rights Of her sister states yet she calls on them
and the world to listen to her voice.
Massachusetts, of her daughters,
Deep answering unto deep the sound OF many waters-
burden that voice. what stand
Nofe.ters in the Bay State-no Stare upon our land.
For us and our children, the that we have gven
For freedom and humanity, is registered in Htaven
No siare hunt in our 6ordsrsnO pirate strand,
No feers in the Bay State-no SLAVE upou our land.
9th. New York, the political and commercial
metropolis of the Union-New Epgland, 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 to take the field
feeble yet she was the first in battle, and she is
the first now. With reference to her might use
the words of an eminent New England statesman,
She needs no encomium, there she stands, look
at her. Mr.. B. eloquently alluded to the vast
internal improvements of the Empire State, of
her schools, her institutions, her eminent jurists,
in branding the New Highlander as a bigot, self
opinionated, and being amid all the changes of life
still an iHiberal man. We think this in bad taste !;
he was honored with an invitation to respond to
the above toast, and while he passed high and
just eulogum upon his native State, he should have
remembered that it was not necessary, in order to
effect this, to abuse his entertainers. He was in
error too as regards the Grinncls and others that
he mentioned. Mr.. Grinnel is a native of New
prominent men. But we not disposed to find
fault with Mr.. Brisbin. If he for the moment for
got the relation of guest and entertainer, we must
not seem partial in our remarks concerning him.
We know that there WAS a general regret that he
should have marred an otherwise happy response
by such assertions as he made.
eth. The lneal descendants of New England
They retain and cherish the cardinal virtues
of their ancestors notwithstanding the remote
ness of their lineage, the space which may
separate them from the land of their fathers.
Mr.. Wilkinson, addressed the assemblage, in
response to this sentiment.
Mr.. PRESIDENT IF was ever in the habit of
making apologies, i should feel inclined to make
one at this time. am inclined, Sir, after listen
ing to the many able speeches which have been
made here tonight, to regret that l have been
called upon to respond to this sentiment.
The peculiar virtues Of the people of New Eng
land, have been forcibly portrayed here this eve
ming, and those great cardinal virtues consist in
their unchanging devotion to truth, and their I'M
compromising hatred Of tyranny and oppression.
From the days Of the Puritans to the present
time, their actions have always been controlled
and squared the square Of truth apd Justice
The time serving philosophy Of modern times,p-
'',that what is, ekpedient is right, meets with no
favor with the genuine son Of New England: They
rather cherish that other and nobler philosophy,
that e the right is always cxpcdient.'',
These principles they have impressed upon the
hearts Of their children, and the great reason why
the descendants Of New England ever cherish and
retain the cardinal virtues of their fathers is that
those great virtues have been indelibly impressed
upon tue hearts of their child ZEN. i'f They have
seized stronghold upon the conscience, and there
those Impressions remain. The father teaches
these virtues to his children, as be has received
them from his ancestors, and thus they are per-
petuatcd.
No matter what boisterous seas they may cross;
matter what desolate island of the ocean they