Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-09-08
LOCAL NEWS


Reception of Hon. n. p. Banks, Jr.
The Hon. Nathaniel P. Banks Jr, arrived in
this city al about four o'clock on Saturday morn
ing, by the steamboat train from New York, and
took lodgings at the Lincoln House At as early
an hour in the forenoon as possible, arrangements
were completed for giving him public reception
and welcome back to Massachusetts,, on behalf of
our citizens, by the committee chosen for that
purpeNe on Thursday evening last During his
stop at the house, Mr. Banks was visited by his
hosts of friends, including many of our most
prominent citizens, who rendered him many cor
dial shake ofthe hand, welcoming him again upon
the soil of the old Bay State after his nine months
of arduous service in the councils of the nation
By twelve o'clock, the hour assigned for the
speaking, large crowd had collected in front OF
the Lincoln House. filling tine whole of Main
street and sidewalks, from Foster street to Elm
street, and Mr.. Banks was called for. He soon
appeared, escorted by the Committee Of Arrange
ments, upon the balcony, and was received with
three rousing cheers by the multitude assembled,
numbering from three to five thousand persons.
The Hon Henry Chaplin, on behalf of the Com
mittee, then introduced Mr. Banks to the audi
ence, as follows =
MR.. CHAPIN's SPEECH.
Fetlo'o CttizenS:-We assemble, as it were, at
moments notice, to give passing welcome to
faithful public servant. We all remember with
what ability, prudence, and courage he bore him.
self through the weeks of trial which resulted in
his election to the Office which he adorns. We
all have seen him by the magic power OF his
genius, pouring oil upon the troubled waters of
dissenslon, amid the noise and confusion which
have elsewhere prevailed. As Massachusetts men,
we have been proud of the success of one so en-
phatically son of the people, and now, as he
returns from his labors and his victories to repose
awhile from the heat OF the great conflict for free
dom, we greet him with throbbng bosOms, and
tender him a heartfelt welcome. 1t gives me
great pleasure to introduce to this waiting multi.
tude the Hon. N P Banks, Jr., Speaker of the
United States House of Representatives
After the cheering consequent upon the men.
ton Of his name, had subsidized Mr. Banks, re.
sponded, substantially as follows -
MIR. BANKss SPEECH.
FeEoa0 C1ttzenS;-lt gives me pleasure 10 meet
here, at this moment, at this sudden call, so
many of the citizens of the Heart of the Com
monwealth. For this cordial manifestation of
your approval of my official acts l return my
warmest Acknowledgements. But | should do
you wrong, should wrong myself, if | refused
to give thanks to those who have aided and sup
ported me under trying circumstances owe to
my colleagues whatever of power ability have
been able to exercise. 1t is to their ability cour-
age, and fidelity, that have been Indebted for
whatever of merit or success have been enabled
to exhibit in the performance of my duties
We are here assembled without regard to past
party distinctions, or partzau feelings. Know
ing, as do, the unanimity of sentiment which
pervades this section of the Commonwealth that
there is no difference of opinion in regard to re-
cent transactions, in dis ant quarter of the
Union, l cannot too strongly urge the importance
of unanimity OF action Looking at the great con.
test for the freedom of a continent, implore you
to drop all personal and partizan preiudices and
devote your days, weeks, and months, TO bring
about the united expression of your feelings and
sentiments at the polls. Could you have seen
with what unanimity of feeling the people of an
other section of the country cling together on the
great question which agitates the public mind,
you would not for a moment think of separating
from each other, in your political action at such
a crisis this
You are already acquainted with what has
transplred IN the Congress of the United States
Those transactions are all familiar with you-they
all touch the very ibres OF your heart. There you
have seen imperllled the lives OF your own dele
gated representatives for their efforts toward the
maintenance of the institutions received from the
fathers for the establishment of which they laid
down all that was near al d dear.
In the Senate of the United States, the man
who was chosen TO represent YOU. DISTINGUISHED
beyond most men for those qualities which ad0rn
humanity or whchgo o strengthenthe republican
idea of mans capability for self-goyernment, in
other lands-this man, without previous notice
in ang uarded, cowardly manner for WORDS
spoken in defence Of your rights, your history
and your character has been stricken down TO
the very verge OF death That act was the most
lneHaole wrong ever committed the continent
OF America. 1t was an IneXpressible wrong and
outrage on the people OF the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts lie had represented you faith.
fully, and nobly, and TINS day you are deprived of
the privilege Of giving your testimony to the val
ue OF his services, by your plaudits of admin alton,
and OF hearing from his eloquent lips those words
OF counsel and cheer, which have often en-
chanted you.
Under these circumstances, there can be no ex-
cuse tor difference of action on our part in oppo
stion to the power which mpelled that grievOus
wrong Coming home, thus impressed with feel
ings Of the profoundest grief, that one of your
representatives, should be thus smitten down in
the legitimate exercise of freedom of debate,
L am on every hand met with the inquiry Can
we be longer separated by old Gisseutons and
preludices ?" 1t cannot and ought not to be- l
knew you would give such demonstration of
your position as would indicate that not by your
divisions, would you lose the opportunity Tim
pressing on the heart of theNorth American Con-
tinent, those sentiments OF loyalty to Liberty
which have distinguished the ancient Common
wealth of Massachusetts. l come to appeal to
you for united action-to induce the people of the
North to unite heart and hand and acttogether.
L would address to you this last word OF g Un-
ion, union for the honor of Massachusetts, I'm
ion among all the friends of freedom for the per-
manent establishment Of that Liberty transmitted
to us by our fathers, whether in the eastern or
western portion Of the continent of America ("
At the close of his speech, which occupied
about twenty minutes in the delivery, six cheers
were given for Mr.. Banks, with hearty good
will, after which, he retired, and soon took his
departure in barouche, with the committee,
and reiterated demonstrations of applause, for
the depot, at half past II clock.
SoUTHBRIDGE.-The Fremonters of Southbridge
held another great mass meeting on Thursday
evening last. John L. Swift, Esq, of Boston,
spoke to the people from a platform erected in
front of the Town Hall for more than two hours,
in his usual effective manner. The square in front
of the halw densely packed with people, and
there were several hundred ladies inside Of the