Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-10-11
PRESIDENT PIERCE At HOME.
His Reception by the Democracy of the Gran.
lite State---The Presidents Speech.

His Reception by the Democracy of the Gram
tie state---The Presidents Speech.
CONCORD, N. H., Thursday, Oct. 2.
President Pierces political admirers and personal
friends since the vote of the citizens refusing pup
lie ovation, have been active, and the result was
fair degree of success in numbers and enthusiasm.
Many buildings on Main street were decorated ana
numerous flags aoated in the breeze The prlncipai
decorative feature was an arch trimmed with ever
greens bearing on one side the motto, New hatnp-
shire welcomes home her iavorite son, and on the
reverse eve welcome the President OF Thirty lone
States" .
President Pierce stopped at the house of friend
last night, where lie met by General Peasiee
and few other select friends He came to TINS CITY
from Nashua under the escort of the Amoskeag
Veterans of Manchester.
He arrived shortly before noon, and was received
with immense cheering.
He was met at the depot by Committee OF Ar
ranoemcnts when he mounted handsome horse,
in readiness, and was escorted by numerous cav
alcade of horsemen lie rode hareheaded, and bow
ed his acknowled to the cheers which greet.
ed him on every side Probably the procession and
crowd, lining the streets, would number over twelve
thousand.
Large delegations from Portsmouth, Manchester,
Nashua, Cheshire County, Bristol, Caremont, and
other parts Of the State, to attend his reeep-
ton Decga atoms from Boston, also, and its vc'n''
", were present, tfluiIcTiuso wv w UNIV
sand Several of the delegations were escorted by
the military with bands of music. The display OF
banners flags, notices, &c, was brilliant and lmpo-
sing.
About o'clock the procession and crowd assem-
bed on the square in front of the State House, when
the President was welcomed by cordial ana eio-
quent address by John II. George.
The President, on rising to respond, was hailed
with the greatest enthusiasm by the vast crowd
The following are the Presidents remarks:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN AND FELLOW CITIZENS: beg you
to accept my grateful Acknowledgements for this gra-
cious and agreeable reception. That my ncghbors
should gather around me on my return was to be
expected but that such an assemblage should come
from all parts of the State to bid me welcome, L
did not anticipate. One feels painfully on an occa-
sion like this the poverty of language Indeed
know not how to respond to such greeting.
Friends of my youth and ofmy mature years, you
may be sure that appreciate this evidence of your
unalienated and true regard and that shall cher
ish it while live as tribute dear to my heart.
Your illusions, my true and cherished friend, lad
dressing Mr.. George to the past are full of sad
ness left this State bowed by the irreparabe loss
and sorrow of my life. Since that time the dear
friends to whom you have so touchingly adverted
while in the vigor of manhood and at the height of
their usefulness have passed from the oftime
But these sad memories gather too fast and my emo
tons too strong to trust myself in this dill ectlon
am glad to be surrounded by personal friends of
different political parties, who have for many years
commanded my confidence and regard. But if it
were otherwise should not offend your sense of
propriety my own, by mngling with what have
to say single sentence which might net we'll be ad
dressed at any time or place to all men who love
their country and revere the Constitution. Indeed
returning to you as do, with no new sentiments
or opinions upon leading political TOPICS have
thing to justify or explain. Wherever in public
ton, principles firmly established and we'll defined
in my own mind have led have unhesitatingly fol-
lowed, relying for the approval of my policy and
acts upon the judgment of my countrymen. When
the acerbity and disturbing influences of present
party strife shall have passed away, whether this
pectation shall be fully realized or not, I quite
sure that 10 honest and intelligent citizen of New
Hampshire will doubt that my public conduct has
been controlled by none other than big and patri-
otto motives
While, my fellow-citizens, it is great pleasure
to meet you it is pleasure, the realization OF which
might have deferred, but the necessity of my pres
ence here before the 4th of March, was such that
could not disregard it, and was compelled to
suit, in relation to the time of my VISIT not my
convenience but the obligations of duty, which you
in conjunction with the mass of my countrymen
had imposed upon me- But why should speak of
this2 Are comparative strangers to the people of
New Hampshe-men who have not personal ac-
quaintance with one hundred ofthe assembage now
present-men who have never sacrificed for their
country in their whole lives one hour of ease-who
have never encountered and who never expect to
counter the slightest of danger for its honor and its
rights, TO dictate when and under what circumstan-
ces it is proper for to breathe my native air and
tread my native soil? have answered this qucs-
ton to-day by my presence, and you have answered
it by meeting me here.
At time when our relations with all foreign pow
ers are essentially pacific, and when our domestic
and internal advancement and prosperity is regard
ed by other nations almost fabulous, it is lament
able to and be compelled to admit that there is
sectional spirit in the land, counseng hatred and
all uncharitableness, and which threatens at this
moment to rock the Union to the centre. If l have
given countenance to it any extent or in any degree
at any time, / have unquestionably made broad
departure from the lessons of that vencrated parent
to whose revolutionary services and subsequent ca
reer you have been pleased to advert. But to such
a charge have no occasion to answer, and shall
never have by the entire record of my public life -
With reference to any change in my sentiments or
opinions, ought, perhaps, to make single quali6ca
tion. 1t has been said that the universal tendency
of the age is to conservatism. believe it to be so.
1t is certainly true that regard with less and less
all extremes of opinions and all RASH
ness in action.
deprecate more and more whatever is calculated
to excite contention between our own government
and foreign powers, toprovoke alienation between
the people of different States different sections of
this confederation, and desire, with daily in
creasing earnestness to passion and prejudice,
and all partizan emotion give place to calm judgment,
to patriotism, and to fraternity and regard among
the citizens of the Republic, which shall ackno~l-
edge no limits less comprehensive than the whole
country. To this kind Of conservatism invite you.
l am no alarmist l am not here to proclaim dam
GER My hope and faith in the Constitution and in
the permanence of the institutions which it uphods
is strong but with knowledge of the weakness of
poor human nature, and with the light Of history
cast upon our path, certainly need not warn you
that the loss Of the great blessing which you now
enjoy is not impossible -
L conjure you, citizens of New Hampshire, while
you dwell with grateful emotion upon your present