The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-12-25
rus ADDRESS POEM,

va ht'tfeus hsNtiiix
rus ADDRESS --PogN.
AT eight O'Clock, the company pre~ent as
sembled in the gcntlemans parlor of the hotel.
NJ. +. ANEs called the assembly TO order,
and introduced Rev MIR. SEcoMsE, who read an
appropriate passage from the Bible.
Rev. Mr.. NEIL. addressed the Throne Of
Gracr inan eloquent and impressive manner.
Mr.. AAKs then introduced JONI u. SAN.
BORN, Esq, who had been induced to supply
Judge SHERpuRSE's place the latter gentleman
being very uuwell.
Mr. SANBoRN was received with applause,
and proceeded % deliver tbs following address:
Gsa,iemea Of the Ner England Society. and
Feiiac Chi.ens:
The circumstances under which rise 20 ad.
dress yon. are peculiarly embarrassing.
Most of you have come here to night antici
pating the pleasure OF lisiening TO an address
from poe, whose pres:or merely would CON
mand more respect and attention, and afford
you more satisfaction than any words, that
can utter. or thoughts that can express. And
it can bu, be expected that the knowledge
suddenly impaired that you arr TO be deprived
of the enjoyment which an address from the
Hon. President oil the Society, would have af-
tor,led, will create feeling of disappointment
perhaps OF dstas,c. and dlsrelish to the exerci.
ses of this pleasing and interesting occasion
Aud were it not for the TACT, that the event we
commemorate, is OF such nature Us TO draw
oil our minds. almost entirely, from the pres.
en,, to conuect our thoughts, sympathies, and
happiness with what is distant in place aud
time. should shrink from the task. 80 inoppor.
timely imposed upon me, Of addressing you at
this Festival. The thoughts, too, that the
mind ofa New England man suggest on the
anniversary OF the Landing of the Pilgrims,
have been spoken so frequently from W many
places on SD great variety OF occasons.--in
the Halls OF LEGISLATION, from the Pulpit, in
the School Room. around the Domestic hearth,
On anniversary and festal occasions, have
been SO woven into the national literature Ot
our country, that they have become 10 the New
England car--to the American car--as iamil'
lar a. household words.
In regard to the character. virtues, and sul-
fcrings OF the Pilgrims. Poetry has performed
her most sacred Office, and Eloqucnce has
breathei its most fascinating and pr0udest
strains. And those thoughts must be Of extra
ordinary interest, which, often repeated, do not
become old and unwelcome.
Descendants OF the Pilgrims, and those who
have been recipients Of the blessings secured by
their Iabors, efforts, bardships and sufIerngs,
though far away from the spot where they
landed, W. have assembled here 10 night, 10
recall To mind their virtues, TO express our
gratitude for what they have done Tor oar hap.
piness, aud Ia cndeayor TO :ie TO some just
conception OF the magnitude 81 the event Of
their landing upon thc~e shores.
The events and causes which conspired to
drive our fathers IRON their native land, are 80
familiar 10 you all, that the time spent in repe-
tition Of them, would h. spent in vain. Nearly
a century before the embarcation Of the Phi.
erm., there were those in the English realm
who claimed the right Of private inquiry and
judgmeat in Hll matters OF religious faith The
opinions oi these 50 cousonant with reason, 80
consistent with the teachings Of nature, spread,
I'LL a, the accession Of Edward vi. they be-
carn.. established in England, and ,hose germs
received iin which al length divided the Eng.
lish people and il is not too much to say that
that germ received life from which has sprung
that liberty which We nov ENJOY with its ten
thousand attendant blessings No other seD-
t,nlen, Of the human heart is 20 strong, M that
OF the love Of religious liberty. Ii II indeed
true that the attachment ol tnan 10 civil and
political freedom, when understanding fully the
blessings which are secured thereby, is mex
prvssably strong But pot ~ strong that be-
NAV not be induced by iavof-. Or driven by
fears. 10 suDd,r those attachments uBd r,iD.
anish ,hosc blcssing.. Not 80 with bis love OF
religious liberty Wien once this natural
seutiment has developed ITSELF and taken pos
session 81 the human mind no iavofs which
princes or people can bss,ow. can induce man to
cast II or aud no fears OF any Punishment. and
no punishment, itself. that ibr mind can invent.
will drive man to lis reiinqa.bment. Hence,
the Puriisus. although ~ TUNES encouaiering
the ferecst oppoetion from the Crown and
Government, and what wa. tar worse, the OPP
position of that ancient church. which dates its
origin back 10 the ,ineJ when the smoke u
Saeriirr. rose irom the Pantheon. at the time
Of the Pariians, Operating with, ADD part OF
the Goyernment--s although both oi these ele
mealts oi opposition combined 10 drive the
principles Of the i'uri,ans from the realm. and
did ina,et ssv.rcst pn1ishmeots upon tbo-e who
eutrrtaned iheri--deatb itself 10 It's most
painful forms, by burning with slow lr-
a. the stake. ~ 10 the case oi Hooper.
and Rogers, and did parsaue those who
entertained the principles Of the I'ariiahs. with
I Gre and swofd wherever they vent, yef they
eossl IN no via injnee them IN relnqgish their
I Ioye u religions liberty, OF aba'e one ~, o!
their gal to propagate tho-H prIocipics, which