Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-11-05


to the fond caress of one whose ear is at this
moment bent in anxious watching for the
earliest warning of his approach, that he
may there recover, not only from his past
Illness but from the present excitement and
the tatigues of travel. At present our kind
est attentions will consist in scrupulously
avoiding exacting intrusons.
10 you, sir, again, in the name of our glo-
rlous old Commonwealth, extend cordial
welcome
Mr.. Sumner replied briefly, amid the breath
less attention of the whole assembly. He
| spoke the first few sentences which follow
and then remarked tina, the rest of what he
wished to say he should be obliged to omit.
but would hand it to the reporters for pub
LEGATION in the papers. The following is his
| address:
May it please your Excellency:
1t Is pleasant to behold once more the ia
miliar places of home-the State House.
the Common aud well known streets. It is
still more pleasant, to behold the countenan-
ces of friends. And all this pleasure is in
creased still more by the welcome which you
| now give me, in behalf of the beloved Com
monwealth, which for five years have serv-
| ed honestly, earnestly and constantly in an
important field of duty, where l was placed
by an unsought suffrage. Sir, l thank you
| for this welcome. I thank, also, the distin-
| gulshed gentlemen, who honor the occasion
| with their company. / thank, too, my fellow
citizens, all who now in uncounted multi.
tudes, give me the succor and strength of their
sympathies = and my soul overffows, especi-
| ally to the young men Of Boston, out of whose
hearts, as from an exuberant fountain, this
broad-spreading hospitality takes its rise.
My earnest DESIRE often expressed, has
been that might be allowed to return home
| quietly, without show or demonstration of
any kind. And this longing has been en-
forced by my physical condition, which though
vastly improved at the time, and advancing
surely, 10 complete health, is still exposed to
the peril OF relapse. at least to the arrest of
those kindly processes of nature essential to
the restoration of a shattered system. But
the spontaneous kindness of this reception
makes me forget my weakness-makes me
forget my desire for repose.
More than five months have passed since I
was disabled from the performance of my
| public duties. During this weary period, l
have been constrained to repeat daily the les
son of renunciation-confined at first to my
bed, and then only slowly regaining the pow
er even TO walk. But beyond the constant,
lrrepressible grief which must well up in the
| breast OF every patriot as he dscerns the pres.
ent condition of his country, my chief sor-
row has been caused by the necessity to which
L was doomed, of renouncing all pasT in the
contest for human rights, which, beginning
IN Congress, has since enyeloped the whole
land The Grecian chief, previously ill of a
wound from the stealthy bite of snake, and
lett behind while his companions sailed to the
siege OF Troy, did not repine more at his en-
forced seclusion. From day to day, and week
| to week, vainly sought that health which
we value most only when lost, and which
now perpetually eluded my grasp. For health
strove; for health | prayed. With uncer-
tam steps sought it az the sea. shore and l
| sought it on the mountain-top.
Two voices there one is Of the sea,
Gne o. tne mountains each mighty voice;
In both from age to age thou didst rejoice,
. They were thy chosen music, Liberty.
hstened to the admonitons of medical skill,
and courted all the bracing influences of ma
ture, while Time passed without the accus-
toned healing of its wings. l had confident
| ly hoped to be restored so as to take my seat
in the Senate, and to be heard there again long
before the session closed. But Congress ad-
| Journed, leaving me still an invalid. My
next hope was that l might be permitted to
appear before the people during the present
canvass, and with heart and mind plead the
| great cause which is now in issue. But here
again l have been disappointed and the
thread of my disability is not yet spun to
the end. Evensnow, though happily lifted
from 10 lsg PrsstrsSn and 81 h sssaifb ~
constrained to confess that am still an inva-
Ad-cheered, however, by the assurance that
shall soon, with unimpaired vigor, be per
mltted to resume all the responsibilities of my
| position.
100 much have l said about myself but
| you will pardon it to the occasion, which, be-
| ng personal in its character, invites these
| personal confessions. With more pleasure /
turn to other things.
1should feel that failed in one of those
duties which the heart prompts and the iudg-
ment confirms, If l allowed the first oppor.
t9nity to pass without the sincerest acknowl-
eogmehts to my able, generous and faithful
colleague, Mr.. Wilson. Together we labored
IN mutual trust, honorably leaning upon each
other. By my disability he was left the sole
representative of Massachusetts, on the floor of
the Senate, throughout months of heated con.
TEST involving her good name and her most
cherished sentiments. All who watched the
currents OIL debate, even as imperfectly as 1
ulo IN my distant retirement, know with what
readiness, courage, and power, he acted
showing himself, by his extraordinary ener-
GEES equal to the extraordinary occasion. But
II belongs TO me particularly to reco gnize his
uhialllng sympathies tor myself and his man.
hour.
am not here to indulge in eulogy, nor to
open any merit roll of service but the same
Ieeing which prompts these ACKNOWLEDGMENT
70 my colleague, embraces also the Common
wealth from Which we have received our trust.
10 massachusetts,, mother of us all-great in
resources, great in ehildren-I now pledge
anew my devotion. Never before did she in
spire equal PRIDE and affection for never be-
lore was she so completely possessed by those
sentiments, which, when manifest in COM
monwealth or citizen, invest the character
win It's highest charm, so that what is sown
natural body is raised spiritual body. NV
maj love does not claim too much when il
EXHIBITS her as approaching the pattern of
Christian Commonwealth, which. according
70 the great English Republican, John Mil
ton' fought to be but as one huge Christian
parsonage one mighty growth and stature of
an honest man, as big and compact in virtue
as IN BODY. Not through any worldly tri.
umphs not through the vaults of State
street., the spindles Of Lowell, or even the
learned endowments of Cambridge, is Massa.
setts thns but because seeking to extend
everywhere within the sphere of her influence
the benign civilization which she eultiyates at
nome-she stands forth the faithful, unse-
duced supporter of human nature. Wealth
mas Its splendor and the intellect has its glory
out therel is grandeur in such a service,
when Is ABOVE all that these Gun supply. For
TINS she has already the regard of good men.
and viii have the immortal life of his history.
FOR this she has also the reproach and con.
tumely, which throughout all ages have been
DOurpd hos he