New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-19
ANMTER SAPf OF FRAEkLfrS BIRTH
Day
CELEBRATION BY TIE ~ Y TYPOGRAPH-
ICAI SOCIETY

Thursday evening, BY ball and banquet nj the Chy
Assembly Rooms, under the auspices Of the New
Yok typographical Society the proceeds of the en-
ter snment being appropriated for the benefit OF The
Printer, Free Library, which has been closed during
the past three months owing to the want OF funds.
The attendance on the occasion unusually large,
the spacious Assembly Rooms being crowded.
TIE dancing commenced at O'Clock and continued
until 10. o'clock, when the company proceeded into
tie banquet rocm where the tables had been arranged
for the accommodation of six hundred guests. All the
seats were occupied.
The Divine blessing was invoked by the Rev. DR..
sPYScKR.
When the collation. had been duly discussed, the
Hen. BENJAMIS +. BrILER, who had consented to
rr, .ide on the OCCASION was introduced TO the COM
pany. Mr.. Butler said:
] caunot take this chair without rendering to the
membols OF the Sew-York Typographical Society my
bet thanks for the honor done by the invitation 20
prt side occasion OF much interest TO them ana
to their profession. shall spend no part Of the little
time allowed to me, in giving utterance 10 these
thanks; brit with yvnr pems sion, vii! use N speak
ing Of the objects and motives OF the present ceebTa'
ton. These are twofold. You desire, on this ami
yersary of the biriL Of Benjamin Franklin, 10 testify
the grateful remembrance in which. as his fellow
craftsmen-as Amcricans-as men-you cherish the
name and Character The genius and achievements OF
the who stsnds at the head of ustrous printers,
applau.c, because he stands among the hrst IN the
h.tory ef hs race. H. strict accordance with his pre-
ceJts and example, you would tura the occasion -
practical account; you would make II the means
Of doing good. ard this, too, in way Beautifully ap-
propriae. Franklin l2' years ago. founded IN fhia-
dephia the frst subscription library in America lAp.
plause You have had in operation, tor several years
past. 1.-THE Printers Free Library" with Reading
Ioom aplause, for the benefit not only OF The men,
ber Of your Society, but for the use Tree OF charge
of all pefsons any way connected with the mechan
cal branches Of the newspaper and book business
This establishment you have specially designed for the
benefit Of young and other. wh9 have not tine 10
vist the A-tOr Library when OPEN MOI procure
access 10 the ordinary circulating Libraries, and who,
but for the resource furnished by free library and
readng.ruem, may otherwise be drawn to places
where they would neither get good TO themselves nor
learn the ait of doing good to Others Applausel'
Money is now needed TO meet the current expenses
Of the Library; and you wish to avail yourseve, OF
generous offer made by one-aready distinguished "a
It, chief bcnefsctor, to contrbute u, 900 toward
uf,manent fund OF $4,000. conditioned ON the contri-
button BY other Of the remaining 50 900. The receipts
OF this evening beyond the expenses incurred Ia your
festivities are to be applied to these current expenses
II is hoped that they will be sufficient to keep opea the
rooms for the ensuing year; and 1t Is also hoped
hat this nights proceedings will give to the larger
movement an impulse which will insure its success
lApplauso. This enterprise is 20 obviously night
and laudable that little need be said to commend
il to general sympathy. II has claims on every
publisher and every other employer in any OF the
branches Of industry connected with the Press Nor
on these only; but citizens Of every class. In
deed, every reader Of books or newspapers should
take pleasure in helping to provide for the nstruc
ton and entertainment of those, who, by their daly
toll contribute 20 much TO their instruction and enter
tainment. BY many motives, oil might be urged TO
this duty-on the present occasion one only need be
named We should perform Il with chccrfulnoes and
aCcrity act of h0nor-of reverence-of graft
tude-to the memory of BENJAMIN Frankin APP
pausel. on him, what can ssy which has not been
already said or tell which j. not already known
The story Of his life by his inimablc pen, Is, and
ever will be, fresh in our memories; and W. have but
TO glance al the programme Of your festival, to see 1t
rcproducod by the art Of the engrayer, to our eyes,
aud through them 10 our magnations and our hearts
Applause This is not the time for extended remark;
aud will, therefore, cOnfine myself to two scenes in
yonr pictorial bograph- the hr'' a"d the Got he
PLAYMATE. building, for their common use-but with
mnteIial token without leave or rght-s wharf at the
Mil Pond. Ii may well remind Us OF the great truth
taught him by the lips and the rod OF hls Puritan father
u Truth which politicians and statesmen are ever
prone TO forget-which even Christian philosophers
have not always remsmbered-but which lies al the
foundation OF all wise and right policy in every depart.
uent OF active life, and which Franklin never failed
to ncucste-'' That nothing which is not truly honest
is truly useful iappsusel. The latter represents
him a. one of the Committee OF the Congress Of rs,
on the Defamation Of Independence. Jefferson Is its
Chairman; Adams, Franklin, Sherman and Livingston
are bis a--Ociatos. What combination Talent,
knowledge aud experience-the flaming zeal OF youth
tile rpeuod wisdom of age. Franklin already past
oLer az belts their years, stand before them Jeifer-
SOB Youngest but of the group, reads the draft OF
his Immortal declaration. Il sewers AZ once and forever
the Thirteen Colonies from the British Crown asserts
their title, b. free and independent states, 10 their
eaual place AMONG the nations Of the earth; aud pro-
claims for humanity, in all time to come, its inalien-
able right, lapplausel Many causes contributed,
many events combined, many individuals intention
ally otherwise l,bored, first to prevent, then to
delay, and then to bring about the separation of the
AIacrican colonies from the mother country. Sooner
or later L must Lave taken place. But II Il not too
much 20 say that could not have occurred when,
and a. il did. had Franklin been wanting Applause
The aggressive measures which led to the revolution
hegan IN 1868, and without the prompt and earnest
OPPOSITION Of that day aud the continued struggle OF
the sext twelve YEAR, the nation could not have been
prcrared for the final ,tep-nvoving, a. of nece sslty
i did the inevitable evil. and the uncertain issues OF
d civil war. In all tbs preparatory Work FRANKLIN
was active aud prominent in many essential respects
the INST active, prominent and influential Of the pub
lie men Of hi day. Many other men there were OF
the two next generations in each Of the colonies
Otis ara Henry. Jefferson aud the Adamses, and their
nlustious conpatriots-who from the very hrst,
took part in this work, and were being hted.
from wear 20 year, by the discipline through
which they were scyerally passing, to be called,
in due time. TO exalted positions in the
council in the field; and to one OF them was to be
awarded by the unanimous voice of his coempo-aros
ard the impartial judgment OF pcstety, the name and
honors Offaiter Of his Country But at the passage
Of the Stamp Act many OF them had but just come
upon the stage of active life and Others though ma
ture il years. in the prime Of manhood, were little
known beyond The Colonies to which they respectively
belonged. Even Washington, already famous IN
America and lot unknown in Europe could do little
in tho early part Of tins period toward leading the
American people 10 he decisive sep and no one OF
them had 9brCad the JOsOn the influence 10 bnngto
their country in the hour of trial the support or favor OF
foreign powers or pnIces Not 80 with fraHkhn' Al
vancod II years endowed with double measure
nf common -tL-e and praGtical talent experienced