Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1857-01-02
Mi5trIlunpous heuNinQ.
New England Socitey of New York.

New England Socitey of New York.
The telegraph has given the principle features
of the 5lst anniversary dinner of the New
England Society of New York. at the Aston
House, on Monday evening. By the full
reports, we learn that the occasion was
one OF much pleasure to all the participants
The sentiment to the faithful and devoted Ia
bors of the New England clergy, was happi-
ly responded to by Rev. DR.. Storrs, of the
Pilgrim church, Brooklyn. The sentiment
to which Col. Benton responded was as fol-
! lows:
| The United States of America, our country,
our whole country-New England contrbu-
ted the wisdom of her statesmen and the val
or of her soldiers to establish the fouuda-
ton OF our liberty and our Union; she will
withhold neither the wisdom of her states
men nor the yalor of her soldiers to preserve
them.
| Mr. Benton was exceedingly happy in his
response. After paying some handsome COM
pliments to the ladies present, referring to
the influence his mother had exertcd in mold
ing his character, the speaker alluded to the
courage and wisdom of the New Englanders
IN the revolution, aud referred to his visit in
this section as follows:
81 have gone through New England. nv
i iellow-citizens, and for "a purpose which
need not explain here The occasion does not
require 1t. L have gone through New Eng
land, during thirty days; / have gone
far down East, and have seen masses of pco-
ple-secn them in their houses-conversed
with them and become acquainted with them,
and will say that am qualified by expert
ence to answer to the last clause of the toast
which pledges New England patriotism, New
England courage and New England sasacity
Tor the maintenance of this Union. | am
qualified to youch, so far as the feeble voice
OF such person as [ am can vouch. for the
whole it. cloud applause) regret, fel-
low-ctlzcns, that inclination or duty, or cir
cumstances, do not compel us of the two
halves OF the Union to mingle more with
each other. (Applause)
l wish that all those of the South who are
charged with the administration of public
affairs, could 90 through New England as |
have done, meeting these people in masses
meeting them casually in the cars-iuyited
to their houses-wclcomed to their hospitali-
ties, and treated with kindness and affcc-
ton which will be to me soace to the last
moment OF my existence. (Applause.) |
wish that Others could do as have done in
that regard. If ! had been in Congress at
the time when our Representatives. voted
themselves salaries, should have proposed
an amendment-that as we were becoming
salaried officers, and We're paid for the whole
year, we should be on service the whole year
and that the service should commence imme-
diatcly on election, and in this way; that
every man who is elected in the North, should
Immediately proceed to the South, and stay
there until Congress meets, and that every
one elected in the South should come to the
North, and stay there until Congress meets.
daughter and applause.) They would come
together with Il better knowledge of each 9th
cr, and, am well assured, with better dis
position to harmonize together. If any
Southerner with notions of disunion in his
head. will 20 to New England, will give
security that if he sees the young women
there as saw them, his head will be brim-
full of union before he gets back. Uaugh-
ter and applause.)
To the other parts of the Union she scnds
educated young men to instruct our youths,
pious and learned parsons to fiji our pulpits,
learned men in every walk of life, and artis
last, yet among the useful and
honorable of the whole. New England has
done that, and /, who have been through
sterile fields and examined into everything
have found everywhere an abundance, hos
pitality, comfort of living with which l
was before unacquainted. | have gone
through their factories, from top to bottom.
and have been astonshed at the perfection of
their machinery. | have sometimes asked
them whether they did not get their machine
ry from Old England-knowing | was put
ting them on their mettle, for they send their
inventions to old England instead of borrow
ing from them-lnd they would answer -
''No, sir, We do all this ourselves But
there was something which astonished me
more even than the perfection of their ma
chinery. 1t was the cleanliness which per-
vaded every department. 1t was the ample
well ventlate room in summer, and well
warmed in winter. 1t was the neat and
comely appearance of the operatives, both
male and female. 1t was that which struck
me. 1t was my business to converse with
all. | conversed with the young women who
are engaged in the factories (somc laughter
and | found them attractive and comely,
modest without being bashful, of easy con-
iidence without assurance, ready in CONVEX
sation without 'forwardness, and of great
intelligence. l went to their boarding
houses, and there all my ideas were reversed !;
for had before me the picture of the oper-
atives as they are in England, living in
small, narrow confined, uncomfortable build
ings, stinted for food and clothing. On the
contrary, found these operatives-I think
| may say without disparagement to any,
body here-as comfortably and handsomely
situated as members of Congress- are in
Washington city. Qaughter.) They live
in large, stately, elegant houses, and you
enter in the same manner us you enter a par
lor in Washington. You ring the bell and
wait till the girl comes and opens it. Y IL
are shown into the parlor, where you sec
the same kind of furniture as you will find
in Congressman boarding house in Wash
ington city You sit down and inquire for
whom you want. 1t was near dinner hour
when went up to one of these houses, and
| carried my curiosity SO far as to ask the
mistress of the house to take me into the
cooking department and show me how she
cooked. Uaughter.) She said she was ta-
ken unawares, and was not prepared for it.
| said that that was exactly the thing I
wanted l wanted to see as it was every day.
Without more ado she opened the door and
led me in, and there was cooking going on
in room so neat that lady might sit there
and carry on her sewing or ornamental work.
This was the condition in which found the
houses of the operatiyes and to all these