New-York daily tribune., 1857-04-25
AMERICAN DESTINY AND GRANDEUR.
SPEECH OF GEN. CALEB CUSHING.
On his Reception at Hewbuypor on THURSDAY ias''

hOpurs BY the cltiZebs Ol Nc"pui, w.t. ''"'''' N
occasion Of his retirement to private life, after
the tolls and honors of Mr. Perce's Cabinet.
Speeches and music welcomed him home, aud on
rising to reply he was greeted with long-contlnued
cheering. and the band saluied him with strain Of
Z" Hail TO the ChiG" When the applause had sub
sided, Mr.. Gushing proceeded:
Mr. President, and Hr. Chairman Of he COMMITTEE
Of Hcccptior feel overw helmed with the sense OF the
confidence that have respectively been pleased 10
express in my humble public services. know tna'
whatever am, whatever may be capable oi BE-
q, urc 10 YOU 10 nv fellow citizens here, Is due the
testimonial Of my cordial my unehsngng, my deepest
expression of gratitude. would gladly close my ears
TO those over kind manifestations OF your regard out
H. feel that the sentiments you express, ana 'he
sympathy you are pleased to manifest IN me- are ypu
uropertv You have a right 10 say It, and humoiy
accent your wishes that l may prove capable OF
properly responding in such OF fe God may vouch-
safe to me. for the confidence and regard wh'cn,
through YOU has been expressed by my teowcitlzens
OF the City Of NewburypOrt.
Fellow-citjzens erect vou one and all with emo
tions Of heartfelt and sincere affection and respect
You have willed that my return hi'her aitsf an So-
of four years oi political functions' shOuu oe
public in the assembled peoples presence and II was
your right 10 determine; for you have been 10 me-
through successive stages off not uneventiu liewei
wshers always candid judges opinion and OF action
even where differed and Jealous trends IN many
q
word. the kind home-companons Of my ohlldhood'
youthhood and manhood. Invitation from you mas
the double force of command to be obeyed IN duntli
gratitude and of summons to the enJoyment oi eA'
quise qualification. now therefore, appear among
you TO recprocate your friendly salutations to renew
suspended associations and thus again TO become re-
sident citizen Of Newburyport Great applausel
Standing here, on this familiar spot with all these
wel-known faces before me, and in the sight OF od
homestead objects il 70 that our natal EARN
il n part Of our intellectual and moral being; that
though we be not vsiby attached to H. stl the roo's
Of our hearts penetrate down deep INTO H. ana
thus while far away, we continue IKE the iast
oak itself to draw nOurishment and vigor from tnc
same fresh brcezes and bright skies, and fair hill
sides aud clear streams. where life began; and that
roam over the world as will, mysterious ties OF
birthplace remain strong upon us tendencies OF ioca,
attraction as fixed as in the loadstone-lnstlncts OF
"reminiscences which carry back to early scenes the
mounting spirit as irresstibly as unerrngly az the
carrier pigeon flies over land and sea To ts lost nome
One feels this in whatever distant countries ttuau'
tempter nav place him. he feels II still more, when az
now after long absence he comes to reread the paths
of youth and TO bathe anew, as were, IN the sun
light of other days and finds himself reanmated oy IT,
and fortified for the further trials OF life like the p
rrns to the fountain of juveAescence, or the wrestling
Titan az he regained his mother earth
do not pretend to say that such local attachments
are ALWAYS well placed They not They are SEN
timents not neutrality-suspicious. on the mlnd
rather than external acts-or in far as fact they are
not the result of the action OF circumstances on the
mental and physical constitution. But where, IN the
broad limits of the Union shall we hnd ioVener re-
eion than this our valley of the Merimac beginning
with its geld ounts in the lofty gorges OF the hte
Mountains traversing the beautiful lake OF Winnipl,
seogee. flowing on from waterfall 10 waterial, an'u
all the riches OF nature and OF industry ana coming
TO por forth its accumulated volume of waters here
into the outspread bosom of the great Atlantic And
is there not that in ii which breeds true men ana
women-ay, the hardy fruit OF the teemng IONS ol
pure and good mothers-satesmen, soldiers, orators,
1, and --rnna afnfl
Of Circumstance, alike on earth or ocean-wth heads
of wit TO conceive and will TO act such as the service
Of nations requires We will cherish the fertile valley
Of the Merrimac
Magma frugum
II the object of no misplaced affection Ii merits
attachment, D well for what 1t Is IN all nature
gifts as for the strong minded and strong ghsnded race
of men which ii has produced and sustained. VI the
living it invidious to speak; but OF the DEAD
rames of the of Massachusetts, and New-Hamp-
shire spontaneously rise TO the memory familiar on
our ipS as household words, enrolled for immortality
in the brightest pages Of the annals OF the Republic.
nier 10 YOU my warmest thanks, then, that here
you welcome me back TO the lap of my own mother
earth in the midst of kindred loved and friends cher
hed here 10 rest from of State and TO halt as
il were on the wearisome journey OF life. Cheers
ON well content that il should be so. Men seek
or take power in obedience 10 instincts Of nature
as mperious hunger and thirst. The pursuit oil
fame OF participation in great concerns-the endeavor
To win distinction to act on the minds OF our fellow
men-he hope that our names will be honored In hfe
and live after us-a these are outbursts OF the ethe'
real spirit within usyearnings OF mmOrtalty-which,
if in excess sometimes not the less the potential i'm
pulses 10 the performance of noble and vrtuous deeds
Without power to do good we cannot do It, and the
possession Of power is the first and the necessary step
To larger social usefulness The speaker the writer the
doer-he who propagates thought or passion from the
pulpit the forum, the tribune the press or the
teachers chair-he who commands armies, leads
senates rules cabinets, or administers government
l. d,a.n he xbo
enterprses Of commerce manufactures-tO all those
il has become apparent that the mind Is hight which
gives no light unless il may manifest ITS capabilities IN
words or acts-unless, attans position 10 when 70
operate which constitutes practical power but with
the power to do the responsibility and the soci-
tude which attend 1.-THE malice Of interests shocked
of aspirations crossed, and of rivalries excited IN
word the disenchantments OF power We md ltS ad,
vantages and its disadvantages, its alurements and
s reIulsons so nicely balanced that we take II up
with less and less of eagerness, and lay down with
more and of calmness, at each alternate changs
in the ycissudcs OF the most prosperous pubic
career. Such at least, are my own renscuon anu
observation. ~
will not disturb the confidence Of this grateful oc-
casion by discussion Of any subject Of controversy
return into the State Of Massachusetts 10 resume my
place in the rapks with resentments to prosecute,
no rancors 10 indulge importunate remembrances
Of injury OF disappointment.
II il said that some not over-amia6e persons re-
proach with want of unbroken continuity OF party
relation which odd enough, in view OF all the chas-
sc- cro,sc- steps of party in day with few emin-
entity conspicuous public nen who have stood in one
and the same attitude all their lives.
1t is said also that other hypocritca persons impute
TO NE tolerance for of different shades OF opinion
regarding the political theories of the moment BE It
So On be high road OF public life strewn broad
cast the miserable fragments Of party doctrines, shat
tered by oyer-sran like the dead mules and broken
down wagons IN the treck Of sn advancing retreat
inc amy. Th-orems Of mathematical precision are
good in books of geometry but not in the conduct OF
great afairs Men of action the masters, not the
slave. of doctrine What the world needs demands,
ri Iii hnr /, mnre of nnnc;nal stnfesmanshp and