The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-12-24
Speech Of Gov. Walker,

speech o. Gov. Walker.
At the late dinner OF the st. Nicholas
Society in New York. on Monday night, the
Hon. X. j. WALKER Of Kansas was present.
The Times thus reports his speech:
The seventh toast" the Union was
drank amid enthusiastic cheers, which were
followed by calls for Walker"
A Noioe-"Three cheers for Walker. y
loud cheers.)
SPEECH OF GOV. Il. }. WALKER.
Mr.. Walker rose and said:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen The honor
has most Unexpectedly been devolved upon
me Of responding TO the toast which be-
lleve is universally given by the patriotic
st. Nicholas Society, in favor Of the Amer
lean Union. Cries Of hear, hear" and
applause. Although, gentlemen, most sud
denly, and most unexpectedly called upon to
respond to this toast, this is theme which
might well raise the emotions and sympa-
thies not only of American citizens, but of
the whole human race 1t is one which men
and nations might discuss, and upon which
angels even might look down from their ce-
lestial spheres and rejoice with us over the
gories accomplished thus far by the Ameri-
can Union. Cheers But, gentlemen. great
and glorious as il il, let us all take care that
in our day and in our generation, nothing
shall he done by any Of Us by which, in the
slightest degree, this great Uni ion, which
has accomplished already in less than three
quarters Of q century, so much for our be-
loved country, and SO much for the hopes Of
mankind, shall ever, by any of our acts or
any OF our sentiments, be placed in the
slightest peril. Let US ever remember, gen
tlement, that this American Union of ours
Is the best, the brightest, perhaps the last
experiment Of selfgovernment. And as it
shall by US he maintained and peri etuated
or broken and dissolved, so shall the light of
liberty shine upon the hopes of mankind or
he forever extlnguished amid the SCOTS of
exnlting tyrants and groans of worldly
bondage. Loud cheers.
But, gentlemen, let US also recollect tina,
there is a great principle which lies at the
base Of the American Union that princ-
pie for which our fOrefathcrs fought through
the war of the revolution, and for which We,
their descendants, have contended from that
moment down to the present moment to
maintain. That principle. which not only
lies at the basis Of that Union, but at the
basis Of all our institutions, is the principle
of selfgovernment. Prolonged cheers. 1t
is the principle that the people, in every
State Of this Union, and in those inchoatc
~ which from tori tal mn
piage, begin TO ascend into the constellation
Of American States, when they form their
first constitution, shall. with you. the young
est and the eldest of the American States,
enjoy the principles Of elfgovernment.--
Loud cheers. II is a principle, gentlemen,
older than the American Union. Ii is the
principle which led to the American Union
For as to each one Of the colonies that sub
sequently became American States. the very
principle TOR which they coutcnded and
which induced them 10 separate from the
mother country upon question involving
not many dollars and cents, bu, simply a
small tax on tea that scarcely touched the
pockets Of single individual. Bat small
as the question of money was. the principle
was deep. WAS fundamental. was eternal
The principle for which th,y oohtended, and
which led to that revolution, was the princi-
pie Of selfgovernment. Cheers. And.
gentlemen. pcrmi, M 70 say that the mo-
ment when IN any one State OF this Union
either the States now existing or the states
inchoate-this principle is. in any degree,
departed from. that moment will introduce
the period when will be stricken down the
fundamental principles OF the American gov
ernment-the principle which led US TO that
revolution and will hare made the first,
AMI fear the last step back TO monarchy
and despotism. Loud cheers.
As TO myself then, gentlemen. for that
grea, principle have con,ended all my life;
for that principle have lived, and God
willing, for tina, principle, if necessary,
am ready TO die. Urea, cheering Now.
then, gentlemen. the great principle Of
Cnion We took from the aited States Of
the Netherlands. Cheers Ii Wa there.
gentlemen, that not only under the most
tremendous perils and difficulties. no,
through the seven years war like our reyol-
u,iou, bat for threequarters Of century.
your ancestors Tough, and bled tor the
grert principle of self government. Cheers
And they fought i, under the banner OF
the United S,taes in the Netherlands-
Cheers. We differ from them only in this,
that they were the United States OF the
Netherlands and now we are the United
States Of America Cheers. The prin-
ciple Of Union AMI Of Conseieracy, as dis
tinci and separate States, in lts first success
fal example, We took from your ancestors in
Holland. Loud Cheers. And how did they
fghv How did they fight? There 10 nothing
in the history Of Greece or Rome, there
Is nothing 10 ancien, or modern times that,
la-.nr h. Sn 80. II 80. a., Al cantnna.