The true Democrat., 1857-05-26
Speech of Gen. Pierce in Philadelphia.

A large crowd recently collected in Phila- delpha at the residence of General Pierce, upon the occasion of the late democratic meetng- General Patterson, in its behalf made very complimentary speech, to which the ex. Presi- dent thus responded:
 thank you, eow-ctizens, for this unex- pected call, and desire to express the sratifca- ton which I feel in meeting and being intro- duced by gentleman who permits me to call him my friend; who has done honor to your city, and rendered signal service not only to the State of Pennsylvania but to our common country, both in civil life and on the field of battle.
 Good news never comes amiss or out of sea- son. congratua ate you upon the results which have followed your exercise to-day of the most sacred right ot fIeemen, that of choosing for themselves those who shall execute their will in the conduct of public affairs l congratu late you, not because you follow this or that banner with this or that inscription, but because you sustain principles which come to us with the uneluivocal and solemn sanction of the re- volutionary fathers-principles which suggest, first of all, and as cardinal virtue, reverence to the constitution and love for the Unlon.- Whatever may be said or done elsewhere, to whatever degree the public mind may be in famed in other localities by unretiectns tana- ticsm, you, at least, recognize no law for your guidance in matters pertaining to government and your duty as citizens of the republic, high CT than that which was framed in your own Independence llall-[ immense cheering and which, with the blessing of God, shall stand as the fundamental law of the land, honored, re- vered, obeyed. Deafening cheers.
 l have highly enjoyed, gentlemen, a quiet month in your city. The occasion has afforded me opportunity to observe more at leisure than ever before, the extent and admirable charac- ter of your public institutions; to admire the large and intelligent application of means by your citizens to the promotion of art and science; and to regard, as 1 have done, with unaloyed qualification, the noble steps which have been taken to meet the want-mOral, men, tai, and physical--of suffering humanity. You, citizens of Philade phia, have shown that while you remember the generous spirit of federation of William Penn, you have not forgotten to emulate his expansive benevoence. \ ou have shown, too, that so long the consecrated Hall on Independence square, to which l have ad- verted, shall stand, you are determined that the work wrought by the fathers there shall stand with 1t. Long continued cheers.
 l honor you for all this. Your geographical position in the Union, and the precious and glorious memories which must ever cluster around you here, impose h gh and peculiar Sponsihilities and 1 have faith to believe that you will continue to redeem them all.
 Summoned thus suddenly before you, l can hardly be expected to be stirred by the same degree of enthusiasm which g!ows in vour bo- sons, at the close of this day of your struggle and triumph, but trust the hour may never come, early or late, night or day, when my heart will not warm to my country and to my honest, patriotic and law-abIding countrymen, whether native or naturaljzed, wherever they may have been born, or wherever, in our vast domain, their lot may be cast. Hearty Cheers. Aith ugh l have declined public demom- stration on my way from your services to my hone can but express my grateful acknowl- ed5ments for this spontaneous manifestation of consideration and regard. Cheer after cheer for several minutes
 The distinguished ex President was fre- luentiy interrupted and compelled to pause n Als remarks by the applause they elicited.