The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-01-09
Mr.. Benton on New England.

ty, Mr.. Benton responded to the following
sentiment
The United States Of America, our ooun-
try, our rhole country New England con-
tributed the wisdom Of her statesmen and
the valor of her soldiers to establish the foun-
dation Of our liberty and our Union; she
will withhold neither the wisdom of her
statesmen nor tho valor Of her soldiers to
preserve them.
Mr.. Benton was exceedingly happy in
his response. After paying some handsome
compliments to the ladies present, referring
to the influence his mother had exerted in
molding bis character, the speaker alluded
to the courage and wisdom Of the New
Englanders in the revolution. and referred
to his recent visit in this section rs follows !:
81 have gone through New England, my
fellow citizens. and for purpose which l
need not explain here. The occasion does
not require IL. ! have gone through New
England, during thirty days have gone
far down East, and have seen masses Of
people them in assemblages - seen
them in their cars seen them in their
houses conversed with them and became
acquainted with them, and will say that
| am qualified by experience to answer to
the last clause Of the toast which pledges
New England patriotism, New England
courage and New England sagacity for the
maintenance Of this Union. am qualified
to youch, no far az the feeble voice ofsuch o
person as am can youch, for the whole Of
it load applause.) Irecsat, fellow-ciii-
stances. do not compel us Of the two halves
of the Union to mingle moro with each 9TH
cr. applause.
wish that oil those of tho South who
are charged with the administration pub
affairs, could 80 through New England as
have done, meeting these people IN masses
meeting them casually in the cars - in
yited to their houses - welcomed to their
hospitalities, and treated with kindness
and affection which will be to mo solace
70 the last moment of my existence. Zap.
plausc.) wish that Others could do as
have done in that regard. II i had been in
Congress at the time when our Representa-
tives voted themselves salaries, ! should have
proposed an amendment - that rs we were
becoming salaried officers, and were paid for
the whole year, we should 10 on seruico tho
whole year, and that the service should
commence Immediately 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 ono elected in the
South should come to the North, and stay
there until Congress meets. Laughter and
applause.) They would come together with
u better knowledge of each other, and, am
well assured, with better disposition to
harmonize together. If any Southerner
with notions of disunion in his head, will
90 to New England, will give security that
il he sees the young women there as / saw
them, his head will DO brimfull of union be-
fore he gets back. daughter and applause
To the other parts of the Union she sends
educated young men to instruct our youths,
piOus ana learned persons to Gil our pulpits,
learned men in every walk of life, and ar.
tisans = though last, yet among the most
useful and honorable of the whole. New
England has done that, and /, who have
been through her sterile fields and examined
into everything, have found everywhere an
abundance, and hospitality, comfort OF
living with which was before unacquaint-
cd. have gone through their factories,
from top to bottom, and have been aston
ished at the perfection Of their machinery.
| have sometimes asked them whether they
did not get their machinery from Old Eng
land - knowing was putting them on
their mcttle, for they send their inventions
to old England instead of borrowing from
them = and they would answer "No, sir,
| Ne do all this ourselves" But there was
something which astonished mo NOR, even
than the perfection Of their machinery. II
was tho cleanliness which pcrvaded every
department. 1t was the ample, well vcnti-
lated room in summer, and well warmed In
winter. twas the neat and comely appear
ance of the operatives, both male and female.
l, 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 | foun
them attractive and comely, modest without
being bashful, of easy confidence without
assurance, ready in conversation without
iorwardness, and Of great intelligence. l
went to their boarding. house, and there all
my ideas were reversed; for | had before
me the picture Of the operatives as they are
in England, living in small, narrow, con-
fined, uncomfortable buildings, stinted for
food and clothing. On the contrary l
found these operatives Il think | may say
without disparagement to anybody here -
Us comfortable and handsomely situated as
members of Congress are in Washington
city. QhuGhtcr) They live in large,
stately, elegant houses, and you enter in
the same manner rs you enter q parlor in
Washington. You ring the bell and wait
till the girl comes and opens it. You arc
shown into the parlor, where you see the
same kind Of furniture as you will find in o
COngressman's boarding house in Washing
ton city. You sit down and inquire for
whom you want. 1t was near dinner hour
went up to one of these houses, and car.
ried my curiosity so far rs to ask tho mistress
Of the house to take me into tho cooking
department and show me how she cooked.
laughter.) She said she was taken una
wares, and was not prepared for it. l said
\ th"' s''s was oAacHy tuo thh'E "ohecu I,
l wanted to see as il was every day
Without more ado she opened the door and
led me in, and there was cooking going on
ina room no neat that lady might sit
there and carry on her sewing or ornament
al work. This was the condition In which
found the houses of tho one ratives and
to all these comforts thoy add the leisure to
read and cultivate tho mind. lowell upon
that, fellow citizens, rs one Of the eircum-
stances which struck me in my visit to New
England. And now have to say TO you
that. not satiated with my visit Of thirty
days = travelling every day and speaking
every night - am to return there when
the winter is still further advanced. have
to address the students OF Yale University
and of Cambridge; and when return to
the great West shall be able to bear my
testimony - and will bear it cheerfully-
to tho fact that in all tho extended domin-
ions Of this wide Union there is no place
where the hearts Of the people II speak Of
| the GREAT mas NJ fha v,u,u-