The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-12-26
Gov. Walker In New York.

Gov. WALKER, while IN New lofk al |
tended dinner, given by the members |
of the St. Nicholas Society, on the evening |
of the 9TH inst. The 9TH toast was given
to "THE UNIoS," and drunk with enthu-
siastic cheers, after which Gov. Walker
was loudly called for, and was received
with three cheers. He said -
Nh. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN: The |
honor has most Unexpectedly been de-
volved upon me Of responding to the
toast, which, l believe is universally Civ
en- by the patriotic st. Nicholas Society, in |
favor of the American Union. Cries Of |
" hear, hear" and applause Although, |
gentlemen, most suddenly, and most un-
expectedly, called upon to respond to this
toast, this is theme which might well
raise the emotions and sympathies 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 celestial spheres and rejoice with us
over the glories accomplished thus far by
the American Union. Cheers But,
gentlemen, great and glorious as it is, let
Us all take care that in our day, and in
our generation, nothing shall be done by
any of US by which, in the slightest de-
gree, this great Union, which has accom-
plished already, in less than three-quar-
ters of century, so much for our beloved
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,
gentlemen, that this American Union of
ours is the best, the brightest, perhaps the
last experiment of self-government. And
as it shall be by us maintained and per-
petuated, or broken and dissolved, so
shall the light of liberty shine upon the
hopes of mankind or be forever extin-
guished amid the SCOTS of exulting ty-
rants and the groans of worldly bond
age. Loud cheers. But, gentlemen,
let US also recollect that there is a great
principle which lies at the base of the
American Union-that principle for which
our forefathers fought through the war
of the Revolution, and for which we,
their descendants have contended from
that period 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 sell government. Prolonged
cheers. 1t is the principle that the peo-
pie in every State of this Union and in
those inchoate States which, emerging
from territorial pupilage, begin to ascend
into the constellation of American States,
when they form their first constitutions
shall, with you, the youngest and the eld-
est of the American States, enjoy the
principle of self.government. Loud
cheers. 1t is principle, gentlemen,
older than the American Union. II is
the principle which led to the American
Union. For as to each one of the Colo.
MES that subsequently became American
States, the very principle for which thew
contended and which induced them to
separate from the mother country upon q
question involving not many dollars and
cents, but simply small tax ON tea that
scarcely touched the pockets of a SINGLE
individual; but small as the question Of
money was, the principle was deep. was
fundamental, was eternal. The principle
for which they commended and which led
to that revolution was the principle OF
self-government. [Cheers.l And. gen.
tlemen, permit me to say that the momen
when in any one of the States of thi.
Union-either the States now existing O,
the States inchoate-the principle is. il
the slightest degree, departed from, tina
moment will introduce the period whe1
will be stricken down the fundamepta
principles of the American Government
the principles which led us to that reyo
luton; and will have made the first anc
fear the last step back to monarchy anC
despotism. Loud cheers. As to nv
self, then, gentlemen, for that great prin
ciple | have eontended all nv life TO
that principle have lived, and, God will
ing, if necessary for that principle an
ready to die. Great cheering. Now
then, gentlemen, the great principle O
Union we took from the United States o
the Netherlands. lCheers. 1t wa
there, gentleman, that not only under tn
most tremendous perils and difficulties
not through the seven years war. like on
revolution, but for three quarters of
century, your ancestors fought for tn
great principle of self-government.-
tCheers. And they fought it under tn
banner of the United States of the Meth
erlands. [Cheers.] We differ from then
only in this, that they were the Unite,
States of the Netherlands, and now w
are the United States of America
tCheers. The great principle of Uniol
and of Confederacy, as distinct and sepa
rate States, in its first great successful ex
ample, We took from your ancestors i
Holland. Loud cheers. And how di,
they fight? How did they fight? Their
is nothing in the history of Greece o
Rome, there is nothing in ancient O
modern times that during that eight,
years of contest and contumacy, that vii
compare with the heroism and devotio
of your ancestors of the Netherlands i
contending for these great principles
tCheers. They were martyrs in thei
bloody battle-felds. They were martyr
IN the dungeon. They were martyr
amid the torments and tortures indescrih
able to which no people ever before hav
been subjected in the history of tn
world. But still, although in point @
numbers, small and inconsiderable PEG
pie, contending with the ocean who's
surges for the first time in the history c
the world, they have driven back AM
conquered, thus retaining their countr,
from the ocean monarch. For three
quarters of century they commended 70
these principles, and finally they ri
umphed. Now. gentlemen, am sure
would be very wrong in me at this lat
hour OF the night 10 detain you with an,
further discussion of these great princi
Pies Cries of "Go on."l But wit
your permission will give you a sent
ment:
Holland, tie FIRST successful example Q
coafadsratea Repa5lican Eates-May
he maintained here until time shall be n
more. (Chees.
A VoIcE-"Three cheers for Walker
tRenewed and protracted cheering.l
subsequently Governor Walker wa
enthusiastically called by toast to hi