Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-03-13
From the Washington Union. Marcia l0.l
DISSEMINATION OF PLATE.

A delepetion of gentlemen from Savannah, Gsor.
gia, accompanied by Il few OF their democratic
friends from that State and other sections OF TIE
| Union. called Yesterday morning upon ex-Prssideni
| Pierce. who is now the guest Of Governor Marcy
The pleasing object of their visit was 10 witness me
presentation, in behalf OF the donors, of a magnih
cent dinner service OF silver plate, ot SIX pieces.
b.au,i. Nv orna,neuted. anu inscribed TN, Demo.
cra;s o, savannah, to Frrnkliu Pierce, President OF
the United States Irom 1858 II 1857" Each piece
also bore the ex- President's cipher. and The service
was packed in Il handsome collier, lined WIN Veivet.
The presentation was made by Senator loombs, OF
Georgia, who said:
GENERAL PIERCE: l am requested by a portion OF
! my constituents, residents of Savannah, To present
you this service OF plate, on Their behalf az a sinai
| token Il their regard for you n. a man ana oil tieir
appreciation Of your merits rs the Chief Magistrate
Of the republic. 1t is a tribute honorable 10 The do
| nora ana yourself; it is offered az u time when oil the
world knows that it can DC prompted ny no lsellbSs
of SELF shness-by no feeling less worthy than ali
honest and sincere appreciation OF your cc',3act ss Il
public man. And, sir, | am happy 10 add that tne
sentiments towards you which animate this portion
of my constituents, residing IN our chief cnIninercia
city, are earnestly shared by a large majority OF t"s
people OF Georgia.
to bs proud-it is the offering I'll a people residing III
a portion Of our conmon country remote from your
own residencc, where the influence o! patroragei l.
but feebly felt, who are mostly unknown 10 you per
sonaliy, aud whose Judgments are not biased by
local or p=rsorei favors received from your Govern
ment. Ii is the testimony OF The deliberate, tar
Judgment OF freemen, that you have been clear IN
your office" aud that your administration, at HON.
and abroad, has been marked by integrity, ability,
and fidelity to Inc constitutions. This IL its sign;u
canoe. and in this sense I ask your acceptance Off
-Four ad administration has been an eventtul one; SEQ
tional snimosities have RACED with unprecedented
fury; sectional questions which have distracted the
country 70. more than thirty years demanded r. 40
.u,iun, and you have solved Them in h manner which
iucoutestably proved that you: loyalty TO the whole
country. your hisllty 10 Justice and The constitution
ooIia W.. De cunln- red or even shaken by the Ih'si
powerful and formidable assaults that ever marks q
our political conflicts. l congratulate you TINT truth
has triunphed, aud that already your vlnd'cation IL
complete, add that your policy on these dangerous
questions. is now upheld by the legislative, executive,
and jude al departments Of uur government, and has
been approved by the people At the bAllot-box.
A wide spread purpose 10 use The conm"n Treasury
Tor special and local objects he's exhibited itself with
unusual energy during y5ur Administration, and
threatened III. most disastrous consequences 20 the
country. You had the manly trmne.s, under The
most discouragins Gil circumstances, 10 prove faithful
among the faiihless," aud bring the constitutional
negative, ae often rs tho occasion demanded il, 10
tbs defence of the constitution and the public treas
ury. The tins will come, and is not now distant,
when the magnitude OF this service tn your coua.ry
will he appreciated and npplnudsd by tie people.
Your efforts TO lessen pubic taxation, as well as &c
protect the treasury, have beaL crowned by q sigma
Success in the passage of the act to reduce duties Oh
imports, al act better adapted to the presen; con'
di,ion Of the country, and marked by more practice
wisdom than Is ordinarily aits:nable under our com
pick system. l: Will be retnsE-oeTed as 0u epoch IL
our 6nanciI history.
In our foreign relations you have extended oar
commerce ard enlarged our borders by Il liberal and
JUST policy, faithfully performed our duty to foreign
powers, and exacted from them q ike performance
OF their duties To us, and close Your Administration
with scarcely cloud on fhe horizoa, ieaYing yoai
country great, prosperous and happy, aud at peec'
with all the nations of the earth.
These arc results worthy Of the ambition of
ruler Of a free people. May you long liye to enjoy
Your cuuntrylneu!
In reply, General Pierce spoke substantially as fol
lows:
receive with emotion, Of sincere and earnest era,
ti;ude the admirable objects Of taste aud art which
you now present TO me in the name and behalf O
your constituents of the city of Savannah.
shall never Cease TO cherish the gift as a token o
their friendship, aud in that respect possessed # va
lne OF which the intrinsic richness Of the article
themselves, splendid az they are, constitutes but al
imperfect standard.
One thing Only could have enhanced the g~ratiica
ton which the occasion affords Inc. 1t wonid hav
been TO receive this testimony OF regard under you
bright sky, aud at the very hands Of the generou
friends whom you represent. But that was MOTTO be
Aud l have, therefore, 10 beg Of You to communities:
20 them my most grateful sense of the manner il
which they have manifested their estimation OF N.
purposes aud acts as Chief Magistrate.
You have been pleased 10 cay that the people @
Georgia accord to the late administration Of the Gen
eral government tho attributes Of integrity aud I
fidelity to the consultation. These are cardinal viz
tues, not less in public than in private life; and | iee
honored by your assurance. When the 'ftful fever
of official life is over, if th-re remain to us the az
probation Of our cuuutry!nen. that, nsxt 10 oar owr
consciousness Of rect!tude, is The great recon-
penso Of past labors and care, and the truly cheerin;
companion OF retirement. Although my sdmiuistra
zion has. as you remark, been the object of incessan
aud formidable assault. I still believe thst the princi
Piles to which l have adhered are the only sure guar
anteee of permanent security, and that their mHinte
nance will ultimately produce the results which al
patriotic men feryenily desire.
1t is pleasant. therefore. TO concur in the hopes yol
express for The future o. our country; and il I can
not quite adopt the sentiment that my vindication i
already complete, l am prepared 10 walt patiently fo
the intelligent Judgment Of q just people, confdentl,
anticipating a more sound and united s,sts Of miuc