Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-09-11

The Municipal Dinner to the Heroes Of
the Cable In New York City--Speeches
OF Lord Napier and Cyrus w. Field.
The New York Times of Sept 2, gives us q
report of the proceedings at the Municipal
Dinner to CYRUS w. FIELD, ESQ.,, and the
Officers of the British steamship Gorgon, and
of the U. S. steam frigate Niagara, at the
Metropolitan Hall, on the night of the LIST
inst. There were 600 persons present on the
occasion. Mayor T1ExAN presided. Speech
es were made in response to the regular toasts
by CYRUS W. FIELD, Lord NAPIER, Governor
PRICE, of New Jersey, Capt. DAYMAN, of the
Goryom, the Rev. DR.. Bellows Gov. KING,
RICHARD BUSTED, Esq, AUGUSTUS ScHELL,
Esq, the Hon. DANIEL E. SICKLEs, the Hon.
j. E. BROOKS, the Hon. JOHN CocHRANE, and
others. The festivities were kept up to a
very late hour.
We give below the Speech of Lord Ma
PIER
The Third toast was:
The Government and People of Great Brit
ain and Heiand-J oined to us in the Court
OF Neptune, may the nuptials never be put
aSunder
Lord NAPIER responded as follows:
SPEECH OF LORD NAPIER, THE BRITISH MINIS
TER.
Mr.. Mayor and Gentlemen: When receiv-
ed her Majesty's orders to proceed to the
United States, L hattered myself that | en-
I,,4:o 80
and l cherished hope that the period of
my residence might be coincident with that
solid and hearty reconciliation of our respcc-
tive countries, which the tendencies of the
age transparency indicated 10 be near at
hand. Nor have 1 been disappointed. The
course OF political affairs since my arrival has
indeed, exhibited some asperities which it
was impossible to foresee, ard which could
not be regarded without concern but, gen.
tlemen, l now hail in the event which we are
met to celebrate gloriods compensation for
past anXieties and an important security
against future dangers. To be the cotempo-
rary and spectator of this great monument
OF human progress is alone cause of honor
and exultation. The triumph in which your
distinguished guests have so high share,
does not only confer on them the celebrity
and affection which mankind bestow on their
purest benefact ors-such triumph gives to
the protecting governments claim to public
gratitude and historic commentator
adorns and dignifes the nations and the time
in which it is wrought, it imparts to thous-
ands the generous contagion of enterprise, it
teaches the universal lesson of faith patience
and perseverance,, it infuses into mems souls a
sense of conscious worth, and pours on all,
however humble and remote, the glow of re-
flecte fame. l question whether any single
achievement has ever united more features of
interest and utility. All the elements of ad-
venture, difficulty, and hazard have been here
assembled which could arrest the Imagination,
and no virtue has been wanting which could
satisfy the Judgment and captivate the heart.
Long will those scenes remain dear to the
popular memory. With what lmiration do
we contemplate the cheerful enthusiasm of
Field inspiring shareholders and admiralties
with kindred zeal, undiscouraged by the hos
tity of nature and the powers of science, d.
vining success where others denounced defeat,
and carrying off the palm before an incredu-
lOus though sympathizing world. [Cheers.
What encounter on the sea can compare with
that last meeting of the confederate ships,
when the knot was knit which shall never be
rent asunder? How anxious do we follow
the Gorgon on her constant course, and
watch the Niagara treading the icebergs and
traversing the gloom upon her consort's help
full track. We tremble for the overburdened
Agamemnon, still tormented by the gale We
blend our aspirations with the wOrthier pray
ers of Hudson, when he kneels, like Colum-
bus, on the shore, and invOkes the Divine pro-
lection on his accomplished work. Loud ap-
plauSe.] Nor is the moral aspect of this great
acton marred by any mean infirmity. Here
there is nothing to obliterate, nothing to de-
plore. The conduct of the agents exempfies
the purposes of the deed with manly emula-
ton, but inviolate concord, they cast forth up
on the waters the instrument and the symbol
of our future harmony. [Cheers This is
not the place to demonstrate the usefulness Of
Geographic communication in the practice Of
government commerce, and its numerous con-
solutions in matters of private affection. 1
content myself with recognizing its value in
international transactions. Something may
be detracted from the functions of diplomacy
but much will undoubtedly be gained for the
peace of natious. By this means the highest
intelligence and authority on either side will be
brought into immediate contact, and whatev-
err errors belong to the employment OF subor-
dinate and delegated agencies may be pre-
vented or promptly corrected. BY this means
many of the evils incidental to uncertainty
and delay may be cancelled offences may be
instantly dsavowed. omissions may be rem
edied, msapprehensions may be explained,
| and in matters of unavoidable controversy we
may be spared the cxaspcrating effects Of dis
cusSion proceeding on an imperfect knowledge
of facts and motives. In addition to ihese
specific safeguards, it may be hop d that the
mere habit of rapid and intimate intercourse
will greatly conduce to the prevention Of mis-
understanding On the one hand stands Eng
land, the most opuent and vigorous Of mon
arches, in whose scant but Incompatible soil
lie compacted the materials of a boun,lless in
dustry; on the other the Republic of the Uni
ted States, founded by the same race, fixed
by the same ambition, whose increase defies
comparison, and whose destinies Will battle
production ITSELF [Cheers. We cannot
doubt that these fraternal communities are
fated to enjoy an immense expansion OF n.utu-
al life, the instant interchange Of opinion, in
telligence and commodities will become con-
diton almost inseparable from existence; and
whatever stimulates this development will
oppose powerful obstacle to the rupture Of
pacific relations. No man Of common liber-
ality and penetration will question the
position and certain merits Of dis
covery which has connected England with
America, and America with the whole civil
lied world besides. | would not darken the
legitimate satisfaction of the present moment
by uttering reluctant or sceptlcal estimate
of our new faculty. Yet, even in this hour of
careless and convivial ielicitation we shall do
we'll to remember that the magnetic telegraph
forms no exception to the category of inven-
tions which, however apt and proper, and
willing to be the vehicles of benevolent de-
signs, are also the unresisting tools of every
blind and Incorporate impulse in our nature.
The votaries of querulous philosophy speci
ously assert the unequal march of morality