Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-09-14
--YTgM-TIsrce,s Speech.

ExPresident Pierce, on his arrival at Bos.
ton, en- the evening of the 9th ultimo, as
announced by telegraph, was serenaded at
the fremont House. A second despatch
gives the speech be delivered on the occasion,
which will be found below:
thank you cordially, gentlemen, for the
manifestation Of your kindness which this
call implies. After an absence from our
shores much more protractcd than had al.
ticipatcd when l left them, found degree
of satisfaction in again planting my foot upon
New England soil quite unanticipated, often
and earnestly as my heart has yearned for
home. Even in these past two years, many
changes have occurred, some Of them national
in character, and bearing sorrow and profound
sense Of loss throughout the land.
The death OF your neighbor and friend, the
statesman, orator and patriot, reached Inc on
the other side of the Atlantic bnt few days
previous to my embarkation. With all my
sympathy with those who are bound to him
by the dearest Of earthly ties, and whose LIS;
is irreparable, with all my homage for his
genius. that which felt stirring at my heart
with warmer aud deeper feeling than all
besides, that which will cause his memory to
be cherished by you as American citizens, be-
pyond mere intellectual superiority, is the fact
that his patriotism was as steady, broad. and
glowing rs his eloQuence was brilliant, and
his learning varied and profound.
l do not; of course, mean to speak the lan-
guage of culogy, but | cannot consent to stand
before YOU, in the pleasure which experience
in your kind greeting. and in being thus re-
minded that have q place in your personal
regard which neither time nor absence is
likely to shake. and seem for moment to
forget the great loss which you especially,
and which the nation ls whole, has sustain.
ed in the death of Mr.. Choalc.
You do not, my friends, expect anything
like speech from me tonight, and if you did,
| cannot fttingly respond to that expectation.
You will be glad to know that the great object
OF my voyage to Madeira, and thence 10
Southern Europe, has been partially realized.
For myself, have, during my absence, found
much to enjoy, and will add, much to ad.
mire. But after all have come hack more
thoroughly convinced than even before of the
wisdom, strength, and durability of these in
stitutions under which we live, and Of the
Constitution which upholds them.
We have no questions of the balance Of
power to continually agitate and disturb us.
We need not give ourSclf one moments un.
easness about armaments by sea or by land
on the part Of any foreign power. Whether
these foreign armaments be increased or
diminished whether they are strong or weak
lis to us as nation, u matter OF indifference
With the great barrier of the Atlantic roll
ing between us and them, so long as we are
true to ourselves, true to our theory, true to
our honor and dignity, and just to them, they
will have no motive, and let ne add, be-
lieye they will have no inclination to interfere,
even if they had the material might, with our
onward march of peaceful prosperity. We
have only to cultivate the peerless inheritance
which, through the interposition and blessing
of God, has descended to us; to recognise
and grateIally acknowledge His goodness to
obey the laws, and first of all the Fundamental
law of the land, and We cannot fail to secure
an unchecked career Of pervading, united
prosperity and happiness. l can express no
better wish for you and for my country than
that these may be your and her possessions.
Renewing to you, gentlemen, my grateful
Acknowledgements, bid You good night.