The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-04-11
Interesting Meeting of DiplOmatists--
Speech from Ex-President Pierce.

The Nassau On. P.) Guardian of the 18th
inst, describes slmptuous public entertain
ment given by the Colonial Secretary of that
Colony.
Ex-President Pierce, Sir Gore Ouseley and
other distinguished gentlemen were present.
The health of the ex- President of the United
States being proposed, that gentleman made
very handsome and eloquent response, which
is reported in full.
He thanked the presiding officer for the
compliment conveyed to himself personally,
but appreciated yet more highly the express
sion of friendly feelings towards the country
Of which he was citizen. Gen. Pierce con-
sinued as follows:
The communication by steam now estab-
lished between the Bahamas and the United
sAates, makes us ueighbors; and although we
hW under torms OF government differing in
soEe respects, let it never be forgotten that
we are OF the same strongly-marked race
mend hers of the same famiIy-inheriting alike
pecuN rites not only physical; but mental and
mora-and pledged alike to maintain in the
lace Of tie world, civil and religious liberty
based upon the great principle of .noVNiar rep
resentation. Cheers
We, | am sure. may well be proud of our
lineage, and you think, need find little to re-
greet, and'nothng, hope, to wound the pride
OF relationship, as you observe the growth. de-
velopment and vigor Of the off-shoot. which.
In three quarters Of a century, has spread it.
sell over vast continent, and is now, con-
JOINTLY with you, planting institutions of re-
hgion and civilization along the fertile terrific
ry and among the islands of the Pacific. Al
though our sails have met on every sea and in
every port to which, at different epoclrs. re-
muneratlVe commerce has invited enterprise
and daring; although your possessions on the
north American continent lie contiguous to
ours Tor SO many hundred miles; vet, for va
rlous reasons, social intercourse had been COM
PaTatvely limited until as late as 1851 when
your great Worlds Fair seemed as il were in
Gay 70 throw wide open the door through
winch such intercourse was destined thereaf-
ter uninterTuptedly to flow. 1t would not he
easy to estimate the beneficent results Of this
personal and social commingling. It has oh
liberated prejudices, corrected errors of iudp-
ment, established good UNDERSTANDING and .
thus smoothed the way to permanent pacifc
relations, and to just International arrange
ments essential to the secure and PROSPEROUS
prosecution Of commerce. Thirty wears ap,Sa,
slighter causes than those which have too lonS
exerted disturbing influence in Connection
with the Central American affairs. with which
the distinguished dplomatist near me (Sir
William Ousely.) is so familiar, and from
whose conceded elevation of character. com
prehensive grasp and larre experience we
may, l hope, look for speedy and satisacto-
ry adjustment; slighter causes than those
which, in 1878, created so much feeling up-
on the delicate question of the right of search
or visitation upon the high seas; slighter cans.
es than those which recently sprung out of
our supposed respective rights in one of the
ISLANDS on the racine slde-might have raised
quesuons 70 oe lett Tor their solution to the
arbltIament oil arms Now such a resort
scarcely alls wltnin the range Of possibility.
II there have been IN the past struggles Ieay-
ng In their traln anlmosity ami rancor, the
present geneiauon Is In no sense responsible
or them, and IL IS time that Nthe dead past
bury its dead" In q long succession of yeors
Of uninterrupted intercourse. onr interas,S
have become closely interlaced,-and Iros :,
him who would lightly mar with blood tbs
air fabric which in peace we have woven =
Enthusiastic cheers. Every intelligent Emo
ishman and every intelligent American kno,SS
hat you cannot cut thread in the woof Of
,ur onward career Of prosperity without 10.
NC weakened yourselves and that we could
not, il we would, diminish to any appreciates
xtent your resources without feeling at once
he banetul results OF our error and folly.
From our geographical position-from the
haracter and habits of our people--and by the
BLESSING OF God-we are the two leading com
nercial nations Of the earth. Inheritinp tha
anne blood-speaking the same lanonsoa-
nd resting the same religious faith-what n
weight Of moral obligations presses upon ne
o exact at our hands, in circumstances M T.
ltation such as must arise, mutual forhaar
nee, and at all times kindly officesi Constr
ratiOns OF lower order, suggestive of rAc;,,
Ocal comfy and respect are not less Str;L;nn.
We are the best surest, and among tba I.S
est customers each Of the other and hor,o
ur monetary, not less than our eommerc;aI
lterests are firmly knit together n Mil -
r our interest, and for the security If al;
ous and civil liberty everywhere. that Graat
rtaln maintain the relative position Of nos~'
a1d controlling influence which She bss %
ng held among the nations. Al ali events
he IS our Parent-our natural fr;anS -
9, as We harden into mature Tsanhood ,,-;1i
member that we are her natural Ss;end -
"a mat we are so by ties stronger than s,v
$3.50 sleatles or inter- national arrangements
-. u' q or security made for the day. and
Ma 'ie nay perhaps to perish, can ever es-
S;,;5. Dus nations are only aggregations Of
t:.s 1, and subject to like influences
i, !. .:is one as with the other friendship, to
Snershed and enduring, must be reciprocal
= sl:ce-t does not admit Of arrogance
Olncious intermeddhng on either side.