Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-05-11
Address of Gov. Hunt, Of n. Y, the President


you for this unexpected manifestation of
your kindness to me. 1t fills my breast with
emotions which render me utterly incapable
of uttering my feelings of gratitude. The
being called upon to preside over such an
assemblage Us this, embracing SO many gen
tlemen eminent for public service, for patri-
otsm, for high intelligence, for public and
for private virtue, is an honor which |
most highly prize, and which | shall remem-
Der with profound gratitude during my whole
life. Applause. | cannot but regret that
this honor had not fallen upon some one
more worthy and better able to fill it. |
feel you have given me a double portion of
kindness to-day. and [ could wish that it
had been otherwise; but, since it is your
pleasure, | feel bound to respond to your call,
and, according to the best Of my ability, will
endeavor to discharge the duties devolving
on me in the position to which you have as
signed me. feel may rely with perfect
confidence upon your kind cooperation and
courtesy, for the preservation of the spirit
and order which should pervade this body.
| see before me gentlemen who, | know, just
| ly estimate the Importance of elaboration,
of order and decorun,, ia transacting the
business of deliberative assemblies, and |
trust that, under the course of our proceed
ngs, we may be able to impress the country
that it is not yet too late for gentlemen to
come together and deliberate with sentiments
of mutual Difference.
We come here as the representatives Of
the Independent States of the Union, States
which have united their destines together
for great and noble purposes. But, gentle
men, we will not dismiss the fact that we
come from States widely separated by dis
lance, separated, perhaps, to some extent by
difference Of institutions, cline, and social
organization, and that our Union embraces
two classes and sections of States, which are
sometimes, at this modern day, placed in an
attitude of antagonism and hostility to each
other. mean the peculiar differences which
exist in the social and democratic organiza-
tons. There are those who would magnify
and exaggerate these differences to such a
degree that the people shall no longer regard
themselves as friends and brothers. Yes,
there are such in both sections of this glori-
Gus Union of ours. | grieve to say it. There
are men in this country who will organize
strife into a system, but God forbid that the
people of this broad land, either North or
South or anywhere else, should give their
sanction or approval to those who would
kindle those fires of domestic discord and
| sectional strife.
On the other hand, there is class Of peo-
pie, North and South, Il rejoice to see them
represented here to-day,) who desire to put
away there causes OF contention, aud who
feel and understand and know that our
Government and Constitution were not in
| tended to engender these antagOnlsms and
distrusts between sections, but to promote
peace and harmony and unity between these
members Of the confederation. (Applause.)
There are those, | am one of them gentle
men, who would, if possible, bring back the
public mind of the country to the con ilera-
ton of those great and harmonious principles
on which we can all stand together-one and
inseparab!e. Applause. Be it our part,
however to promote and ditfuse spirit of
broad aud generous national feeling, of for
bearance and moderation. SO far as the broad
question is concerned, which has been made
the bane of cur politics, it has furnished to
IL class of politicians the tiercest elements of
strife and diScord. But let US remember that,
from our positions, differences of education, of
surroundings, Of habit of social interest, and
domestic construction of society, there will
still he certain shades of difference. 1t
vas always so. 1t was SD from the begin
ming: but did that prevent the great men
of the Republic from coming together to
form system of political freedom and of
seIi-government which shall enable us to
move on as one nation; to protect us from
all external assault, aud to cultivate amongst
ourselves peace, concord, and domestic
tranquility? Applause. These differen-
ces that estrange and divide the people of
this country, should not prevent us from 60
ing forward to discharge the great work of
set-governnent; and to encounter all the
responsibility relative to those great inter-
ests, which are national, which are CONNER
cial, and which we all hold in Cannon;
which we are ready to sustain and defend in
common, and which possess the strongest
claim upon our loyalty, patriotism, and al
legiance to the Constitution and the Union,
which we have received from the hands of
our patriotic ancestors. (Appause.
\ few days ago, having occasion to visit
one of the Western States of the Union, |
was tempted to extend my journey farther
on, and, for the first time, | saw the glorious
MiSsissippi--that noble and magnificent ri
yer which connects the North and South,
and which, by natures organic law, has de-
clarcd that we are to be one. As | hoated
upon the placid bosom of the Father of Wa
| ters in my reflections | could not but think
and feel that, since the benifcence of crea-
tive power has given us such bond of union,
intended to carry civilization, prosperity
and happiness to kindred people, from its
mouth to its source, how vain, how preposte-
rous is the folly of man, which would sepa-
rate those whom God hath joined together.
Applause. How small and pitiful the eff
tort seems Of those who would divide the
Mississippi, and interpose commercial regu-
lations, and custom-house- and tonnage duties
upon the people of this American Union
God forbid, gentlemen, that any of US, or any
considerable portion of the people of this
country, should ever give their sanction to
sentiments Of such nature. We are one pep
pie and one country; we 20 forth under one
flag; we stand upon national ground, repre-
senting the interests of great continent
which Providence has entrusted to our charge;
and believe the people will yet prove them
selves equal to the destiny which has been
given them, and hand it over, as one harmo-
nicuS nation, to those who are to come after
US. Applause.
| am OBTAINING you too long, gentlemen
for | have no thought of making second
speech. In conclusion, | will only repeat
7 nm :, fnrn,o. ,.,..,