Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-09-11
oLIYER HAzARp PERRY.


Oliver Hazard Perry, the only surviving
son of Com. Perry, was upon the stand and
was called upon to speak. he said
I cordially thank your Honor for your
generous words, in honor of the descend
ants Of Commodore Perry. As his only
son, speak in behalf of all my family, to
acknowledge the warm welcome With which
my fellow-citizens here assembled have
responded 10 your introduction of US. But
am aware, not to me personally nor to
the other N embers of my family are these
honOrs prOffered. They are the spontane-
Gus utterrnces of patriotic gratitude to the
Navy Of the United States, of which my
father ITas one of the providential vindi-
Gators in the second war of Indepen-
denee.
Tint was specially the sailors war,
Waged for them and for their rights.
asa nOR's RIGHTs" was the motto borne at
ma st-head, and carried high above the
spIoke Of every conflict The war was
their war; the country called upon them.
Fully and nobly did they respond, an d eff
fectuslly did they accomplish their task,
plucking from the diadem Of England her
cherished gem-"The Mistress Of the Sea"
The Navy of the United States will be
ever true to its history and its fame. Its
future deeds shall be worthy Its past en-
counters, and the story Of every conflict
shall repeat the record of the Battle Of
Lake Erie in the familiar legend-"We
have met the enemy and they are ours"
The country has loved its Navy ever
since. Need l recount its service Need
l tell of the triumphant cruises of the econ
stitution," securing the seas, and returning
from every cruise with the captured flag of
an enemy's ship? Safe and unharmed,
sir. from out every encounter and every
peril-happy omen to the whole people that
the Constitution itself will survive every
political danger that may assail it
Need name the names of Hull and
Bainbridge, Jones and Stewart Need
recount the deeds of the heroic Decatur
(alas that he died so young and such
dsath)? Need 1 recall to your memories
the name of Lawrence? Alas that his sun
of glory went down so soon, and yet with
out cloud to dim its lustre, and in splen-
dor that has given the Navy its proudest
boast. with words that shall be its perpet-
ual motto. Intrepid, magnanimous-a hero
in every point-great even in death, he con-
1erFeQ upon b16 navy IoH0Mu Anab suALA
never perish. England herself acknowl-
edged his greatness IS a foe, when, stepping
far beyond her ordinary routine in similar
cases, she conferred the honor of Knight
hood on his conqueror.
l might continue and repeat the names
Of Porter, the hero of the Pacific, of Melon !
ough, the hero of Chsmplain. The distin- |
guished orator of the day has eloquently |
spoken Of the events Of Lake Erie which
we now commemorate.
Ny long connection with the Navy and /
my intimate acquaintance with the patri- /
Otic feelings and professional pride which /
possess and control both officers and men,
and my earnest desire for its continued
prosperity and untarnished fame, may par
don and even justify the illusions / have
made to its exploits.
To US, sir, as commercial people, 3 pow
erful Navy, far more 80 than it is ct pres