Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-06-29
Reception of Hon. George M
Dallas.
Speech BY the Late Minister to England

speech Dy Inc Late MlniStcT " En6ia
Hon. George NJ. Dallas, late Minister to
the Court of st. James, met his friends
and fellow citizens informally ,on Wednes-
day, at his residence, in Walnut Street,
below Tenth.
A large number Of citizens of all parties
and among them many distinguished citi-
zens availed themselves of the opportunity
of paying their respects to Mr.. Dallas, and
they were received by that gentleman with
all the grace and courtesy peculiar to him.
The ex.minister looks exceedingly well,
and he is in the enjoyment Of excellent
health.
During the reception, when a large
number of gentleman were in the parlor,
Col. James Ross Snowden addressed Mr..
Dallas on behalf of his fellow citizens who
were present.
Col Snowden referred to the dignifed
manner in which Mr.. Dallas had sustained
the honor and interests of the country when
near the British Government, and to the
qualification felt at his safe return to his
home. He alluded to the distracted CON
dition of our country, and to the want of
tried and true Statesman in the emerg.
ency.
Mr., Dallas replied as follows -
SPEECH OF Mr.. DALLAS.
1t is impossible for me, just returned
from an unusually prolonged residence at
foreign Court, not to feel in the highest
degree gratifed by the cordality of your
welcome. thank you, my fellow towns
men from the bottom of my heart for this
your generous proceeding; it will be re-
membered with pride during the few days
still left to me and be assured that the
kindness and esteem which prompted it are
rcciprocated with warmth towards each
and all Of you.
The painful and portcntious events which
have marked the history Of our country
during the last six months engage however
all your thoughts and feelings.
Let them do so, to the exclusion of
everything else. When, more than five
years ago, took the post assigned to me
near England exemplary Queen, the pos
sibility of war was far from remote
The construction given by British states
men to the Clayton and Bulwer Treaty re-
specting Central America, and the impcnd-
ing dismissal of Mr.. Champion by Presi'
dent Pierce, were fraught with mutual ir-
ritation. These exasperating topics, how
ever, passed harmlcssly by +; and soon an
earnest of friendly disposition signalized
the Ministry of Lord Derby, in the frank
and full surrender of the long inAcxiby
maintained claim to the right OF search
From that moment the career of the Uni
ted States in the expansion and security Of
their commerce, in the development of their
prosperity, in their recognized and ever
increasing weight in the scale Of civilized
Powers, was unobstructed and onward
The noble and beautiful symbol of our in
stituti ons--thc symbol consecrated by all
the blood Of the Revolution, by all the
hercism of 1912, and better still by the
blessings of all the free and enlightened
of the world-thc Flag of the Union, float.
ed glistening in the sunshine, welcome
presence in every harbor and on every sea
Let me remind you that the present ftful
effort to substitute another, comparatively
unknown and local, for this world wide IA
nous banner, is not the first that has been
made. The reserved right to nullify your
laws and at discretion to break up your
Government as cobweb continuance of
mere state partnership, perhaps mediatcd
at Hartford in 1914, was certainly and
formally claimed by South Carolina in
1882. At that epoch there were giants in
debate and no giant more formidable or
dangerous than the author of this subver
sive doctrine. But, gentlemen, it was over
ruled as perverse and untenable. The
calm Senators from this good old Com
monwealth, who were William Wilkins, of
Pittsburgh and myself, steadily insisted
upon hosting the "Stars and Stripes high
above the "Palmctto," and presume
would do so still, and the renowned citi-
zen of Tennessee, who had routed the in q.
vaders at New Orleans, dispolled by the
mere show of "Eorce Bill" the delusive
Quixotism which was brave and blind then
as it is now Nor am | aware that this
decision of Congress has ever undergone
revision and reversal. 1t stands on the
records of the nation as great Judgment
upon a question utterly incapable of far
ther elucidation by the wit of man 1T is
against notifications, which you must be
aware is but fragmentary, .subdivided, or
bit by bit secession, both built upon the
same false keel and it points, with an
emphasis too pcremptory to be disregardcd,
to the course of duty which the official
guardians of your Constitution, laws, aud
liberties are bound to pursue.
Let us, then, be firmly linked, as
"band of brothers," around this unchang-
ed standard. For my humble self, born
beneath it, having imbibed from venera,
ted fathers inculcations a devoted attach.
ment to its comprehensive import; having
dearly loved to the last brother who gal
lantly gave his life to its support, and. DIV.