, 1863-05-07
SECRETARY CHASE IN
BOSTON
Visit of tho Secretary to the merchants>
Exchange.

At halfpast one this afternoon Secretary
Chase visited the Merchants Exchange News:
room, which, In anticipation Of hts visit, was
accompanied by 8. $. Tobey, Esq, President
Of the Boa,d Of Trade, and was received with
hcarty greeting By the assembly.
Mr.. Tobcy briefly introduced Mr.. Chase to
the company assembled, when that gentleman
stepped upon platform tlat had been pro-
7ided, and addressed them at eome length.
Mr.. Chase began by speaking Of his surprise
at such an assemblage as this He had come
at the Invitation Of few gentleman, to ex-
change congratulations with his friends, and
this reception was entirely unexpected. After
several compliments to Boston, he proceeded
to say:
NIB. CuAsE's SPEECH.
It has been my misfortune to be ut tho head
Of department during the most critical
period Of the country's history. Suddenly
involved in great struggle, Of which no man
csnld zee either tho proportions or the end,
it became my duty to provide the means to
carry it to safe and successful result. In
the discharge Of this dnty it Is gratifying to
acknowledge the support Tint have uniform
1y received from the merchants aud the busi-
ness men Of Massachusetts. At the very
outset Of the struggle Massachusetts, By the
act Of her Legislature, placed at the disposal
Of the nation the sum of eercn millions Of
dollars. We then thought that, IN the proba-
bnities Of the war, THIS would be likely to
cover the greater part Of the expenditure. If
the offer vas not accepted, 1t was not the less
appreciated; for In It I saw the spirit Of
| Bunker Hill resolving that the last
! mar, should perish and the last dol.
| The Union should fall. received Inspiration
this, and all my subsequent efforts were made
! easier to me. I felt that, with such people,
there was no such word rs fail written on the
scroll Of the future And now, gentlemen,
| ne hare passed through two years Of this WAT.
am not here to speak Of mistakes made, noz
| though VIC cannot predict the future, Jet !
| Ttaly tAiHh that I do not risk mach in saying
| {hdt This trdr 1otr approaches Hs Termination.
Gentlemen, yon here in Massachnsetts hare &
right to be proud Of your contributions II
the SUCCESS Of the financial measures Of the
! government; but you have also right to be
| proud Of your contributions to the military
sklll aud tho hesolstn Of the struggle, Have
you not given to this W.r . Banks, who I:
leading hts troops to useful victories: Zap
p1auEe-l Have you not given to this mar ,
But1cr-[cheerSlE;xho never feared moIta
man In the discharge Of his duty
Have you not given to It Hooke
renewed applause-who is now strik
ing formidable blow at the rebellion
between the Rappahannock and Richmond
So, in addressing Massachusetts men, fec
I that am addressing those to whom the coun
try must feel under great obligations. Sons
I people where I live speak Of leaving Massa
chueetts and New England out in the cold
But dothe7 think what they would lose If New
England and the New England element b
taken away from their midst? he thanked
Gud that be was j New England boy, remark
Ing that 1t has been said that New Englan'
was grand place to emigrae from. He la
found it good place In which TO receive Al
| education and to form principles for the guild
| auce Of after lite. He WAS born in granite
rihbcd, stalwart New Hampshire, and he va
proud of the brave old State. He loved Ne,
England for her contributions to the honor
the dignity and the fame of the country, ani
more than all because 10 one VI her suns WI
willing that one foot Of our soil SHOULD b
separated from the Onion.
n He closed amid hearty cheers, and Was sui
] ecqucntly introduced to large numbers Of til
gentlemen present.