The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-01-03
The New England Dinner in New York
CITY,

The peasantest speech made ut the New
England dinner in New York on Friday, the
Pad of December, was by Recorder Hoffman,
mayor elect. AT the commencement ne thus
playtully referred 10 New England:
'Mr. President, gentlemen OF the New
England society, / have been for five Years
! recorder OF the city of New York, during which
| time L nave had occasion to say a good many
| things, but III my frequent remarks from the
| bench OF the court of general oessions have
! had but little oooosion to address the sons of
New England laughter unless they were
| members ut the grand and petty jury. Re.
newed laughter, 1t is very seldom that |
have seen any OF them at the bar of the court
| Whether it Is bee iuse they are more yirtuous
than the rest of mankind or whether thew
have more shrewdaesE to evade detection
luproarlous laughter i must leave TO the
New England society TO determine"
The speaker then freely alluded 10 the
power and weaknesses Of New York-its
brightness and It's bIemishes--its unsurpass.
eli Aberality ana patriotiam-its indepepd-
ence of opinion and its respect OF official ylr-
tue. lie said with touching pathos:
81 cannot forget that In the late presiden-
tai election 1t gave Il ma JorIty OF over thirty
controlled the destlnies of the country Nor
can | forget that when the hand of the as.os.
sin struck down that good and honorable
man l1heers that the psUple of this grea,
city, without regard to parry, bowed their
heaos IN grlei anu IN mourning tor mis- loss
cannot forget anu L ask you to remember
that "hen the news or this great CALAMITY |
came upon us every house in the city from, |
the richest palace TO the lowest tenement waa
draped In mourning, land that when his honor.
ed remalns passed thrcagh the thorouphtareo
OF our great metropolis every head was bowad !
with grief and Its very streets were watered |
by the tears OF d mourning leopIe and I |
ask the people OF the world to give II Ito |
credit to which II lie entitled as a CITY fuu nf |
earnest honest, patriotic aud loyal peopie -
L KNOW there are many gentlemen here who
do not agree with me IN my personal and no |
litlcal sympathies. / am sorry to differ from
one Of the distinguished gentlemen who has |
just spoken before me Senator LaneD | |
Know that the sentiment which | shall utter
will not meet with enthusiasm and cheers
here, but, nevertheless, utter 1t, In the fulI |
consciousness OF duty 10 performed. when
he says that by the shedding of blood alone
can remission OF sine Do obtained In NV
humble Judgement there has been already
blood enough shed to remit the sins of the
universe Loud cheers. This is mere
honest difference of opinion but standing
here, guest of the New England society. a
representative OF the city of New York, and
OF many men who love my country as well IA
any other men love ia Representative of
the intelligence Of this great city, of it's
wealth and It's patrlotism-1 must utter nv
protest against the declaration which saws
that more blood must be shed In order that
the sins ct this country may be RENTED. |
ask not applause for this sentiment-I leave
it to the future. In the future is nv trust
and so sure there is a God In heaven the
future will justify these declarations. "*#*<
Recognizing always my allegiance to the q,
great party democratic to which have al
ways been attached | cannot lose sight of
he fact that In the present time no man can
'eli when party lines to be broken up and
when great party is to be reorgaulzed and
reconstructed, determined, under all circum.
stances aud at all hazards. to stand by the
PRESIDENT OF the United States in his deter.
to reconstruct and restore the I'm.
on on ana the constitution. Great applause I
v i'h tnat party, no matter who may head IL
~ matter who may be OF it, no matter what 4
iis past associates may be. l rank myself as
u moie member; and the city of New q
o,k' Oh which for the next two wears am
y pe nominaiiy the head, will ALWAYS he