The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-08-12
Asa Packer In 1865.

In the fall Of 1860, asa Hacker, VINO nd1u
Just then returned from Europe. made a gift
of fifty-saven acres Of land adjoining the town
of Bethlehem, in Northumberland county,
and five hundred thousand dollars in money
to establish University or College sufficient
TO accommodate five hundred scholars. This
munifcent donation of Judge Packer for the
noble purposes of education, was warmly
commended at the tine throughout the State
by the leading men of both parties, and was
the occasion Of a complimentary dinner given
to him at Bethlehem on the 23d of Novem-
Der, 1860 Prominent and leading men in
all the walks of life met together TO do honor
to Asa Packer for his princely gift. John
w. Forney was there, and in reply to toast
made a speech, of which the follow ing is an
extract:
81 respond to this invitation with siacere
qualification. There is something in this as
sembage and testimonial which, to myself,
possesses a singular satisfaction. ! had the
honor of meeting the gentleman, in whose be
half this demonstrations is made, in the city of
Washington, while he represented this Con-
gressonal district. There l saw developed
those sterling qualities which you are here to
honor He came there with profound sense,
not simply that lie the representative of an
intelligent people, nor yet of district which IN
course of time must occupy the proud position
which it has since attained, but laborIng under
the load of those responsibilities which he has
successfully carried to the present moment, and
which have blossomed and ri 1ened into that
harvest which, having successfully gathered,
he has so generously assisted TO scatter among
his countrymen. (Appause.) hlie there,
on more than one occasion afflicted with his
personal troubles, and surrounded with his re-
preventative duties, he predicted the realization
of that which he had in view, when he would
feel pIeud of having represented this district
and of having achieved one of the ii lest rail
way triumphs of any time. Though closely
watched his career from that time to this, was
not prepared TO see his expectations so perfect
ly realized"
Amongst the other gentlemen who were
present on that interesting occasion was
Judge Strong, of Reading, who was then on
the Bench of the Supreme Court of this
State, and who spoke as follows of Judge
Packer:
take pleasure in adding my testimony in
favor of the eminent qualities of our distin-
guished guest, the type and representative OF
class of men peculiar to our American institu-
tions-a class of men which cannot exist except
under the influence of our institutions. | con-
cede all that has been said of Judge Packer
1t has been my pleasure to know him for pc
riOd of over thirty years, and for large part
of that time have known him intimately. We
are both from the same DefghbOrhood, and have
both adopted the same State "a our home; we
have given to Pennsylvania all the abilities
with which we have been endowed.
Within few days / have passed over those
portions of the State where the energy of our
people has been most largely developed. l
I .h Ian CHI oaTf on
what has been accomplished by American la
Dor, one of the greatest instrumenta.ities ever
used, and destined to make US more than we
have ever dreamed of. Let any one follow
the course which / have taken the past few
: days, from the Mahonoy valley, through the
Scnuylkill valley, to the Lehigh plains, and the
! Lehish valley to the beautiful town of Bethle-
! hem, and see the results of our grand system.
! Many men have helped to do this. Some have
/ risen high il station, others not quite as sue
/ cessful, perhaps, but all have left their marks
/ upon the work. They the men who are
seeking to raise the dignity of labor in the
! country, and to bring the workman to the full
I duty of the American citizen.
Such was the estimate of Asa Packers
character, in 1865. for great enterprise and
/ rare public spirit, as expressed by two of
| the most eminent men in the State. This
was not quite four years ago. Asa Packer
is to-day the same liberal, high minded and
honorable gentleman that he was then. Both
Col. Forrey and Judge Strong are now act
| ing with the radical party, bat they then
| spoke the honest convictions of their OWL
/ minds. Asa Packer was a democrat then
/ as he is to-day. Praise from such source
! is praise indeed.
| The radical r,ress NAV and doubtless will
continue its venomous assaults upon Judg
Packer from this time until the day of the
election. for political malice always aims its
poisoned arrows at shining mark. But,
oh! what terrible rebuke these libeilers will
receive, at the hands of an intelligent but in
dignant people, on the second Tuesday OF
October next.