The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-14
Anniversary Celebration Of the
Historical Society.
Brilliant Gathering at the Academy
of Music.
Addresses by Charles Francis Adams
and Governor Hoffman.

Society,
anniversary. 1. would be dilcut 10 conceive more
select or influential gathering Theology, medicine,
law engineering. commerce-all were amply and
ab,v represented A full orchestra was engaged
for the occasion; ana as the sweet strains OF music
swept through the hall the features OF the ladies'
appeared to grow brighter and brighter, as though
harr ony even more than speechmaking was mat
ter for their special interest The platform was &C.
cupied by an array OF learned gentlemen. among
whom were the Rev. DR.. De witt, President OF the
society; Right Rev. Bishop Potter. Rev. II. Z. Potter
Of Grace church; Rev. DR.. vnton, Rev. Dr. Bellows,
Rev. DR.. Osgood. DR.. Morgan and Rev. Dr. Thomp-
son; Chancellor Crosby, Professors Hitchcock,
Morse and Wetmore; Judges DAILY. Cardozo,
Blatchford, Campbell, Ingraham and Woodruff;
Generals Mcdowell and Sanford; Peter cooper, s. b.
Ohittenden, Lyman Tremaine, william Cullen
Bryant Mr. Z. Stoughton, David ID. Field James
Stewart Brown, E. +. Delaney and number or
Others
The chair was occupied by Or. De witt. After q
short prayer by Rev. DR.. H. G. Potter the Chairman
made few remarks, complimenting the orator OF
the evening"
THE HON. CHARLES F. ADAMS
was then introduced, and spoke as follows:-
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-You have honored me
with an invitation to occupy position which has
been successfully held by many OF the most eminent
men OF your own state, and also OF other States.
reach the highest standard attained by then than
by reason OF my dsuse of the habit oil public speak
himself 70 the rule Of saying Is little ie'U as
possible to be heard out OF doors. to make
all that he may think upon gwen subject Yet I
CONFESS know 0f no stronger temptation tnat could
have been offered to me to make the effort than
this, as well on account of the kind feeling that
appears to have prompted the invitation as OF the
legitimate opening 1t affords 10 the Indulgence
Of my favorlte line Of speculation. l propose,
therefore, without further preface to enter at once
upon my subject; to devote the brief period to
e os fo IL the
history OF the country. refer to the establish
ment Of tho great general principle Of interna.
tlonal law-that nation has q right to be neutral
In times Of war II 1t SO peases. Think the world
owes the practical adoption Of this principle mainly
Of the United States Inc government OF the United
States At an early period Of its existence laid down
policy Wesi iG as %as AZ naSm KIN. Of rs
ocean, and projected on land only by It's
partial Insulation. 1t deliberately advanced the doc
trnc that neutrality In all wars was lis right not
less than It's duty. Mr.. Wheaton calls this right
..tncontestable." To which can only reply that
fury In our hstory-t was not only contestabe. hut
contested, and toward the end established only &c
THB FRAMING OF THE CONSTITUTION.
we all Know how matters stood In America at
tne time when the constitution was adopted. The
revolutionary struggle mad been six years but
we were neither happy nor quiet Liberty was fast
running INTO license, and law was yielding to the
That the esdy THESE evils Mas
voluntarily devised, and Washington was summoned
1t was soon seen that 1t was working like charm.
Aided by eminent counsellors, the marvellous Off
revived, and commerce once more pressed forward
It's ventures on the ocean, Thus passed the greater
ton. Peace prevailed over the land. and although
grave differences OF opinion were developed in
Deec than 70 the wone % Of
machine. 1t was Just 1T this moment that q great
catastrophe TOOK place FAR away In foreign lands.
which shook by It's force all the Oldest sovereignes
In europe ana for tlne materially endangered the
edince Just raised in America 1t IS scarcely neces-
Overthrew the monarchy in France. Tne question
then pressed upon the attention OF Washington how
this sudden phenomenon was likely to bear upon
the new machinery he had been selected 10 put
IN motion. Upon the executive particularly
devoved the establishment OF relations with nations
abroad What was he TO do In the complications
which were already making their appearance all
over Europe2 The case was a difficult ons Ne had
thus lar been called 10 do LITTLE in that way beyond
organizing formal diplomatic service abroad. The
question would soon come up In the shape OF enveys
sent directly here. For sncn applications he must
be at once prepared. And here let me FOR moment
stop the thread OF my subject to make one opser-
va:ion upon the peculiar responsibility which
W roWes t m nature IL
can never be shared by the people at
reason and they are never ID o condition to act at
once. They are, moreover, particularly prone to DO
swept by sudden passion towards war; especially If
instlgated by the cunning devices OF plausible
leaders. 1t IS comparatively as easy, therefore,
for demagogue to stimulate them to fatal course
iaent, to preserve power OF restraint which VIII
secure a happy result. Hence 1t follows that, ac-
position OF the highest responsibility Is he to be he'd
worthy OF honor If he controls the tendencies which
may he fatal TO their welfare OF be condemned II he
weakly or wickcdy lets them 60 on to their dssruc
ticnY
SUGAR Plum FOR SEWARD.
You have still living within the borders OF your
noble State one citizen 10 whom trust may ven
tare passing TO aliude as illustrating the point
desire to make. When. In the fearful struggle FROM
which we have happily emerged, a gallant naval
csicer jealous TO distinguish his loyalty, ventured
upon the bold step OF seizing vessel belonging to
world and taking irom her by force TIVE men justly
oalous people by their share in the rank trea
son winch conspred to overthrow our government;
and when the authorities OF that nation, appealing for
the irsS time 10 the very doctrines Of neural rights
which IL had ever before been our duty to MAINTAIN
against her when che was belligerent, formally
demanded OF us rcparatien Tor the insult
and the restoration or those odious men, from
one end OF The country TO the other the loyal ana
the patriotic, obilvlous OF the honorable record
Of tie past and mindful only the opportunity for
egerent law could furnish to defend the act called
with one voice for the highest honors to the brave
officer who dld INC deed, and insisted. above all,
such was the passion of the hour, that Ii invaded
even The most elevated station, and prompted hasy
appreciation from tho head Of the department. Mini.
sell. IL seemed as IL there was NO chance left OF
escaping collision In which the united vcice OF
Rl clvil2ed nati9ns would have justly pro-
nonnced us In the wrong. IL was GreclSely in
that critical moment that the statesman 10 whom
alude, cain IN council sagac0us In action.
and fearless OF censure when nn emergency
was to be met, was called upon to pre-
pare the response In behalf or the governs
NETT he deliberately assumed tina responsibility
lisncd Ia earlier times, and OF recommending a rs-
uatiicn OF the error and q Eurrcnser OF tile men
aud his decision was finally adopted by the Presl-
Gent DO not feel that am exaggerating when L
calu, lof this courageous resistance the niatna-
ton Of the hour that It net only was correct in
principle, but also that 1t saved the enmlty Of the
nation. The two men were surrendered. They
ierhWith ieu Into obsoority, ana are buried in
oblivion. Where are they now? VINO knows and
! VIII add. who caress Yet 1t was for the posses.
stgn Of TIVE such men I'M Justly taken that we en-
conntcred the most perileus hazard VI the war If
the llustitous statesman who saved us from that
folly bad never done another service his country
In his life, for that alone lie earned, though knew
no. wretler he will receive, the undylng gratitude
ol bis coantry.
HOT SHOT FOR THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON.
"a .A.ctaf Car Ii HALL