The New York herald., 1873-12-23
PLYMOUTH PILGRIMS.
The New England Banquet at De'mOnisO's
EAST Evening.
Civil and Religious Liberty
Celebrated
xp eshss by Senator Sumner, Henry Ward,
Bescher, Judge Noah Davies, Mayor
Havemeyer and General Sherman.

tnq at Delmonico's, Fifth avenue and Foursee1tn
street. by their usual banquet. The room was wen
nsled by over 800 guests, and all the professions
and the mercantile pursuits had their repre senta
tiyes The dinner was excellent, and thespeeches,
N q little heavier than at previous anniversary
dinners were characterized by more than usual
patriotism Culture and glorication OF the undying
principles OF liberty Of which New Englarders have.
ever claimed to be the special and appoinsed
guardians Mr. Sumnersspeech, which is given in
It's mlness. in another column was one OF nss
mastery and characteristic orations. The walls
were covered with the nags OF all nations, and q
party of ladies graced the room wlth their pres
ence wpen the speaking begun Among the mcre
prominent guests were E. Q. CowdiD, President;
General Sherman, Senator Charles SUMNER james
+. Fiekss. Henry Ward Beecher, Judge Moan Davies
Judge John R Brady, Mayor Aavemeyer, Rev.
Henry N. Gallagher, Joseph H. Choate, District
Attorney Phelps John G. Dale, j. IL. Bailey Stew
art 4. Woodford, Chauncey Depew, James M.
McIeen, John f. Williams, Walliam h. Robertson,
Governor Howard, OF Rhode Island, ana F. W.
Thomas.
SPEECH OF Mr.. ELLIOTT @. CowDEN.
Tne President, Mr.. ELLIOTT @. CowBEN, after
aaluding to the pleasing "reminiscences which
gathered, around these annual gatherings, pro-
pesed'tfe first toast, namely
'.Tho Day Celebrate'-The festival we keep is the
% S aas to o ne g"s
Soretahers and grow good ourselves by that on which
After q reference to the history Of the Pilgrims
he closed his speech as follows:-
j scen the brief, artless journal OF the Pilgrims.
ADd1su TO find single deed seriously detracting
from their integrity, their justice and wisdom.
with the Bible in their hand and their simple laws,
with their churches and schoolhouses, they were
true to the teachings OF the learned and pious
Robinson from whom they parted at Leyden and
Of the noble and enlightened Brewster, their cham
spion and guide tln his death. Though they exIed
themselves from their native soil they left behind
potent incentives to duty; aye those precious In
.nuences which formed the character, inspired the
genius and aroused the patriotism OF a Cromwell, a
Rym q Hampden a Milton, william OF Orange.
Tne spirit OF Puritanism in the mother country
has given her the gradual elevation of the labor
ing classes, the more thorough education Of the
common people, the abolition OF the slave trade,
the recognition of the rights of religious dissent
ers, the emancipation OF the Catholics the relief
OF she Jews from civil disabilities the repeal OF
the corn laws, and finally, in our own day, a
wide enlargement OF the electoral suffrage.
When we thus turn backward to the epoch OF
the Pilgrims. in the full blaze OF the lights OF
the present century, how much we find to admire
and how little to condemn in their entire course
around us-we survey the goodly heritage we en-
jcy-we behold cities and States springing into ex-
astence almost as rapidly as were reared the nrst
rude habitatons OF our forefathers; we worship
At. affairs supported by voluntary contributions;
NO proud prelate stands between ourselves and
'aur Maker; we obey rulers chose by our
own free ballot and submit to laws OF our
own making; no sovereign sends us his mandates
nom over the sea; no foreign foeman d ar es pol
uuyhA fhrnvl hlrf thu o.xySl
axed world our starry 1ag-the everlasting symbol
0f liberty and law, OF equality and justice-is hon.
source Of our franchises, the origin OF our
Aberty and greatness, we find 1t in the ever
spired men in the cabin or a frail vessel an
chOred an inhospitable coast; the brief compact
Of the Maynower was our Magma Charta-a little
p0btc.
PRESIDENT GRANT.
The next regular toast was
The President of the United States. He has carried
and the people say Ameni
The CHAIRMAN said that letter had been re-
ceived from President Grant, stating that severe
domestic anniction prevented hum from being
SPEECH OF SENATOR SUMNER
Tne Hon. CHARLES SUMNER responded to the
e0netcf the United States and said
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND BROTHERS OF NEW ENG
LAND-For the first time IN my life have the good
y0rtnne to enjoy this famous anniversary festival
Though often honored by your most tempting IN
vitatioEs and longing to celebrate the day in this
goodly6cmpany, OF which all have heard SO much,
IcOuldirot excuse myself IRON duties in another
place. III now yield well known attractions and
Journey from washington for my first holiday
during q protracted public service, it is because
al was enhanced by the appeal OF your excellent
President to whom am bound by the friendship
81 many, years tn Boston, in New YORK and in a
10retgn land. 1t Is much to be q brother of New
have pleasnre Ii conessing. 1t is with much doubt
senate OF the United States and believe the
!east s1a01 TINS head VIII be the most prudent
there single Senator who wod not p9ons
ol seat at this generous banquet. What is the
senate Itis component part Of the national
any con ponent part OF any government, and cele-
brate anSepoch in the history Of mankind, not only
the eemeGs n OF
greatness,s gof mankind. say the landing ON
Plymouth Plymouth Eecs 2ad December 1920, marked the
whole hui mar family will be elevated. Then
and there was the great beginning, through
homes in Instant lands. The Tyrians, skirIing
dotted spain. and even the distant coast Of Britain
Greeks gemL ued Italy and Sicily with art-loving
settlements Rene carried her multitudinous
colonies with .her conquerlnR eagles Saxons, Nor
mans and lpaRes mingled with the original
Britons and, an more mooern times, Ven
sent forth emigrants to people foreign shores.
But in Al their expeditions trade or war
@erce and couniet moved hand in hand hand, and and
the, colony was incasnadined with blood. on the
aay we ceeorGe the sun, for the first time |
IN his course, looked down upon a different |
scene, beguM8nd continued under different in. |
Bpirau0n A lew conscientious Englshmen, in |
obedience to Ehe monitor within, and that they |
might be free 30 worship God according TO their |
own gauge Of dnty, set sail Tor the unknown world
OF the North American Continent. Alter VOYAGE |
OF a days In the Mav1ower, with liberty at the |
prov and conscience at che helm they sighted the |
white sandDanks OF Cape Cod and soon thereafter.
in the sRall cabin, framed that brief compact
which Is she first written constitution Of govern
ment In haguan history, and the very corner stone
landed. TINS compact wHs not only foremost In
time. 1t was also memorable In character, for
never before had the defeat OF the ''civil body
pQlltic" been announced as Ito enact, constitute
.Rpd name sDch just and equal laws, ordinances,
jAQtA, consultations and Offices from time to time
sas,ghall be thought most meet and convenient for
the general good OF the colony" II more were
neoped 70 Illustrate the new epoch 1t would be
fhp m