The Portland daily press., 1873-03-26
THE LYNCH RECEPTION.
An Enthusiastic Welcome-Party Distinc.
lions Abolished - Speeches by
Nessrs. Lynch, Hersey, Bur-
leigh. Kimball, Emery,
Webb, Goddard,
kingsbury Thomas. Wescott and Others

Il
Kingsbury, Thomas, Wescoit and Others
| The reception and complimentary unnei
rendered to the Hon. John Lynch ny 'nt
| citizens of Portland, at the Falmoutn hote
last evening. was an elegant and CORDIAL AFFAIR
| Prior IN the dinner the citizens assembled II
tho narlors of the Falmouth, to welcome Mr.
| Tvncb 70 the city whose interests he has sc
| faithfully represented during the last eight
| wears. In addition to our own citizens there
were present gentlemen from the York portion
of the district, among whom were the Repre-
sentative elect, Hon. John A. Burleich O.
South Berwick, Hons, j. H. Mcmillan, E. HI
Banks and j. E. Butler of Biddeford Hon. E
b, Smith OF Saco. Each guest wore white
rose 6eutonniere, and as the parlors SLOWLY
emptied themselves into the large dining hal
the sight was very pleasing one The Ions
dining tables were richly decorated with flow
ers' tastefully arranged and lavishly distribut
ed,-indeed the air was heavy with perfume
Before entering the hall Mr.. w. S. Dana re-
ported for the committee of arrangements and
announced that choice had been made of I. c.
Jersey for President. The invited guests and
others were then ushered into the dining hall
Mr.. T. c. Hersey called upon the Rev. g. W.
Buck to invoke the Divine blessing, which the
reverend gentleman did. Mr.. Hersey then
said:
Grateful for the honor of being selected to
preside on this interesting occasion, allow me
to make parliamentary decision that the first
business in order is the consideration of the
bill before us as introduced by the popular
landlord of the Falmouth With unanimous
consent we will 60 into committee of the
whole for its discussion. Gentlemen, please be
seated and make yourselves at home"
The committee of the whole then seated
itself and proceeded to do justice to the repast
before it. Meanwhile the Portland orchestra
discoursed sweet music. AT the conclusion of
the dinner, the President, Mr.. Hersey, deliver
ed the speech of welcome, which was frequent
ly interrupted by warm applause. Mr. Hersey
spoke as follows:
Hon.John Lynch---After successful Congress
sional career of eight years, a few of your old
friends felt impelled to tender you quiet re-
ception; but it soon became evident we had
started on too narrow gauge, and you see, sir,
assembled here representative men without dis
tinetion of party, of all the varied interests you
have so faithfully represented. 1t has been
made my pleasant duty to bid you hearty well
come home. 1t is pleasant duty because you
have not only truly and faithfully represented
| us, your immediate constituents, but you have
ably represented the S ate and country. Doubt
full legislation has not furnished your fair repu-
tatlon. On finance your position has been
broad and sound; our commercial interests have
been watched with a vigilant eye; we see evil
dence OF your comprehension of our wants in
our. public buildings in the appropriations for
harbor Improvements and defenses, in the life
station and signal service about to be estab-
lished on the coast We have been disappoint-
ed in the want of legislation requisite for recip-
rocal trade with the Dominion Government
but if not mistaken you advocated legislation
ON the only occasion when the subject was
brought before Congress In the revival of
ship-building, we, as State, have felt a deep
interest, and your efforts though not successful
to the degree you desired. yet have done much
to give our ship-builders and mechanics the
help they SO richly deserve. As Portland, and
indeed all New England are deeply interested
in reciprocal trade and ship building, we must
all our efforts to secure the necessary legis-
latiCn.
Amid great enthusiasm Mr.. Lynch respond
ed. The honorable gentleman could at times
scarcely proceed with his remarks for the ap-
plause which greeted his utterances He spoke
as follows:
Felloao citizens, friends and neighbors-The
cordial and friendly. greeting which you have SO
confidence, appreciation and good will, coming
as they do from those with whom have been
so long and so intimately associated, from my
immediate neighbOrs and friends, my old
school fellows and school hoy acquaintance;
from my political opponents as well as political
friends, have touched my heart and filled me
with emotions which have no language to ex-
press. The concentrations which you have
been pleased to bestow upon my services as
your Representative, 1 attribute to generous
IN uOrIpn rf r.,
est endeavors to promote your interests; to ac-
cept my poor attempt to serve you as the equiv
alent of the more substantial advantages which
would have resulted from successful efforts
You have generously accepted "the will for the
deed"
From the day on which first assumed the
responsibility of representing your interests in
Congress to the end of my official term lust
closed, | have never ceased to feel conscious of
my inability to discharge in a satisfactory
manner the responsible duties of the position I
have felt most keenly that lack of facility of
expression, that want of readiness in debate
necessary to the attainment of the position of
influence which constituency such 1 was
chosen to represent, have right to expect their
Representative to occupy and in retiring from
public life with no expectation and no desire of
again holding any public Office whatsoever. my
only regret is that with opportunities such as
seldom occur in lifetime, l have been able to
accomplish SO little.
L A"VC OuuCdSoiCu " compensate III some
small degree for my short comings in matters
to which have REFEREED by devotng myself
all the more aSSiduOusly to those more humble
but l trust not uuimportant duties with which
felt myself more familiar and more competent
to discharge; and here let me say that much of
the credit which my fellow citizens have given
to me for appropriations obtained for improve
ments in the city and district, justly belonged
to our late distinguished Senator, the lamented
Fessenden, who, when entered Congress, was
inc fbn 70
dent Lincoln had, in obedience to the public
sentiment. called him at most critical period
of our history, the Secretaryship of the Treas
ury, to take his place again in tie Senate of
the United States. He met me in the most cor
dial manner on my arrival 10 Washington
upon my entering upon my public duties, and
gave me the advantage of his wise couusels and
his great influence, which at that time, may
say, without disparagement TO any, was more
commanding than that of any man in Wash
ington. From that time to the day of his
death he was my warm and constant friend;
the warmest fir end, the most sagacious states
man, the safest counsellor it has ever been my
good fortune to know. 1 shall cherish his mem
DRY SO long as 1 retain my own.
Mr.. Chairman, while l claim to have
accomplished nothing, 1 do claim to, and
have kept in constant remembrance the
pledge which | made when first honored with
nomination for Congress eight years ago. TO
devote my best energies to the interests of my
anu "ey NC aiioWCu w COY III bo
spirit of egotism that never have, L never
could have given eight years of more earnest,
conscientious labor to my own private business
than l have while in your service devoted to
your interests; and while confess to a par
TALLY for my political friends and for my fell
low townsmen, have endeavored to discharge
my official duties impartially, without regard
to sectional lines or a party preference For
this am entitled to no credit. To have done
otherwise would have been an act of base in
| gratitude toward most indulgent and gen.
erous constituence and an abuse of my
official position deserving of your severest CELL
sure 1t is the good fortune of the Represent.
ative OF Maine constituency that he is required
to represent no exclusive local or sectional in
terest, no interest that is not shared by most of
the States, few that are not shared by all; and
while our State has so little to ask for herself
no State has through her delegation in Con-
gress, under whatever political party, been
more liberal in aiding to promote the interests
and prosperity of her sister States, even when
that prosperity had indirectly tended to lessen
her own. / regret that this liberal spirit has
not always been reciprocated.
Our great interests are commerce, manufac-
lures and agriculture; which are also the great
interests of the nation. In the term commerce
mean to include the ship-building and naviga.
ton interests of the State, perhaps the most
important of all our interests. With our three
thousand miles of coast line embracing within
its limits the finest bays and harbors in the
world with an inland empire on our northern