New-York tribune., 1874-05-08

OF those who sympathzed with their crimes He mas
also taken noble stand in the effort TO secure TO ouI
merchants o revision Of our Revenue laws. will call
on the Hon. Noah Davis. [Great applause.J
He then gave the following as thc next regular
toast and called upon the Hon. Noah Davis TO respond
the State of New-York: First in wealth. first in
population first in commerce-nay she always main
tain her proud preenlnence.'
COMMERCE THE AVOCATION OF HUMANITY.
Speech ofJaige Noah Dac,s
Judge Davis prefaced his address with tribute TO
GOV. Dix, and then said
The to which you ask me to speak is at once a
boast and prayer. New-York is indeed, first ~
How then may she always maintain her proud pre-
enluence 2" In agriculture she must already yield the
palm. In manufactures she be secondary TO sister
States. Her strength and greatness, present and fu-
ture lie in commerce. Commerce is the noblest ayoca.
ton OF humanity. She opens the door to CIVILIZATION
sp1 SPREADS ,aaiSFoa5 t9s ' arts tbs sciences, and
She pIecedes and creates light. knowledge, liberty
and justice, and all her just tendencies are toward uni
o and insjres In the arts she develops ana rewards
genius Ia sciences she promotes discovery, applies
results, and cOmpensaes merit O1 the land she re
binds peoples with roads OF Steel and cOnquer5 time and
space by the power OF steam and the art OF eegaphy
thoughts become lghtniugs, while on its bosom she
bears the luterchaDging haryestS ana products OF
terests by just aud equal laws, who give largest
freedom 10 her hands ana limbs, who set all her gaeS
aar well oiled, swIn with harsh grating at the
touch of all peaceful approach is bound in the near
future TO win and keep the wealth. tine population ana
the proud preemnence which the boast ana prayer
of your toast. NewY0rk has done much. and yet 900
little FOR internal commerce. She has IN herself power
TO encourage and strengthen that commerce By the SELF
preserving exercise ot the largest generosity toward al
her sister States Her canals must bo brought to tue
freedom; and errlroads must he taught TO know mat
the right of eminent domain conceded 10 them
10y the people is not given TO buld up
@ 9o ns9fo,isb hignways for the people
and their ntercnauges Of goods aud products at me
Tyyk cS1not eei.Ia 70 control her external com
marcc In this regard she is in the hands OF Congress
The of Congress have been, and still are IN too
large measure, trammels ana shaekes upon her con,
ncrcc Let not coIfOuud the freedom OF trade win
"Freo Trade" The latter is matter OF tarn or no
tarEof duties for protection OF duties for Teyenneoi
upon which men may widely disagree.
FREEDOM OF TRADE A COMMON PLATFORM.
Bat the freedom o! trade in the sense use it, is
common platform upon which men Of the most diverse
opinions may stand in harmony. By 1t mean that sort
of freedom which shall enable the merchants OF our
country to enjoy the rights and privileges OF trade under
the laws existing that ay exist in respect OF duties
without feeling that their Government Is natural
enemy, who has surrounded them wlth hostile forces IN
the shape spies, normers, m0ieties traps, and pit
falls III law unjust seizures OF BOOKS and papers ana
severe orfeitures and penaies TO wnch acts @
most criminal designs. such Il ana long mas been the
that merchant, however honest
and upright has been secure against falling into errors
of construction nlsapprehensions OF pracuce whch
bound to the law and what it requires and what
II forbls; and yet IT, not knowing tne law, ne does @
knowingly" the forbidden acts, out springs upon MN
the grasp OF the law, guided by the avarce OF mole
ties and mformers shares to drag nun 10 the par OF
the courts the less fearful chas or cOmpro
mise. the false idea that an administrative OIL
GER bound by his oath to administer the laws as they
of their justice and proprety lhaye always regarded
our moiety system as one founded upon unsound
Tce the oiers whose duty E Icn shond
he 70 prevent frauds and violations OF law.
and the same erroneous principle permeates all laws
that enable public officers to become inforners and
share u the fruits of discoveries Early In 1870 when in
Congress- introduced and pressed bill TO abolish all
mOetles and that hears witness Of views which have
NOT been changed because called upon In another ca
nSeity to aid in the administration OF existing laws
am glad to believe that the hour Is fast approaching
esfabhshing the freedom Of merchants; and If I
have been driven by unjust assaults TO go outside OF my
10 such an end, the general benefit VIII be
most ample reward
HARD CASES MAKE GOOD LAWS.
You have alluded Mr. President, to the OF your
own house There is an old saying among lawyers that
hard cases make bad laws That true of the decisions
Of courts But in practical life. hard make good
laws for they the attention OF the community TO
evil laws and compel their abrogation The blood OF
the martyrs Is the seed OF me Cnurchi MOI unfortunate
rated laws shall be found 10 have been poured out III the
blood taken from your veins. DenOunceu as nave
been for having certified solely through of JUS
tee that while doing acts which clearly violations
of the law, and thus subjectlng you 10 heavy pen
alties you and your house were free In my opn'
ION from all intention of deraudiDg the Government,
still hold TO that opinion as the exact demand oi
iustice and truth toward yourself. / have never, on
any occasion under any circumstances expressed
any contrary opinion. There was no occasion Tor DONG
where act forbidden by the statute ls KNOW
ugy done, though In Ignorance OF the law and even III
supposed compliance with ii. II loss OF duties Is the
result the question Of actual intent ~ deIrul is not
important legal sense, until the case, after Judg-
pication for reHission--which he is only permitted
| 10 grant where Intentional fraud "WIllful
| neCgcDCe" have not occurred. Not to have writ
| ten YOU as did, with the views had OF the law
and the facts would have been unmanly and dshonor.
| aDle Pardon tins personal digrcSsiDn. The bill
ported by the Ways and Means ong advance toward
good egisatiOn and should meet the announcement OF
this Chamber. Whatever ad5 commerce touches closely
thc heart OF our and city, oar city Is the crca-
ture very child OF commerce. Here IS the gateway
through which the wealth and strength OF the Old
World are marching into the New Give TO It's vast and
cosmopolitan mercantile interests perfect freedom from
the and feter OF unjust laws, aud II VIII surely
| attain unbOunded prosperity.
Mr. Dodge then said The aliusion in the speech OF
Judge Davis to the OF my house may cause you to
pardon a simple remark which otherwise might be out
Of place. You have noticed in letter printed in
The EceRi1 Post Of last evening, an insinuaon that
Judge Davis a certain letter with view to com
pensaop. II is barely doiag him justice to say here
that not one cent offered pad to Judge Davis
and he would scorn to receive 1t.
The fourth toast
| "The city OF Sew.YOIk-Tlc chef mart OF American
commerce"
THE CIrYS PERlLS.
~ O( Man UIpr