with a degree of interest that perhaps you may not appreciate. No city in this State has experienced so remarkable a growth, and I could not but think, as I passed through your streets, and looked at the palatial buildings by which they are adorned, that to European ears the announcement would seem incredible that this city numbers now nearly a quarter of a million of inhabitants, and that it has grown up to its present enormous size almost within the last half century. Europe exhibits no such example as this. Europe knows not the advantages of freedom and the benefits of self-government.

Sir, you have been pleased to refer to the bones of those martyrs to the American cause who sleep within the vicinity where we now stand. Can it be possible-can reasonable men for a moment suspect-that the descendants of those martyrs could basely sacrifice the patrimony they inherited from their sires? No, gentlemen, you say truly, never! Remember the words of the great leader in the Revolutionary war, George Washington. Remember that the advice which he gave to his fellow-citizens-his parting advice in his farewell address-was, to stand by the Union; to frown upon every man, no matter what might be his pretensions, who should presume for one moment to say he was a patriot, and yet would do any act tending to dissolve this glorious Union. Sir, in speaking thus, I know I speak but the common sentiment of the American people. I am not willing to believe that there is one in this room who does not concur in the sentiments of Washington.

But, sir, pardon me for again alluding to your beautiful city. I was struck with the order which prevailed today, without the aid of any despotic police regulations. Such a spectacle could not be met with in any city of Europe. You will see there at every step armed men ready with fixed bayonets to keep the peace. Here, in this free land, under this government of the people, where they make the laws through their representatives, and sustain them by their own might and power, no such gens d'armes are necessary to maintain order. Every man in this city, sir, regards him

self as specially deputed to keep the peace. This is one of the blessings of a free government.

I was struck with another thing, which is, that you have here a military array which would do honor to any city in the Union. It has been said that the fostering of the military spirit is unnecessary in time of peace, except as a preparation for war; and although I am a man of peace myself, yet I am also a firm believer in the maxim of George Washington: "In time of peace prepare for war." Therefore, sir, I commend your city for its military spirit, by which I was so much gratified, and I congratulate you on the fact that you have such a noble corps of independent soldiers ready to discharge their duty in the maintenance of the law, if it be necessary, and still more to vindicate the honor of the nation should it be attacked.

Sir, decency and propriety forbid that I should make any allusion to party politics on this occasion, and I am happy to hear you say that this reception is not tendered on party grounds, or because I happen accidentally to be a candidate for office. I should be unwilling to receive it if it were so; and its chief value is, that it is a voluntary offering to me, not as an individual, but because I have heretofore been honored by holding the office of Chief Magistrate of this great and mighty nation. Though I cannot presume to appropriate it individually, yet if anything could add to the gratification of re-visiting my native land, it is, that I have been received by my fellow-citizens with sincere congratulations like the present. I feel prouder of this than of all the marks of distinction which have been showered on me by foreign monarchs and nobility. Although I do not underestimate them, yet I prefer greatly the honor and regard of my own countrymen to all others in the world. As I value my own country above all others, so I value and esteem the congratulations of my countrymen above all others; and, therefore, it is that, with heartfelt gratitude, I return to you, and, through you, to the city of Brooklyn, my cordial and sincere thanks for this public reception.

Mr. John Jacobs, President of Washington Camp No. 2, Junior Sons of America, presented Mr. Fillmore with a gold-headed cane, engraved with the following inscription: "Presented to Hon. Millard Fillmore by Washington Camp No. 2, Junior Sons of America." Mr. Fillmore replied in substance as follows:

GENTLEMEN OF WASHINGTON CAMP NO 2, JUNIOR SONS OF AMERICA: This is not the time nor the place for me to allude to your appreciation of my public conduct. I can simply thank you on this occasion for this testimony of your regard, and I hope the time will never come when you will have reason to distrust my fidelity to the trust reposed in me by the American people.

Mr. Fillmore was conducted by the Mayor and committee, into the Chamber of the Board of Aldermen, "where had assembled some three or four hundred of Brooklyn's fair daughters." The guest was placed in the president's chair, and introduced to the ladies by Mayor Hall. Mr. Fillmore paid his compliments to them in the following

terms:

LADIES OF BROOKLYN: If I had sufficient voice and strength, I could speak in a fitting manner to you on this most pleasant and gratifying occasion. But this meeting was altogether unexpected on the part of your committee and me, and indeed I was not even notified of their intent until I was ushered into your presence. I have, therefore, for once in my life, been taken completely by storm, without having had an opportunity, or even a moment's grace permitted me, in which to prepare any defence. But, ladies of Brooklyn, I am very proud to be met and surrounded by such a throng of intellect and beauty, as I see here present. I have always heard that America was celebrated for the beauty and superior intellect of her daughters, but I never so much appreciated the truthfulness of this remark, as I

1

have during my sojourn in foreign and distant lands. It is there that I first became convinced of the loveliness and intelligence of American beauty. I had always been told that Brooklyn was celebrated for two things above all others, the beauty of her daughters and the number of her churches; but I never before so fully appreciated the justice and reality of that celebrity as at the present time.

Ladies, allow me to conclude by thanking you most kindly for this very unexpected and, to me, most pleasant and agreeable reception by you.

AT THE PIERREPONT HOUSE, BROOKLYN.

After he had concluded Mr. Fillmore was escorted to the Pierrepont House, where he once more spoke in substance as follows:

FELLOW-CITIZENS: Until I looked upon this sea of upturned faces, I did not think that Brooklyn contained so many Americans. I was astonished, and on passing through the city I could not help but ask those in the carriage with me if you were the residents of this city. I thought that a large portion of you must have come from New York, but it was not so. I wish I had words to express my feelings on this occasion, but I have not; all I can do is to thank you for this cordial welcome to your city, which is noted for its churches; yes, and its Americans. I can hardly believe that any man born in America can possess other than an American heart. Who of you is there here who would not be an American? I know not what your preference may be but I am satisfied that the country is safe in your hands and that you can never be induced to dissolve the Union. That of which I felt particularly proud, while in foreign countries, was the fact that I was an American. But, fellow-citizens, I must close; I did not intend to address you at much length, and I now beg leave to return you my sincere thanks for your kind and patriotic welcome of me to your beautiful city.

AMERICAN PARTY PRINCIPLES ENUNCIATED IN A SPEECH AT

NEWBURGH, JUNE 26TH.

FELLOW-CITIZENS OF NEWBURGH: Accept my cordial thanks for this hearty greeting. My friend has introduced me as the standard-bearer of the American party, and a friend of the Union. For the former position I am indebted to the partiality of my friends, who have without my solicitation made me your standard-bearer in the contest for President, which has just commenced; but I confess to you that I am proud of the distinction, for I am an American, with an American heart. I confess that I am a devoted and unalterable friend of the Union. As an American, occupying the position I do before my countrymen, I have no hostility to foreigners. I trust I am their friend. Having witnessed their deplorable condition in the old country, God forbid I should add to their sufferings by refusing them an asylum in this. I would open wide the gates and invite the oppressed of every land to our happy country, excluding only the pauper and criminal. I would be tolerant to men of all creeds, but would exact from all faithful allegiance to our republican institutions. But if any sect or denomination, ostensibly organized for religious purposes, should use that organization, or suffer it to be used, for political objects, I would meet it by political opposition. In my view, Church and State should be separate, not only in form, but factreligion and politics should not be mingled.

While I did this, I would, for the sake of those who seek an asylum on our shores, as well as for our own sake, declare as a general rule, that Americans should govern America. I regret to say that men who come fresh from the monarchies of the old world, are prepared neither by education, habits of thought, or knowledge of our institutions, to govern America. The failure of every attempt to establish free government in Europe, is demonstrative of this fact; and if we value the blessings which Providence has so bounteously showered upon us, it becomes every American to stand by the Constitution and laws of his