donderry,) of my progress to manhood, and of the tutelage of my Alma Mater, Dartmouth College. New Hampshire has been my Mecca, to which, since I have been a resident here, I have made frequent pilgrimages, always calling my birthplace my home; and can I ever forget it? "Oh no, I can never forget The home of my childhood's love; In my heart it lingers yet, And to that my thoughts still rove." Although I cannot be with you in person, I hope to be in spirit, (as these are the days of spirits,) to mingle in the festivities of the day, which will not be forgotten by me here. Please accept for yourselves and those you represent, my profound acknowledgments for your polite invitation, with a sincere wish that your festival may be one of great enjoyment, and that you may live to see and enjoy many others. With the highest respect, I have the honor to be Your obedient, humble servant, ISAAC MCCONIHE. Messrs. MARSHALL P. WILDER, FLETCHER WEBSTER, and others, Committe. The following sentiment is offered, if there should be a place for it: The Sons of New Hampshire who have migrated to Boston! They have been and are an honor to their native State, and to the city of their adoption. [From Hon. JOEL EASTMAN.] CONWAY, October 25, 1853. Gentlemen: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of invitation to the "adjourned Festival of the Sons of New Hampshire," te be held in the city of Boston on the second of November. I have been delaying an answer to your note, to see if it might not be possible for me so to arrange my business as to enable me to be present and participate in the enjoyments which that occasion will be so well calculated to afford. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to meet the sons of my native State now resident in the old Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with many of whom I have the honor of a personal acquaintance. But owing to indispensable engagements connected with the Courts, I have to regret my inability to accept your invitation. I have been honored by your polite invitation and complimentary ticket to attend the Festival of the Sons of New Hampshire on the second day of November next. Second only to the pride I feel in being a son of New Hampshire, is that of being so kindly remembered by you. I wish it were in my power to be with you, but it is not. An engagement here on the very day of your Festival is imperative upon me, and ties me to this city. Accept, gentlemen, my thanks for your kind recollection of me, and my ardent wishes that the Festival may do honor to those who have taken so deep an interest in it, together with the assurance that few things in this world could give more pleasure than to be present. Your invitation to attend the Festival of the Sons of New Hampshire, on the second day of November, has been received, but my engagements will prevent an acceptance of it. It would be gratifying to me to unite with you in the expected festival, for it is always pleasant to meet the sons of New Hampshire, especially those who have emigrated from that State. Emigrants feel for each other a strong sympathy, when the circumstances under which they departed from the home of their ancestors were somewhat similar. And most of those who have left that State, have sought fairer opportunities for improving their condition. They felt in some measure the narrowness of their affairs, and desired a broader field for action. And they went out; and wherever civilization extends, there they are found, and there they dwell. They follow all the various employments of life, in the city and in the country, on the land and on the sea. They receive a ready and cordial welcome in every clime. The blood of several nations mingles in their veins. Many English, Irish and Scotch settled in New Hampshire, and formed no inconsiderable part of its population. And they were not men of an inferior class, but were industrious, intelligent, and lovers of liberty. They were principally devoted to agriculture, that employment which has been truly said to be "nearest heaven." "Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield, Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke." The revolution found them true to the principles of freedom, and ready to fight its battles. Hatred of oppression was in them an innate sentiment. They could not patiently wear the yoke of tyranny. All ages and both sexes partook of this feeling. They offered themselves and whatever they had, upon the altar of their country. The voice of New Hampshire was heard in almost every battle-cry, and the blood of her children stained nearly every battle-field of the revolution. Their resources were not abundant when the war commenced, and when it terminated they were left in poverty. Their fields had laid uncultivated, their hard money had been spent, and the continental paper money had become worthless. They were in debt, and had not the means of paying what they owed. But their courage was not broken by adversity; it stimulated to renewed action. The plough, the anvil, and the loom, repaired their broken fortunes. The busy hand of industry has fed and clothed them. From such men we claim our parentage, and they have raised up and sent forth children to all parts of the world, and to the merit and renown of some, your commonwealth can well bear witness. One, at least, who now sleeps "in the cold embraces of the tomb," has stood preeminent among you, and added no small share to the fame of Massachusetts. Long may the inhabitants of New Hampshire continue to send forth emigrants, who shall walk in the paths of rectitude and justice, and adorn the land of their adoption. Their strength and influence must consist in their integrity. Without that, the untiring and fiery energy, the ceaseless activity, the willing industry, and even the calm and accurate judgment, will be of no avail. There is no enduring strength in vice; it always did, and always will bring dishonor, disgrace, despair and death. So long as the self-denial and manly qualities of the early settlers are continued, remote ages will witness the prosperity of New Hampshire, and her offspring will never cease to regard her with a just pride. Although the land of our birth lies in the cold regions of the north, it is beautiful to us. We love its mountains and its rivers, its social, intelligent and upright citizens. And wherever our feet may wander, or we may reside. in whatever region of the earth we may lay down to die, we shall never forget the place of our nativity, or those who are united to us by a common origin. I am very truly and respectfully Your obedient servant, SAMUEL WELLS. Messrs. MARSHALL P. WILDER, and others, of the Committee of Invitation. [From Hon. MOSES L. APPLETON.] BANGOR, October 29, 1853.. Gents: Extremely gratified should I be, if my engagements would permit me to accept your kind invitation for the coming Festival of the Sons of New Hampshire. Though I may not claim the honor of having been born on the soil of your cherished State, yet I hold all that pertains to her greatness and her history in deepest reverence. It was the home of my fathers, and with feelings of pious regard and filial love do I treasure up the virtuous recollection of those whose birth-place was amid the shades of Hillsborough county, and whose honored name it is my privilege to bear. Pleasant it is to thus keep up, by public demonstration, the hallowed associations connected with the olden past. You love the homes of your adoption, for they are sweet and pleasant; but, at the same time, your acts are testimonials in your behalf, that neither the vicissitudes of time or change can lessen the strong affection for the home of childhood, or diminish your veneration for your native State, and the patriotic achievements which emblazon its fair escutcheon. Since your former Festival, the roll of the living has been again and again shrouded in mourning. The mighty in intellect, the pure in motive, the generous in action, the noble in high example, of your common household, have passed to another home. Their memory will be embalmed in your hearts, and their eloquent appeals and exalted example will be part of the history of both your native and adopted State. If I might be permitted to offer a sentiment upon the occasion, I would propose The Grandsons of New Hampshire! True in their attachments, they will never forget the home of their fathers. With sentiments of esteem, I am yours, truly, MOSES L. APPLETON. Hon. M. P. WILDER, CHARLES G. GREENE, and others, [From Hon. JOHN H. WHITE.] LANCASTER, N. H., October 30th, 1853. Gentlemen: Owing to my absence from home, your favor giving me the honor of an invitation to the Festival of the "Sons of New Hampshire," on the 2d November, was not received until yesterday, and I take the earliest moment of returning my acknowledgment for the same. It would afford me great pleasure to be present and join in the festivities of the occasion, and were it possible for me to do so, I should certainly avail myself of this opportunity of meeting the Sons of New Hampshire in the city of their adoption. I should recognize many wise among them-many who have already reflected honor upon their native State, and many of whom she may well be proud, and many more whose talents give promise that New Hampshire is not soon to be left without worthy and distinguished representatives. But I have to regret my inability to be with you. Hoping that no son of New Hampshire" may ever have reason to be ashamed of his mother, or his mother of him, and wishing you all the happiness the occasion is calculated to inspire, I am, gentlemen, with the highest respect, Your obliged humble servant, Messrs. MARSHALL P. WILDER, and others, Committee of Invitation. JOHN H. WHITE. |