USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Danvers > Centennial celebration at Danvers, Mass., June 16, 1852 > Part 12
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I will detain you no longer, Mr. President, than to thank you for the kind allusion to me in your resolution, and to express the intense satis- faction I have felt in participating in the magnificent display and inter- esting festivities of this occasion.
To a sentiment in honor of those citizens of Danvers who have adorned the Bench and the Bar, ALFRED A. ABBOTT, Esq., first Vice President of the day, responded as follows :
Mr. President :- I could have wished that some one worthier than myself, some one of the many distinguished strangers who gladden and grace our festive board to-day, could have been called upon to respond to the sentiment you have just announced. But as you have been pleased to assign this duty to me, I know not how better to relieve my own embarrassment and the patience of this assembly, than by address- ing myself at once, and very briefly, to the theme which your senti- ment suggests.
Distinguished as have been many of the sons and citizens of this an- cient town in other spheres of action and walks of life, few, if any of them, have ever had more signal success or a brighter fame, than some of those who, on the bench and at the bar, dignified and adorned the profession of the law. I propose to allude to three or four names, certainly worthy to be mentioned on an occasion like this, when we may be expected, with a pride neither ill-timed nor immodest, to com- memorate all those whose character and virtues have brightened our local annals. And the first name, sir, is that of Samuel Holten,-or, as he is more popularly remembered, Judge Holten. He was not bred to the bar, but, at the early age of eighteen, begun the duties of active life as a physician, in which profession he continued with success and
BENITEZ PUTNAM LLD. Bust by King
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growing reputation for some sixteen years. In 1768, at the age of thirty, he commenced a public career which ended only with his life, at the advanced age of nearly four score,-a half century of as active and useful labor as was performed by but few men of his times. He was eight years a representative in the General Court, five in the Sen- ate, twelve in the Council, five in Congress as a representative under the Confederation, (of which august body he was chosen President,) and two years under the Federal Constitution. This was his distin- guished career as a legislator,-in which, relinquishing entirely his profession and all private business, he devoted himself wholly to the service of his country. A patriot, in times when patriotism was more than a name, few men were so active and influential from the very outset of the revolutionary struggle to its triumphant close. And in the troubled times which succeeded, when the good ship,-an argosy freighted with a world's hopes,-which so gallantly had rode out the storm and tempest of the battle, came nigh to being stranded even on the very shore which was to be the haven of her eventful voyage, this man was one of those whose sober reason, unerring judgment, and calm but stern resolve assuaged the mutinous strife, and conducted the high but perilous endeavor to its successful and glorious accomplish- ment. Equally distinguished was Judge Holten's judicial career. For thirty-two years he was one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, presiding half of that time ; thirty-five years a Justice of the Court of General Sessions, fifteen of those years being Chief Justice of the same ; and nineteen years Judge of Probate for the county of Essex. Intelligent and incorruptible, presiding with dignity, hearing with patience, and deciding promptly, his native good sense and great information, joined to a certain natural aptitude for the duties of the station, made him a highly capable and efficient magistrate, and se- cured him the entire confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens.
Such, sir, is a meagre outline of the man and his services. It is all that the time will allow me to give. But I know that you and all pres- ent will sympathize with me as 1 express the hope that the time may never come when we shall forget this name and bright example of a former day, or fail to cherish and honor its memory.
The next name to which I shall allude is that of one who still lives in our midst,-I mean the Hon. Samuel Putnam. The family to which he belongs is now and always has been a numerous one within our borders, and many of its sons in different professions have acquired far more than a local celebrity. But no one of them has illustrated the family name with a purer life, higher virtues, or juster fame, than him of whom I now speak. After a highly honorable and extensive prac- tice at the bar, in which he developed the powers of a strong mind trained by severe study, and accomplished in exact yet comprehensive learning, Judge Putnam was raised to the bench of the Supreme Court. For more than a quarter of a century did he fulfil, ably and faithfully, the duties of this high station, doing his full part to sustain and elevate that reputation of our Supreme Bench for profound learning and judicial wisdom which has made its decisions standard and indisputable author- ity throughout the land. Our Reports contain a great number of his opinions, elaborate and rich, than which few are cited with more fre-
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quency, or held in higher respect. At length, when the weight of increasing years began to oppress him, Judge Putnam voluntarily put off the judicial ermine, with a rare delicacy and commendable good sense resigning his lofty trust, while yet his mental vigor was unabated, and retiring upon his well-earned and still fresh laurels to the joys and comforts of private life. To pursue the sketch further might seem ill- timed. It is enough to say that our venerable townsman still survives, the ornament and pride of a large circle, surrounded by all
which should accompany old age, As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends,"
and that the proud regards of his fellow-citzens may well join in the prayer of private affection,
" Serus in cælum redeat !"
The third name, sir, I must pass over quite as briefly,-the name of one who was not a native of Danvers, nor is he now a resident, but who here commenced his professional life, and dwelt among us long enough to attach himself closely to the hearts of our people, and to en- title us to claim him in making up our jewels. I speak, sir, of Rufus Choate,-the lawyer, whose profound learning, acute logic, and honeyed speech have swayed grave judges and led juries captive,-the poli- tician, whose comprehensive statesmanship and graceful oratory have instructed and delighted listening senates,-the scholar, whose varied accomplishments and classic tastes have been the admiration of students and men of letters,-the man of the people, whose genial sympathies have won the hearts, and whose matchless, burning eloquence has ruled the passions, of vast popular assemblies. But it is upon his claims as a lawyer, more particularly as an advocate, that Mr. Choate's fame will and properly should rest. As such, neither American nor British legal biography can furnish many prouder names, of men who pos- sessed equal powers, or whose careers were crowned with such brill- iancy and success. It will always be to us, sir, a matter of pride, (nor will he fail gratefully to cherish the recollection,) that this distinguished man here won his earliest garlands, and that the people of Danvers first presented him as a candidate for the popular suffrages, and always sustained him with an enthusiasm which did equal honor to him and credit to themselves. Although of the generation of most of those who participate in our present festivities and yet on the swelling tide of his triumphs, it will not seem indecorous that he should have received thus much of tribute from those who will ever claim the privilege of cher- ishing his fame with peculiar care.
And now, Mr. President, pardon me a few moments longer while I perform a brief labor of love. It was my privilege to pursue a portion of my studies, preparatory to the Bar, in the office of one who, as was the case with Mr. Choate, was not a native of Danvers, but who, like him, commenced practice here, and for many years was identified with the interests of our people ; of one who was cheered by the affections and honored with the respect of many whom I see around me, as he was by the regards of all, both here and elsewhere, with whom he was associated, either in business or social relations ; one whose early
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manhood redeemed in part the bright promise given by his youth of extensive usefulness and lasting fame, but whom an untimely death cut down at the very threshold of the eminent career upon which he had so hopefully entered. I need not say, sir, that I refer to the late Joshua Holyoke Ward. He was to me more than a master,-he was my friend, and I should wrong my own feelings as well as do injustice to departed worth, did I fail to recall his virtues, and claim on this occasion a tribute to his memory. Mr. Ward was graduated at Cam- bridge, and pursued his professional studies at the Dane Law School, and in the office of Mr. Saltonstall, at Salem. On his admission to the bar, he opened his office in Danvers, where he remained until his increasing reputation caused his removal to the principal shire town of the county. "A careful, regular, and indefatigable student," his learn- ing and logical powers gave him great weight with the court; while a uniform affability, ready wit, unequalled tact, earnest manner, and eloquent speech, all combined to win for him the favor of the jury and the success of his cause. At Nisi Prius, few men with whom he was called to compete equalled him, certainly none of his own age and terms at the bar excelled him. In 1844, Mr. Ward was appointed an associate Justice of the Court of Common Pleas. Striking as had been his success as a counsellor and advocate, his success as a judge was even more marked. Although fresh from those sharp forensic encounters in which he had engaged with such warmth and manifest pleasure, and which are supposed to develope habits of thought and traits of mind not the most favorable for the proper discharge of the judicial functions, and although he was taken away before he had hardly more time than would seem to have been requisite to adjust his robes of office, yet such had been his training, such were his natural powers, his aptness and fitness, that he presented at once a model example of judicial character and excellence, and made and left a broad and shining mark. To quote the criticism of a high authority, "Judge Ward, at the time of his death, was the youngest judge of any court of record in Massachusetts, and had held a seat on the bench for only the short term of four years ; and yet it is true, of him, that he had lived and served long enough to acquire a reputation which is rarely attained for legal learning and skill, and to furnish a model of judicial exactness and accuracy, of facility in the despatch of business, and of courtesy and impartiality in his intercourse with counsel and all parties in court, which has been acknowledged in terms of striking commendation by the bars of all the counties. * * * *
As a counsellor and judge, he was remarkable for a quick and ready perception of the points of a case, of the proper application of princi- ples and precedents, and of the bearing of evidence. His views were conceived and expressed with a remarkable clearness; and it was never difficult for him to make palpable, alike to counsel and to juries, the precise state of the law, and the material testimony, on which he saw that a case must turn. In criminal cases he was eminently suc- cessful in assuring the counsel, on both sides, that they should have the full benefit of every rule of law, and that exact justice would be
dispensed in the mode of conducting the trial. * * * * * Judge Ward was compelled to terminate abruptly a term of the Munic-
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ipal Court, (at Boston,) when he returned home to pass through his last struggle with the excruciating disease which, for several years, had threatened the early termination of his life. It serves to increase our admiration of his judicial career, and especially of the cheerful spirit which he always exhibited, to be thus reminded that the heavy labors which devolved upon him were mostly performed while he was in a state of bodily infirmity, and often under the torture of the most acute suffering." Such, sir, was the professional character of our former neighbor and friend, whose loss is so much to be deplored. Most of you remember what he was in other relations, how active and useful a citizen, how upright and honorable a man, how amiable and attractive in social life; if not, go ask of his brethren, who still cherish with peculiar fondness the recollection alike of his public usefulness and private virtues. I esteem it an especial privilege to have had the opportunity, long desired, of recalling him in this public manner, and of testifying my affectionate regards for the memory of one who was, with more truth than the poet could say,
"My guide, philosopher and friend."
I have thus, Mr. President, in a humble way, in such a manner as my poor judgment suggested, performed the task you assigned me. I have not alluded to some names which perhaps should have been mentioned ; I selected those which by common consent towered above all. I can only add that there have been others of the legal profession in our midst, from time to time, of great ability and worth, whose services secured the patronage, and whose virtues won the confidence and commanded the respect of their fellow-citizens. Nor, sir, have I time to dwell upon any of those general reflections which naturally occur to the mind upon such a review as we have had. Certainly here, too, as in everything that relates to our local history, there is good cause for congratulation. Let us hope that the future will be as honorable as the past. Let us, each and all, and those who come after us, so live and act, that when another hundred years shall have passed away, those who then celebrate this day and review the generations which have gone, shall find in the retrospect equal cause for rejoicing and pride.
The next sentiment was-
The Imitative and Fine Arts-These are appropriately represented here by the presence of one of our native citizens, the recollections of whose childhood and youth are engraved on his memory. We feel that his fellow-citizens have a right to some of the proof impressions.
To this, GEORGE G. SMITH, Esq., of Boston, responded :
I suppose, Mr. President, that, according to custom in such cases, I must take this kind sentiment as calling upon me to speak, and this, of course, I am quite willing to do,-strange if I were not, amid the wealth of incentives which are showered upon me by the scene around us. Unfortunately, however, I do not feel myself exactly qualified to speak, except upon what relates to the order to which I belong. What I have to say, therefore, will be of the Operative, and his relations to this occasion and to society.
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What is it, then, which has so built up the prosperity of our native town ? What is the secret of her progress in so short a time from what she was to what she is? It is, is it not, the industry, skill, and perseverance of her mechanics ? her men of toil ? her hard-handed and clear-headed aristocracy of labor ? the only aristocracy which I trust will ever obtain, within her borders, either respect or influence.
Why, let us look, sir, at the Danvers of the early part of the present century ; she then contained, I believe, something short of 3000 in- habitants ; and in the manufacture of leather, for instance,-then, as now, her principal product,-there were, as I well remember, from Frye's mill up the stream, first Fitch Poole's and Ward Poole's tan- yards, then Squiers Shove's, then Edward Southwick's, and then Den- ison Wallace's ; and these were all on that road. There was one in the lane, I believe the oldest of all, good old Deacon Poor's, where I have an indistinct recollection of having seen some of the large tubs. still remaining, which tradition had handed down as having been for- many years the good deacon's only vats. And there were two, I think, in New Mills. As for any other branch of handicraft; excepting the time-honored manufactories of Danvers china, on Gape lane and South- wick's lane, there was really nothing at all, of any extent. To be sure, good old Uncle Henry Buxton had formerly carried on his trade of buckle-making, in a little shop situated, I think, between the last Bux- ton house and Deacon Poor's ; but we never saw any of the products of his ingenuity, for, poor man ! his occupation was gone in our day, and had been since that memorable morning when George, Prince of Wales, made his appearance in London streets with shoe strings : then buckles became unfashionable, and, of course, buckle makers were no longer wanted.
The little shop, however, with its closed windows showing that its trade was dead, was an object of great interest to the young America of that day, and I remember we used to look at it with a sort of awe- struck curiosity, arising, I suppose, from our indefinite ideas of the unknown operations formerly carried on there.
But these good, sleepy, Rip-Van-Winkle days, however, had their pleasant side. It was a pleasant place, then, this old town of ours, when there were green fields and shady walks where now are dusty streets and busy factories. I shall never forget the old back way by the pond, with its locust trees, loading the air in the season of blossoms with their honey-like fragrance. And the pond ; not as now, but un- shorn of its fair proportions, its green banks sloping gently down to the clear water, and bordered with bright rushes and flowery water plants. But these contrastings of what was with what is, missing the old famil- iar faces as well as the old familiar places, are unprofitable. What is, must be. Let us be thankful, then, for what we have,-in this occa- sion particularly,-and enjoy it, as God means it to be enjoyed.
To return to our subject. In contrast to what I have described, you have now about forty tanneries in the South Parish and in New Mills, with about 3000 vats, in which are tanned some 150,000 hides per annum, producing annually leather to the amount of perhaps half a million of dollars, and giving employment to hundreds of industrious workmen.
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The shoe business, too, has grown up entirely within the last twenty- five years, and adds, perhaps, half a million yearly to the value of your products. I say nothing of other handicrafts consequent on these, nor of manufactories, which would of course greatly swell the aggre- gate amount and value of industrial results ; I wish merely to call your attention to the enormous increase from, say 1804, when your popula- tion was between two and three thousand, and the value of your pro- ducts perhaps $100,000 at most, to 1852, when your population is more than 8000, and the value of your products certainly two millions !
Now this immense increase in amount and value of the products of industry you certainly owe to your mechanics ; they have made it all ! It may be said, with the aid of capital. True ; but who made the capital ? How was it made ? Was it created by any mysterious process aside from the labor of human hands ? Not at all ; capital is, and must always be, as much the result of hand labor employed in some way, as the building of a house, or the construction of a machine.
The mechanic, then, or rather the operative,-the Farmer, the Me- chanic, and the Artisan,-they are in some sense now, and are getting to be more and more, I say, the preponderating and therefore the influ- ential class. Let us take the facts then which prove this growing pre- ponderance of the operative.
In our own country, by the census of 1810,-the only one which as yet has classified the professions,-there were engaged in agriculture and manufactures, more than ninety per cent. of the inhabitants ; in England, by the census of the same year, something like eighty per cent. ; in France, in 1817, by the estimate of Count Laborde, about eighty-two per cent. ; and in the city of Glasgow, in 1831, more than fifty per cent., exclusive, of course, of agriculturists. And judging from what has formerly taken place, this preponderance of operatives has increased rather than diminished.
Now these data would, on merely numerical grounds, settle the question ; but there is another element in the influence of this class, which is gradually bringing about changes so important, that the mind grows dizzy when it contemplates their possible, nay their inevitable, results. I mean that ever-increasing intelligence which is continually bringing more and more upon an intellectual level the various classes of society the world over ; but particularly in this country. Who can estimate the changes which this simple consequence of human ad- vancement, too much overlooked as it seems to me, is destined to make in the world. We cannot foresee precisely what they will be ; they will be gradual, no doubt ; they may occupy ages, for aught we know, for their full accomplishment : but we do know, we can foresee, that when the day arrives in which the term " educated classes" shall have lost its meaning, because all classes are educated ; when the operative class has all needed knowledge within itself, requiring no aid from any other ; then-who can doubt it ?- the whole face of society must be changed. And, however it may square with our present ideas, sym- pathies, or prejudices, the fact is nevertheless certain, that in the world's future,-in some shape or other,-the operative must be its king.
I beg you, Mr. President, to believe that I do not make these
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remarks in any wild spirit of radicalism. I am, in the ordinary sense of the word, no radical, that is, no destructionist. I see far too much of the mischief which untimely theories have done to the cause of free- dom in other lands, to broach them here. I believe, in fact, that true progress can go on only under an enlightened conservatism. I believe in God's providence ; that he " governs this world with gracious de- sign ;" and I recognize his hand as evidently in this, to my view, inevitable consequence of the law of progress, as I do in everything else.
There is another principle which the operative will come more and more to see ; it is this : that his position has been, throughout the ages, precisely that to which his intelligence entitled him. This, I think, history establishes beyond a doubt ; and he will naturally conclude, therefore, that, as it has been in the past, so will it be in the future. Suppose, for instance, that the rude serf or mechanic of the Middle Ages, (to go no farther back,) had been entrusted with the power, or enjoyed the consideration, which is the operative's privilege here, and now. What could he have done with them, but sink himself still deeper in the abyss of degradation and sensuality to which his igno- rance then necessarily confined him. With advancing intelligence, come advancing privileges and respect. Has it not always been so, and will it not always be so ? And will not the operative, as he gains knowledge, voluntarily decline to grasp a power, or a social position, which he cannot wield nor enjoy, while he has the certainty that, in proportion as he becomes able to wield and enjoy them, they will,- and, by the law of Providence, naturally must,-fall into his hands ? And I look therefore upon this consequence of advancement with en- tire trust that all will be well. True progress permits no violent up- rooting of existing institutions ; its march will be gradual,-tranquil. Wiser and wiser will its directors grow, from age to age ; and its full consummation will be benevolence and peace.
Now, Mr. President, I am aware that these opinions of mine, founded as I verily believe they are upon sound principles, may, nevertheless, be wrong. I am aware that, as thousands wiser than I am have done, I may have overlooked some element in the calculation, which should entirely reverse its conclusions. But, as the more I think on what I have said, the more firmly persuaded am I of its truth, and, moreover, as I see so much in the scene around me to confirm this persuasion, I must be permitted to hold fast the faith till I am fairly beaten out of it.
I have said that I see much in the scene around me to confirm these conclusions ; and is it not so ? In what other country, under heaven, could we look upon an assembly like this, convened under circum- stances of such perfect social equality ? Point me out, if you can, the aristocratic element of this celebration ? Look at our good Orator ! He belongs to one of the learned professions, you say. True, but his family was not one of the " Robe," as they used to say in France, be- fore the revolution. His good father,-a stalwart specimen he was, too, of our legitimate aristocracy,-would have found himself sadly troubled I know by any other robe than his good, old, homespun farmer's frock and trowsers. And my old and respected friend the Poet of the day, whose well-remembered voice has awakened in my soul so many long- buried memories, he will not claim kindred, either, with any other aristocracy than this, I know.
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