USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Danvers > Centennial celebration at Danvers, Mass., June 16, 1852 > Part 14
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readily. No people ever had better or wiser ancestors. The founders of Salem, who were the founders of Danvers, were selected from the best men of their day and generation. They were real men of God, and the seed they planted here' was the true seed of God. It took deep root, and has borne fruit continually, and will bear it so long as we appreciate its value, and strive to preserve it in the spirit of the original planters. You do well to honor their memory, and to cherish their spirit. This you owe to them, to yourselves, to your children, and to your children's children. All praise is due to you for the generous zeal and public spirit which you have manifested in this splendid, this heartfelt celebration. I thank you most cordially for the privilege of enjoying it with you. And I congratulate you upon the proud satisfac- tion with which you will look back upon this day, and forward to the approbation of posterity.
I have no time to dwell upon the virtues of our venerated forefathers, or even to name them. Nor is this necessary. They are known to you all. John Endicott, their intrepid leader,-the noble pioneer gov- ernor, whose fame will brighten with the flight of time,-is identified with the people of Danvers. He was admirably qualified, by his moral, intellectual, and physical energies, for the grand enterprise to which he was destined by Providence. And he, with his faithful compeers, will be remembered with increasing enthusiasm of gratitude for centu- ries to come.
I beg leave again to thank you, Mr. President, and the Committee of Arrangements, for the high gratification I have enjoyed to-day, and to conclude with the following sentiment, which is my fervent prayer :
The onward prosperity of Danvers-May the next centennial celebration be enjoyed by a people as richly blest as the present, and as justly proud of their ancestors.
A sentiment, complimentary to the PRESIDENT OF THE DAY, having been offered, Hon. ROBERT S. DANIELS responded :-
Mr. President :- I have listened with deep interest to the remarks of gentlemen who have addressed this assembly. They have done full and ample justice to all those distinguished citizens of Danvers who took part in the stirring events of the Revolution, and in the early part of the century, the completion of which we are now celebrating. Those events, and the character of our townsmen who participated in them, are a source of pride and pleasure to us all. But there are men of more recent date,-men of the present generation, who have been of us, and with us, and some of them now living, whose influence and standing have been of the most elevated and favorable character ; many of them I have had the pleasure to know, and have often been called to act with, in many transactions relative to our municipal and other matters. And, sir, may I be permitted to allude to some two or three of them ?
And first I will say of the President of the Day what I would not say had he not retired from his place and from this assembly, that he has discharged the duties assigned him on this occasion in a man- ner so able and interesting and so characteristic of himself, as to ex-
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cite the admiration and entire approbation of all our friends from abroad, and to elevate himself still higher, if possible, in the' esteem of his fellow townsmen. His dignity, impartiality, and ready wit have added much to the pleasures of the day. The deep interest which he has manifested in this celebration has endeared him to all his associates in the preparatory arrangements. And we all hope that he may live long among us, and continue his wise counsels and bright example in the promotion of religion and virtue, and all those traits of character which are calculated to adorn the possessor, and increase the happiness of the human race.
And there is one who was recently with us, but is now gone to par- ticipate, as I trust, in higher and purer scenes,-whom we all knew and esteemed,-who was cut down in the midst of his usefulness, and at a time when many of his fellow-citizens were looking forward to his promotion to the highest honors of the State. You must be aware that I allude to the Hon. Daniel P. King. Of a character so pure that the breath of calumny, if ever hurled at him, must have fallen harm- less at his feet ; of a life so uncontaminated with the evils and tempta- tions with which he had been surrounded during his public life that he secured the esteem and confidence of all his associates, he was a wor- thy example for the young and ambitious to follow. He served his country and his fellow-citizens faithfully and honorably, and he died regretted and beloved by all who knew him.
And there is one more of our native citizens to whom, under the circumstances of the occasion, I feel at liberty to allude, and of whom my friend* near me has spoken so justly and truly, and that is George Peabody, Esq., of London ; and it was my fortune to have known him, and have associated with him in some measure, before he left his na- tive town-not so much, however, as my brother David, who, I believe, was one of his most intimate friends. I recollect George Peabody as an active, intelligent young man, of dignified deport- ment, tall and commanding in person,-and I ask what has made him what he is? a resident of London, of immense wealth, highly respected and esteemed, throughout the world, for his high sense of honor, his unbending integrity, his public spirit, his humanity, his gen- erosity, and his elevated standing among the merchant princes of the old and new world. There is no one here to-day (and there are but few who have known how he has passed along from our common district schools to his present elevated position) but that would say his character, all the way through life, must have been distinguished for industry, for integrity, for virtue, for honor, and all those characteristics which command the respect and esteem of all persons, of all ages. These are all necessary to a successful business career. Think of these things, young.men ! You probably cannot all be George Pea- bodys, but you may attain to a desirable and respectable standing in the community,-and some of you, if you will but adhere to the rules of life, which must have governed him, may obtain wealth and an honorable distinction among your fellow-citizens, and a peaceful and happy old age, filled with a glorious hope of a blessed immortality. What town can point to nobler and higher examples, as incentives to
* Mr. Proctor.
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stimulate our young men to a virtuous and correct deportment, than Danvers, when she points to Daniel P. King and George Peabody. May the next centennial celebration find many of your names enrolled as high in the estimation of those who may meet on that occasion as are those of Peabody and King at this time. I beseech you keep them constantly in mind. It is an high aim,-but not beyond your reach.
The PRESIDENT then offered the following sentiment :
The Secretary of the Commonwealth-Known at home as the earnest friend of improvement and progress, and in other countries as the ardent advocate of peace and good will among the nations.
To this sentiment Hon. AMASA WALKER responded as follows :
Mr. President :- In making my acknowledgments for the flattering sentiments you have just announced, allow me to say that I accepted your invitation to be present at this festival with great pleasure. I well knew that the town of Danvers was rich in the incidents of her history, and in the romance of her traditions, and that she had sons of talent and genius by whom the deeds and legends of the past would be ably rehearsed in prose and verse. I therefore expected much, and have enjoyed much ; but I did not expect to hear announced at this time such a generous donation as that which you have just received from your distinguished townsman in London. Sir, I congratulate you, I congratulate the people of this favored town on such a valuable gift. That it will confer great advantages on you, I doubt not ; that it reflects great honor on the donor, I am sure. It is not the munificence of the gift, great as that is, but the excellence of the object to which it is to be devoted, that makes it such a benefaction to your town, and such an honor to him who gives it. Sir, this generous act speaks a volume of the character and feelings of its author. It shows that, elevated and distinguished as he is abroad, he has not forgotten his early home ; that, surrounded as he is by the elegance and opulence of the world's metropolis, he remembers, with gratitude and affection, the friends and associates of his childhood and youth. And more, it shows that he justly appreciates the state of society in his native land, and the wants of the age. It indicates that he has kept up with the progress of events, and knows that popular education, the enlightenment of the masses, the diffusion of intelligence amongst the people by lectures, lyceums, and libraries, is one of the greatest demands of the present time. In this, too, he shows that he sympathizes with the people, and that if he is a British subject, he is still worthy to be an American citizen, for he has an American heart, and republican ideas.
Lyceums, voluntary associations for the extension of useful knowl- edge, are no longer an experiment ; they have become established institutions in our country ; they are exerting a vast influence on the public mind, and doing much for the moral and intellectual cultivation of the people. Your friend, Mr. President, judged rightly when he determined that his liberal donation should be appropriated to these excellent objects. In no way could he have conferred greater benefits
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on you. In no way could he have impressed himself more deeply or favorably on the youthful mind of the present and coming generations.
Though not an inhabitant of this much honored town, and though neither I, nor mine, may ever receive any direct benefit from this generous act of your friend, yet, as an early and earnest, though fee- ble advocate of these now useful and popular institutions, I feel myself laid under personal obligations, and am emboldened to call on you, sir, and all who may hereafter be entrusted with the management of this fund, to use the utmost vigilance and fidelity in the discharge of your sacred trust. Let the income be ever judiciously and econom- ically devoted to its appropriate objects. Let nothing be wasted in show, nothing be spent on favorites, nothing lost by neglect. Remem- ber that this fund is not the property of any sect or party, of any clique or coterie. It has been given to the town of Danvers ; it is the property of the people, for their use and behoof, forever. So let it be understood and felt. Well appropriated and managed, this fund may be made to produce great and beneficent results, and afford superior advantages to the young people of this town. I hope, sir, they will feel inspired with an ardent desire to avail themselves to the utmost, of the means of improvement thus afforded them.
Mr. President, while, on an occasion like this, our minds are mostly filled with the memories of the past, and the interesting events of the present, it is quite impossible that we should fail to cast a glimpse down the long vista of the future. If the last one hundred years has done so much for human progress and development, how much may we not anticipate for a hundred years to come ? At the same rate of progress for the next century, what will be the achievements, what the position of the race in the sciences and arts, in morals and religion, in all that elevates and adorns the social state, on the return of your next centennial ? The mind is overwhelmed as it contemplates the future. Progress is the destiny of man. Higher views of duty, nobler aspira- tions, truer conceptions of the great principles of Christianity, and a more universal practical application of its leading truths, these must mark the century before us ; these must harmonize the antagonisms of the social state, and hasten the advent of that day when the spirit of peace, and the sentiment of human brotherhood, "shall cover the earth as the waters do the sea."
The PRESIDENT then proposed the following sentiment :
The Town of Beverly-Our elder sister, and one of Mother Salem's most comely daughters. Her distinguished sons are her brightest jewels.
To this toast, Mr. THAYER responded as follows :--
In justice, Mr. President, to my own feelings, as well as in behalf of my fellow-townsmen, I desire to make some response to the sentiment you have proposed, so complimentary to the place of my residence. For them and for myself, I assure you, the sentiments of kindness and respect it implies are cordially reciprocated. And I am most happy to congratulate you and the people of Danvers on the signal success of this celebration. When I heard it was undertaken, I did not doubt
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that here were the ability and public spirit to make it a very interesting and creditable one. But I confess I was not prepared to anticipate all I have this day witnessed. While the external display has been highly peculiar and brilliant, and this wide-spread and bountiful feast has been provided for us, a far richer provision has been prepared for the mind and heart. History and poetry, sentiment and song, sober reflection and facetious allusion, have together and largely contributed to our entertainment and instruction. The various historical reminis- cences, the important views, and facts, and events, which have been made to cluster around this town, must have taken the most of us by surprise. They certainly have evinced extensive research and exceed- ing ingenuity in those who have been at the pains to gather and ar- range them. I hope that with the aid of the press, they may be care- fully treasured and preserved to inform and delight the present and future generations. They would afford materials for a volume of great value and interest, not merely for the antiquarian, or for those imme- diately concerned as residents here or in 'the vicinity, but for all who would learn our origin and progress as a community, and would closely observe the chief elements by which a little one has become thousands and millions, and a small one a vast, mighty, and wonder- fully growing nation.
In the sentiment, which alone has induced me at this late hour to offer a few brief remarks, are recognized justly the family relations existing between our neighboring towns, and which constitute them in in the most essential respects one people. They are bound together by the strong ties of a common origin, a common history, and a com- mon destiny. The associations connected with their settlement, with the toils, privations and sacrifices of their ancestors, with the patriotic endurance and exertions of their fathers, with the grand interests of education, reform, progress, religion, are to a large extent the same with them all. They have the same characteristics of intelligence, industry, enterprise, order, sobriety, love of country, moral and Christ- ian worth. The three populations of Salem, Beverly and Danvers- the mother, with the elder and younger daughters, though under differ- ent municipalities, are, by location, by facilities of intercourse, by social and business relations, and by the manner in which they run into and blend with each other, substantially one. If united as formerly, they would now form a city of over thirty thousand inhabitants, which would combine within itself as great an amount of beauty and desirableness in position, and of what makes human life most valuable, as any other equally populous city of the land. Something has at this time been said about vanishing lines between this and Salem. And let Danvers be forewarned, that when such donations, as that which has just been announced from her munificent son in London, come pouring upon her, she must expect to encounter schemes of annexation from other quarters beside that of her venerable and loving parent.
Seriously, sir, if we borderers may not claim an equal share with you in that noble endowment, we shall make no ceremony in stepping over your limits, and appropriating to ourselves some of the best por- tions of it-at least, that which consists of the feelings of pride, admi- ration and satisfaction with which it cannot fail to be viewed. The
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spectacle thus presented is truly an inspiring one. It has a moral beauty and glory. Would that it might have its legitimate effect in prompting others, near to or distant from the places of their birth, to like generous uses of wealth and like splendid benefactions. Its author having, by diligence, talent, high character, and no doubt favoring for- tune, risen to opulence and commanding station, has had the wisdom to turn these to ends alike creditable and useful. In a dark hour of misfortune and disgrace he brought them to retrieve and support his country's commercial honor. By a stroke of social policy not less felicitous than bold, he converted a celebration of our national birth- day on British ground into an enduring cement of peaceful union be- tween our mother-land and her rebel offspring. To his countrymen abroad he has extended a heartfelt welcome and a cherishing hand, and among foreigners made them at home. He has not unwisely, as so many do, waited to have his superfluous abundance dispensed from a lifeless hand-to cast his bread on the waters when it could return to him no more. He would not die without a sight of the tree or without gathering from the fruit of the tree, which he had himself planted. Not content, too, with cultivating the field immediately before him, and doing the good which lies directly about him, his large and true heart, quitting the cares and whirl of business in the world's great centre, leaving the scenes of his triumphs-of the affluence and splendor which surround him there, where he dwells a prince among princes, a merchant-prince indeed, a prince of right-royal blood-that which flows in the veins of nature's noblemen,-with the beautiful love for the place of his nativity that is akin to the affection for one's own mother, traverses the ocean and comes hither, seeking out the house in which he was born ; the humble school-room in which he was early trained ; the spot where stood the ancient church in which he was taught to worship God, and from which it is provided with touching simplicity, in the conditions on which the institution he has so liberally devised is bestowed, that it shall not be far removed. That enlarged and liberal heart is with us to-day-in spirit, though not in person, mingling with a ready and thorough sympathy in these joyous festivities, and crown- ing them with a wreath of princely benevolence ;- thus rendering them thrice joyful, and by this golden offering laid on the festive board, and consecrated to good learning with the virtues and graces by which it is rightfully attended and adorned, gladdening the hearts and im- measurably blessing the minds of multitudes of the present, and countless future generations. Such an example, while it sheds lustre on our nature and universal man, belongs to the world. All of us in this community, whence it originated, have a peculiar property in it, which, were it necessary, we should strenuously assert,-of which you could not if you would, though I am sure you would not if you could, have any, even the humblest of us, deprived.
But there is one species of annexation I will engage that we in Bev- erly will not press. It is that of the fame-be it credit or discredit- which properly belongs here, in connection with the witchcraft of 1692. We are quite content to let that matter stand as it does,- namely, that while your ancestors set it going, ours opposed the first effectual check to it. There are some other facts on which with all
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requisite modesty we would pride ourselves, as, that our harbor sent forth the first armed vessel of the revolution, thus cradling the Ameri- can navy-that with us was established the first cotton factory in this country-that among us, also, was founded the first Sunday School, as that institution now exists, in the United States,-but on no other event in our annals may we dwell with more satisfaction than upon this. The orator of the day has alluded to the circumstances, which were simply these. When the awful tragedy was at its height, Mrs. Hale, wife of the first minister of Beverly, was cried out against as being in league with Satan. Such, however, was her remarkable excellence, that all who knew her felt at once that the accusation was false, the devil being the last person with whom she would be likely to cultivate any friendship or affinity. The eyes of her husband, who had previous- ly yielded to the delusion, were opened to its real nature ; and he forth- with composed a treatise, which was published in a small volume, and contributed much to stay the evil. I have in my possession a copy of it, and I know of but one other copy in existence. It is marked with the peculiarities in style and thought of the times in which it was writ- ten, but shows thorough investigation coupled with deep conviction and ardent love of truth. It will ever be honorable to his memory, and will reflect lasting honor on the scene of his labors and the spot whence it emanated. And Danvers, notwithstanding she might, in a former age and in common with the rest of the world, have labored under the disastrous eclipse of superstitious terror, was not slow to come out from its dismal shadow, and to avail herself of the improved lights of learn- ing and religion. For her zeal in cherishing her churches and schools; and other means of disseminating knowledge, and high and pure prin- ciples, she has long been distinguished. This day, certainly, she stands forth in the clear, genial sunshine of enlightened reason and right feel- ing, in regard to the delusion to which particular attention has naturally been drawn, and to all kindred ones. It appears to me, that on this point precisely the right key has, both in prose and poetry, been struck. Who shall deny that it needs to be struck with all the force of strong reason and high character, when we behold the many otherwise happy homes, which in consequence of prevailing superstitions and fanaticisms are in deepest misery, and the many otherwise useful members of so- ciety and advancing Christians, who are by them doomed to the ma- niac's cell ? I ask leave, then, in closing, to offer this sentiment :
Intelligence and Virtue-The great weapons with which to combat every kind of delusion.
The PRESIDENT next proposed the honored name of NATHAN DANE, which was responded to by the Rev. E. M. STONE, of Providence :-
I thank you, Mr. President, for the very kind manner in which you have been pleased to connect my name with Beverly,-a town in which I spent many pleasant years, and from whose citizens, as I gratefully remember, I have received many tokens of confidence and favor.
A thought naturally suggested by the interesting scenes of this day. is the influence of towns on the character and destiny of a nation. Towns act through individuals. They have their representative men
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through whom they speak, and by whom they illustrate the principles they hold dear. Of this class was Hon. Nathan Dane,-a name around which clusters all we venerate in man as a Christian, a Jurist, and a Statesman. On the 27th of December next, one hundred years will have elapsed since he first drew breath in Ipswich, and full seventy years have gone by since he established himself in the profession of law in Beverly. His long and honorable career is well known to the citizens of this town. It is marked by many acts of public usefulness and private munificence. Of his public acts, the most important are those to which your sentiment refers. By the first, the Federal consti- tution was rendered " adequate to the exigencies of government and preservation of the union." By the second, freedom from involuntary servitude was secured to four hundred thousand square miles of terri- tory, and the interminable West saved from a blighting evil that has so sadly marred the prosperity of other sections of our great and glorious confederacy. The ordinance of 1787 evinced a far seeing wisdom. It marked an epoch in our history, from which freedom dates mo -. mentous results. It struck a chord of humanity and civil rights, that will not cease to vibrate until the last link of oppression's chain is broken. It has drawn from the most gifted minds in our land the strongest expressions of admiration. "I doubt," said Mr. Webster, on one of the most intensely interesting occasions of his public life, " whether one single law of any law-giver, ancient or modern, has produced effects of a more distinct and marked and lasting character than the ordinance of '87,-and certainly it has happened to few men, to be the authors of a political measure of more large and enduring consequence. It fixed, forever, the character of the population in the vast regions northwest of the Ohio, by excluding from them involuntary servitude. It impressed on the soil itself, while it was yet a wilderness, an incapacity to bear up any other than freemen. It laid the interdict against personal servitude, in original compact, not only deeper than all local law, but deeper, also, than all local constitutions. Under the circumstances then existing, I look upon this original and seasonable provision as a real good attained. We see its consequences at this moment, and we shall never cease to see them, perhaps, while the Ohio shall flow."
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