Richmond Daily Times

Mr. Mayor and Fellow-Citizens—I need not say that I am oppressed with this reception. I am very much overwhelmed with it. It is one which a Roman General, in the proudest days of the Eternal City, might be proud of. (Applause.) I can hardly believe that the scene is real. It seems to me as if it was an hallucination. Mr. Mayor and fellow-citizens, it appears to me as if it were but a few days since I traversed your city as a friendless, helpless boy, and for all that I am, and for all that I hope to be, and for all that I can do for my country, it is to you that I am mainly indebted. To come back under such circumstances as these to my fellow-citizens, with whom I hope to spend the remainder of my days, forces on my mind recollections that are overpowering. (Applause.) I hope, fellow-citizens, and it is the last hope of my heart, that I may lay my bones in yonder grave-yard, with yours, and be permitted by Providence to mingle my dust with yours. Like the tempest tossed sailor, who roams to foreign lands in search of wealth—like the merchant who visits every sea and every clime—like the California gold digger who endures every hardship, while all these hope to return to the places of their birth, and to spend their money among their old associates, so do I hope to return again once more among you, and to spend the remainder of my days in peace and quietness among you. I feel that all the honors conferred upon me are comparatively valueless unless my conduct has the approbation of those among whom my life has been spent. [Applause.] But, fellow citizens, I know that the honors of this reception are not intended for me personally; far from it; they come from all classes of my fellow citizens, from all parties. Whig and Democratic, from every grade, as it were, from every color: and from the welcome that was extended to me across Main street, [alluding to a flag on which was inscribed, "Welcome, our own Millard Fillmore,"] to the little flowers that were thrown into the carriage to me, all are equally felt and acknowledged. I know that all this was intended as a tribute to the high office which I have the honor to fill. Your Mayor, in alluding to the subject, was much pleased to express approbation of the course which I feel it my duty to pursue in administering the affairs of the government.

I know full well, fellow citizens, that a painful bereavement of the nation brought me to the head of the administration at a time of great peril and anxiety to the country. I know full well that in performing what I considered to be my duty, I have wounded the feelings and lost the confidence of many in this vast assemblage, whom I loved and esteemed, and whose confidence would be the highest object of my ambition. But, fellow citizens, it is gratifying to know that in the main my course is approved, and it is pleasing to reflect that this approval is not confined to my own political party

Fellow citizens, as partizans we must differ as to the modes of administering the affairs of the government; but when the government itself is in jeopardy—when treason stalks abroad at the South, and show its snaky head at the North, then I hope to see the abandonment of all party feeling, and to witness a rally of patriots of all parties, to the support of our common government. (Great outburst of applause.) Fellow citizens, most of what has been attributed to me, is due to those distinguished gentlemen who are associated with me in the administration of the government. But we do not claim all the honor of having done something towards quieting the agitations of the country. A large portion is also due to those distinguished democrats—in Congress, and out of Congress—who gave us their confidence and their support to save the constitution and the Union. And I regard this testimony of yours, to-day, as not an approval of my course alone, but that of all those distinguished statesmen who stood by our common country in the hour of peril. [Applause.]

Your illustrious Mayor has also alluded with approbation to the fact that the government exerted its power in preventing aggression on the territory of a foreign nation with which we are at peace. In discharging that duty, fellow-citizens, the government was actuated by precisely the same principles as it would be in enforcing the laws of our own country. There is no liberty—there is no security for any one, unless law, whatever it is, is enforced. There would be no justice on our part towards foreign countries, unless we maintained those friendly relations, and extend to them the rights which are due from one friendly country to another. We might push headlong into a conquest with Cuba, or into a war against any foreign power; but don't you see the consequences that would arise from such a state of things. We would, by so doing, destroy the very principle on which our government is based, and our ruin as a nation would be the result.— Our only security, therefore, is in our justice, and in our moderation. Hence our government, hence our Congress, made it a criminal offence to invade the territory of any foreign country, with which we are at peace. [Applause.] In the suppression of the invasion of Cuba, I did but execute the law which I swore on the Holy Evangelist I would execute, and which I again swear I will continue to execute, if God, in his providence, shall let me live. (Great applause.) I did not rise for the purpose of making a speech, but simply to return my heartfelt acknowledgments for the kind reception which you have extended to me. Had I the language to express the emotions with which my heart is overflowing, I would say more, but I cannot. It is not in speeches alone that I see your kindness—I see a welcome extended to me in the numerous assemblage around me, who are here to meet me as brothers and sisters. He again thanked the assemblage and then sat down.