258 [Assembly 



Mr. President, 1 congratulate you on the position which you are 

 again called to occupy ; you have often been honored by your fel- 

 low-citizens ; your voice has been heard sounding the tones of liber- 

 ty in the councils of the country, when the hearts of freemen were 

 failing them for fear. Your voice has never been heard excepting in 

 the cause of human welfare ; but. Sir, you never filled a prouder 

 seat than that which you now occupy. On behalf of the Managers 

 of the American Institute, I bid you welcome, fellow-citizens, to the 

 festival now open to the thousands of New-York, and those who will 

 crowd to it from other parts of the land j and if, as you survey the inge- 

 nuity of ourartisans, the skill of our manufacturers, the presevering in- 

 dustry of our farmers, the taste of our florists, and the beautiful fabrics 

 of American matrons, you should happen to say, " We are a great 

 people," the evidence and proof around you, on every hand, will go 

 far to save you from contradiction. 



