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The simple shaft which rises from the spot where reposes the dust of the men who fell at Lexington, bears an inscription, the first words of which are "Sacred to Liberty and the Rights of Mankind." Sacred to liberty and the rights of mankind! The legend also reads, that they fell in the sacred cause of God and their country." May the God of battles preserve us and our country from this time forth and forevermore, from the awful necessities, the destruction and carnage of war. But if the Stars and Stripes of our American banner shall ever go forth, followed by the sons of those venerated fathers, replacing the old Provincial flag of Massachusetts, beneath which fought and fell the men of Lexington-may it always be borne in the cause of God, as well as the cause of our country! And may every inscription on the burial places of our braves bear truthfully the legend: "Sacred to liberty and the rights of mankind!"

And now, Mr. Chairman of the Senate Committee, I have the honor to thank the gentlemen representing your honorable board, to whom it was my pride as well as my pleasure to send a brief message announcing the reception, by myself, from the executors of Theodore Parker, of these ancient, historic, and precious mementoes, for the patriotic alacrity with which you responded to my executive message; and, also, to render my cordial and hearty thanks for the interest manifested by the honorable house of representatives, as well as the senate, in this occasion, which connects the present hour with the achievements, the sufferings, and the brave patriotism of the men and the women of the Revolution.

Through my unworthy hands, being, by the favor of the people of Massachusetts, the representative of her executive department, it has come to pass that this venerable trophy of the valor of Captain John Parker, of Lexington, is to be transmitted to the senate. To your hands I present it. Let it be placed among the trophies which adorn the walls of the senate, to be held there for ever as the memento not only of a brave man, but of brave men and of heroic women, and also as a memento of the pious patriotism of that American scholar, by whose immediate gift it passes to the Commonwealth.

But ah, Sir! with what words, with what poor speech of mine, can I present this humbler musket which spoke by a word which was more than a deed, on Lexington Common on that immortal morning, for the cause of liberty, of God, and of mankind? With throbbing heart and beating pulse, and dewy eye, and trembling lip, I part with this precious

relic. Dear Sons of Liberty who fell on all the battle-fields of the Revolution from Lexington all around to Yorktown! dear shades of all our fathers whose hearts burned with a love broad as humanity, and patriotic bravery which no taunts, no threats, no powers could ever discourage or cause to falter! be present now, be present always, in every hour of your country's danger, in every moment when hearts grow faint and knees grow weak! Be thou immortal, hanging upon the senate walls! May the providence of God preserve thee from decay, thou precious relic of the first battle of our country's liberty, thou almost living and speaking witness to the blood of martyrs! And O! if in any degenerate hour Massachusetts should falter or quail, may some weird hand beat the old drum that hangs beneath the roof-tree of the senate, give aim to this arm which spoke for liberty on the morning of the 19th of April, '75, and may it march again before the conquering hosts of rekindled patriotism and reinvigorated purpose!

Take that, Mr. Chairman! preserve it as the Jews of old did the tables of the Law in the Ark of the Covenant!

I know, Sirs, that I need not accompany this gift with any oration. Our patriotism is rekindled, our hopes of our country and our race are revived, by every memory which brings up in fuller realization and remembrance the heroism and faith of those other men and other times. Keep these relics sacred, for ever, to the cause of God and of your country.

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS

OF

HIS EXCELLENCY NATHANIEL P. BANKS

TO THE

GENERAL COURT,

JANUARY 3, 1861.

The President of the Senate having received a communication from His Excellency the Governor, announcing his purpose to transmit to the Senate, for the information of the Legislature, an Address covering a review of public affairs, and suggestions based thereon, it was voted that His Excellency be invited to deliver the same in person to the two branches; the House of Representatives having concurred in said vote, a Joint Committee waited upon the Governor, who thereupon appeared in the Representatives' Hall, and delivered to the Senate and House of Representatives, in Convention, the following

ADDRESS.

Gentlemen of the Senate and

House of Representatives:

In many of the principal States of the Union, it is customary for the chief executive magistrate retiring from office to present to the legislature a statement of the condition of public affairs, with such considerations as his experience might suggest.

In every government in which the inauguration of the executive officer is coincident with the meeting of the legislature, this would seem to be in many respects a salutary

regulation. The Constitution of the United States requires that the president "shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient." This is usually communicated at the commencement of the annual session, and so important is it, and so imperative the rule, from its utility and unbroken custom, that a failure to comply with the public expectation would seem like a violation of the Constitution itself.

So extended is the government of the United States, and so various its interests, that were the inauguration of the executive officer and the meeting of congress coincident, as in most of the States it is, it would be impossible for the president elect to enter upon his duties with a statement of such character as congress requires and the Constitution commands.

But with that felicity of adaptation to its purposes, which makes it appear, to us, like an inspired instrument; adjusting itself with inimitable accuracy, to the minutest and the grandest affairs of peace or war; expanding from ocean to ocean, and protecting Continents, as it governs Districts or States, the Constitution of the United States, probably without thought on the part of its framers, appoints the inauguration of the President at the close of a session, rather than the beginning, and thus offers to the incumbent the better part of a year to qualify himself for the important duties which custom and the Constitution together demand of him at the opening of a session.

The government of a State, in which the operations are less important and complicate, cannot be compared with that of the general government, but the practice to which I refer would be alike beneficial and convenient in both.

I well remember my own embarrassment, upon my induction into office, from a want of a comprehensive knowledge of the details of public business; and I doubt not my predecessors were oppressed by a public expectation which they did not feel competent to answer.

A retiring officer has also opportunity to present sugges tions which personal considerations would forbid, either upon entering or while remaining in office.

Considerations of this character, the long continued custom of other States, and the fact, that many delicate and important subjects have been referred by the legislative to the executive department for settlement, which can be explained only by those familiar with the principles upon

which they have been decided, have led me, although it involves a departure from the custom of the State, to present to the legislature, upon my retirement, a statement of the condition of public affairs, and the motives by which I have been governed during my term of office.

I entered the office I now hold for specific purposes. My acceptance involved the resignation of a public position, than which none could be more acceptable, to which I had been repeatedly elevated by a most generous and confiding constituency, whose favor I shall never recall without emotion.

It was my desire, not less for the interest of those with whom I was associated, than of the State, to unite in public action all who were substantially agreed in opinion; and to avoid the common danger of our time, the necessity of surrendering that which is important and material, in consequence of differences of opinion upon subjects of no

vital moment.

Differences of opinion previously existing between the different branches of the government and different parties in the legislature, necessarily led to the failure of many measures of more or less political significance and importance, and entailed upon the subsequent administration responsibilities much greater than would ordinarily arise. It is not my province, certainly not my desire, to attach to either party, nor to either branch of the government, the responsibility for this default.

Among the more important questions not arising during my administration, but entailed by those preceding, I may mention that of the Hoosac Tunnel; the continuation of the militia organization; the franchise of naturalized citizens; the controversy between the City of Boston and the State, concerning the Back Bay lands; the Act concerning the personal liberty law; the right of a Judge of this State to hold judicial office under the United States; the Eastern lands settlement; the question of boundary between Rhode Island and Massachusetts; the reduction of expenditures; the length of sessions, and many others of like character.

All of these subjects have been disposed according to our capacity and wisdom, with one exception, to which I shall specially call your attention. This is presented in a greatly modified form, and will not involve serious difficulty in its final adjustment. I am happy to say, that so far as I am aware, I leave to my successor the settlement of no important matter of legislative or executive character which has arisen during my administration.

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