Page:Reminiscences of Sixty Years in Public Affairs (Volume One).djvu/163

Rh Mr. Webster’s speech, he gave my administration an endorsement in these words:—“I wish in the first place to say that from the bottom of my heart I wish entire success to your administration of the affairs of this State. Into whosesoever hands these affairs may fall, if they are fairly and impartially administered, those hands shall have my hand in their support, and maintenance.” These words were received by the audience and by the people of the State as a more full endorsement of my administration than the printed text justified. They gave Mr. Winthrop and his friends much uneasiness and it is quite likely that they contributed to Mr. Winthrop’s defeat and to my re-election. In the course of his speech Mr. Webster used these words speaking of the people of Massachusetts: “And yet all are full of happiness, and all are, as we say in the country, well-to-do in the world and enjoying neighbor's fare.” This phrase puzzled me, but at length I reached the conclusion, that the people were living so well that they could invite a neighbor who called without notice to take a seat at table without making any change. In other words, that the daily fare of the people was good enough for the neighbors.

In the autumn of 1851 a meeting was called in aid of Smith O’Brien and his associates, who then were in banishment at Van Diemen’s Land. Of the project for the meeting I knew nothing until I received a call from a committee of Irishmen asking me to preside. I saw no reason for declining, and I therefore accepted the invitation, and without any thought of its significance in politics. It was said afterwards that the meeting had been promoted by the friends of Mr. Winthrop, with the expectation that he would be invited to preside. Upon the vote in committee, the invitation came to me, by a majority of one vote only. The meeting was a great success, and probably it gave me some votes among the Irish population.