Inside Faneuil HallI just returned from my trip to Boston with my good friends Adam and Hillary. I wish we would have had more time to see all the rich history there associated with our Nations founding. I believe my favorite sites we were able to see in only a couple of short days were Faneuil Hall and the old South Church. I had meant to post a little before we left for our trip, quoting a speech given by Jefferson Davis at Faneuil Hall on October 12th, 1858. I realized that a few past quotes I have posted from Mr. Davis are also from this same speech. I wanted to quote what Davis said about Boston, and particularly Faneuil Hall. As I sat inside this historic building, I tried to call to mind what Jefferson Davis had said about the patriotism of many of those men who had spoken there before him leading up to the Revolution. Here is part of that speech, given three years before the 'Second War for Independence' was fought.
"When I see Faneuil Hall thus thronged it reminds me of another meeting when it was found too small to contain the assembly that met here, on the call of the people, to know what should be done in relation to the tea-tax, and when, Faneuil Hall being too small, they went to the old South Church, which still stands a monument of your early day. I hope the time will soon come when many Democratic meetings in Boston will be too large for Faneuil Hall. I am welcomed to this hall, so venerable for all the associations of our early history; to this hall of which you are so justly proud, and the memories of which are part of the inheritance of every American citizen; and I felt, as I looked upon it, and remembered how many voices of patriotic fervor have filled it; how here the first movement originated from which the Revolution sprang; how here began the system of town meetings, and free discussion- that, though my theme was more humble than theirs, as befitted my humbler powers, I had enough to warn me that I was assuming much to speak in this sacred chamber. But, when I heard your distinguished orator say that words uttered here could never die, that they lived and became a part of the circumambient air, I felt a hesitation which increases upon me with the remembrance of his expressions. But, if those voices which breathed the first impulse into colonies- now the United States- to proclaim independence, and to unite for resistance against the power of the mother-country; if those voices live here still, how must they fare who come here to preach treason to the Constitution and to assail the union of these States? It would seem that their criminal hearts would fear that those voices, so long slumbering, would break silence, that those forms which hang upon these walls behind me might come forth, and that the sabres so long sheathed would leap from their scabbards to drive from this sacred temple those who desecrate it as did the money-changers who sold doves in the temple of the living God.
Here you have, to remind you, and to remind all who enter this hall, the portraits of those men who are dear to every lover of liberty, and part and parcel of the memory of every American citizen; and highest among them all I see you have placed Samuel Adams and John Hancock.....
But it is not here alone, nor in reminiscences connected with the objects which present themselves within this hall, that the people of Boston have much to excite their patriotism and carry them back to the great principles of the Revolutionary struggle. Where will you go and not meet some monument to inspire such sentiments? Go to Lexington and Concord, where sixty brave countrymen came with their fowling-pieces to oppose six hundred veterans- where they forced those veterans back, pursuing them on the road, fighting from every barn, and bush, and stock, and stone, till they drove them retreating to the ships from which they went forth. And there stand those monuments of your early patriotism, Breed's and Bunker's Hills, whose soil drank the martyr-blood of men who lived for their country and died for mankind! Can it be that any of you should tread that soil and forget the great purposes for which these men died?"
This is only a small part of this beautiful speech that goes on to talk about community independence, and state sovereignty. I found myself at times, visiting these truly historic sites of our liberty wondering what these great men and women that Mr. Davis refers to would think of this country now. I can only think that they would be disappointed that we have squandered so much of what they bravely fought and died defending. So many places preserved from our history, only seem like more of a theme park for many people. It struck me as very weighty ground that I stood upon. The bravery of these men, to do more than just talk, but to act upon those principles they lived by in the face of the might of England, ought to make us brave to act peaceably to see that our government honors and lives by these same principles.
Quote is taken from Jefferson Davis, Ex-President of The Confederate States of America Volume 1: A Memoir By His Wife by Varina Howell Davis.
"When I see Faneuil Hall thus thronged it reminds me of another meeting when it was found too small to contain the assembly that met here, on the call of the people, to know what should be done in relation to the tea-tax, and when, Faneuil Hall being too small, they went to the old South Church, which still stands a monument of your early day. I hope the time will soon come when many Democratic meetings in Boston will be too large for Faneuil Hall. I am welcomed to this hall, so venerable for all the associations of our early history; to this hall of which you are so justly proud, and the memories of which are part of the inheritance of every American citizen; and I felt, as I looked upon it, and remembered how many voices of patriotic fervor have filled it; how here the first movement originated from which the Revolution sprang; how here began the system of town meetings, and free discussion- that, though my theme was more humble than theirs, as befitted my humbler powers, I had enough to warn me that I was assuming much to speak in this sacred chamber. But, when I heard your distinguished orator say that words uttered here could never die, that they lived and became a part of the circumambient air, I felt a hesitation which increases upon me with the remembrance of his expressions. But, if those voices which breathed the first impulse into colonies- now the United States- to proclaim independence, and to unite for resistance against the power of the mother-country; if those voices live here still, how must they fare who come here to preach treason to the Constitution and to assail the union of these States? It would seem that their criminal hearts would fear that those voices, so long slumbering, would break silence, that those forms which hang upon these walls behind me might come forth, and that the sabres so long sheathed would leap from their scabbards to drive from this sacred temple those who desecrate it as did the money-changers who sold doves in the temple of the living God.
Here you have, to remind you, and to remind all who enter this hall, the portraits of those men who are dear to every lover of liberty, and part and parcel of the memory of every American citizen; and highest among them all I see you have placed Samuel Adams and John Hancock.....
But it is not here alone, nor in reminiscences connected with the objects which present themselves within this hall, that the people of Boston have much to excite their patriotism and carry them back to the great principles of the Revolutionary struggle. Where will you go and not meet some monument to inspire such sentiments? Go to Lexington and Concord, where sixty brave countrymen came with their fowling-pieces to oppose six hundred veterans- where they forced those veterans back, pursuing them on the road, fighting from every barn, and bush, and stock, and stone, till they drove them retreating to the ships from which they went forth. And there stand those monuments of your early patriotism, Breed's and Bunker's Hills, whose soil drank the martyr-blood of men who lived for their country and died for mankind! Can it be that any of you should tread that soil and forget the great purposes for which these men died?"
This is only a small part of this beautiful speech that goes on to talk about community independence, and state sovereignty. I found myself at times, visiting these truly historic sites of our liberty wondering what these great men and women that Mr. Davis refers to would think of this country now. I can only think that they would be disappointed that we have squandered so much of what they bravely fought and died defending. So many places preserved from our history, only seem like more of a theme park for many people. It struck me as very weighty ground that I stood upon. The bravery of these men, to do more than just talk, but to act upon those principles they lived by in the face of the might of England, ought to make us brave to act peaceably to see that our government honors and lives by these same principles.
Quote is taken from Jefferson Davis, Ex-President of The Confederate States of America Volume 1: A Memoir By His Wife by Varina Howell Davis.
Old South Meeting House
Fenway Park
Old North Church
Faneuil Hall
Old State House
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