mercy.

After this intellectual repast, then succeeded congratulations; the
air was made vocal with song; while, through the foresight of the
gallant captain, at the evening hour, the sky about the good ship
Joseph Whitney was brilliant with those various pyrotechnic displays
which must be so grateful to the spirit of patriotic John Adams, of
bonfire and illumination-memory.



Speech at the Portland Serenade, July 9th, 1858.


After the music had ceased, Mr. Davis appeared upon the steps, and as
soon as the prolonged applause with which he was greeted had subsided,
he spoke in substance as follows:

Fellow Countrymen:--Accept my sincere thanks for this manifestation of
your kindness. Vanity does not lead me so far to misconceive your
purpose as to appropriate the demonstration to myself; but it is not
less gratifying to me to be made the medium through which Maine
tenders an expression of regard to her sister Mississippi. It is
moreover, with feelings of profound gratification that I witness this
indication of that national sentiment and fraternity which made us,
and which alone can keep us, one people. At a period, but as yesterday
when compared with the life of nations, these States were separate,
and in sorts respects opposing colonies; their only relation to each
other was that of a common allegiance to the government of Great
Britain. So separate, indeed almost hostile, was their attitude, that