Ex-President John Quincy Adams in Pittsburgh in 1843

During the last summer, I received an invitation to visit a western city, to perform an act solely connected with the promotion of science, and totally separated from politics – I came for the purpose of lending my aid to an object for the advancement and promotion of the happiness of man on earth – for the advancement of knowledge, for which I hope all parties are equally zealous – the laying of the corner-stone for an Astronomical Observatory at Cincinnati. I accepted it, and scarcely had it become publicly known, till I saw in the public papers a call from some of my personal friends in this city, to visit and be received by them on my way to or from the point of my destination. This reached my ears as coming from personal friends; by personal friends I mean those who, during a long life, have approved of my political course and actions. Of personal friends, strictly speaking, I have but few among your number – there are few in your city with whom I have had the honor of a personal acquaintance. For this expression of confidence and this invitation, I felt that gratitude was due from me.

But scarcely was that invitation consummated till a still more comprehensive one, from the citizens of all the political parties, was given to me. This was an honor which has never been extended to me before, and I am not aware that it has been to any other – it forms an epoch in our history's history, and if in any thing I can foresee the voice of posterity, it is in that!

In compliance with these invitations, and particularly the last, I now appear before you. I had intended to advert to some topics of general interest, and to the principles which have governed my course of conduct heretofore, but leaving them to the judgment of all, and avoiding any thing calculated to offend any; – but time will not allow, and the circumstances are such that I cannot think of detaining you here. I must therefore request you simply to receive the effusions of gratitude from my breast, applied to each and every one of you. I hope you will consider those remarks which I intended to have made, as indicative of the desire which I felt to repay you in some manner for your attentions towards me; and I trust that the blessings of a bounteous Providence may rest upon you individually, and that the almighty Ruler of the Universe may render your course, as a community, glorious and happy hereafter, as it has been honorable heretofore!