Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-09-22
ALEXANDRIA:
.NO.FD.aT, SRPTEMBER %, 1917.
Froa: The National In;e2,gsncsr, Sept. 10.
THE PRESIDENTS RETURN.

Information having reached the Dis
trict that the President oil the United
States, on his return home from the per-
Torrance OF the important task he had
imposed upon himself, would reach the
confines of our territory on Wednesday
afternoon, he was received. few miles
above Georgetown, about 4 O'Clock, by
the mayor of Georgetown, and a depu'a-
ton from that town, who welcomed his
return in an affectionate manner. On ar
irving at the line Of the District, he was
met By numerous cayalcade of citizens
on horseback and in carriages, who then
became his escort. On arriving at the
boundary of Georgetown, he was greeted
by national salute from detachment of
the Georgetown artillery; previous to
which, the cavalcade had been mer by
Captain Thornton's fine troop of Cavalry
from Alexandria, who that moment a.; w.
ed, on very short notice, and joined the
escort in front. A volunteer band of mu-
sic Joined the procession at the same mo-
meht, and accompanied It to the end.
The ca1alcade passed down High street
to Bridge-street, at the intersection OF
which streets, the star-spansled banner
waved over their heads. Continuing down
Bridge-street, the President and his es-
cort passed over Rock Greek, at the ford
near Williams 4 Corroll's mill, 4 thence
defling to Pennsylvania-avenue, proceed
ed to the Presidents mansion. OR near
ing the house, the president was receiv
ed, with the hOnors due to his station, By
the marine corps, (under the command
of Major MILLER,) whose fine military
appearance, and excellent band of music,
added not little to the interest of the
occasion.
On his arrival at his residence, the
president dismounted, and was received
by number of his fellow citizens, who
waited his arrival. In behalf Of the citi-
zens Of Washington who had formed a
part of the cavacade, general ]. p. VAN
MSS de ivered to the president verbal
salutation, nearly in the following words /:
am authorized aud requested, sir, by
number Of my fellow citizens who have
the honor Of attending you upon this oc-
casion, 10 express to you our full conf
dence that the people of the District of
Columbia, after having viewed with No
common satisfaction your late tower a
mongst a part of your countrymen-a
tour deriving additional interest both
from it, manner and its bjects-cordial-
ly congratulate you on your return to the
Metropolis. We should do injustice to
cur own feelings and sentiments, as well
as to those of our immediate fellow-citi-
zens, if we were to regard with apparent
Indifference even any of the public acts
of one whose services and merits have
exalted him to the first rank in our dis
tineuished nation; and we need not ad-
vert to the circumstances constituting
this more than an ordinary occasion Of
that character.
In our present reception of you, sir,
whilst we greet you most affectiOnately,
we, at the same time, indulge in the lofty
reflection that We are exercising a sacred
privilege of ireemen, who, whilst they
have a right to approve or applaud their
public agents, are not compelled to do
either, and are too proud to flatter them.
The president, in reply, very politely
expressed his acknowledgment fol the
communication made him and gener lily
tor the marks of esteem he had received
from the citizens of the district. He ad-
verted to the Oh ct and circumstances
of his tour; declaring the strong sense
he felt of the manner in which he had
been received by his fellow countrynen
spoke Of the general prosperity every
where manifest, which had combined with
the necessary lcbors Of his tour the most
pleasing enjoyments; and expressed his
sati, faction at the many evidences given
him, during his progress, of national feel,