Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-03-18

s'oas by Tie y. ). ship Alert, from y. York"
Phiiud. paper.
" o.hiRgton, March IL.
The Swedish and Norwegian Minister Mr.
De kantzow, has taken leave of the President
with the intention of max ing Il visit to Sweden
In his absence, Mr.. Calm, Consul G eneral of
Sweden at New York, is constituted the organ
OF communication on the affairs of the lega-
ton.
The following address to the late President
OF the United states, was reported by the Com
mittee appointed tor that purpose. and adopted
al the general meeting of the citizeus ofWash-
ington, on the 27th nitimo. Ii was presented
on the 9th inst. to Mr.. Madison, who returned
the answer which is subioined.
To J.iHES MiDiSON.
We. come, Sir. in bchalfof the Citizens of
Washington, 20 mingleour congratulations with
our regrets ; Your political re trement; congra-
tulations that spring from participation as
Americans IN the un;arni.hed glory that accom-
ntiieS you-regretS that How from feelings d.
live to the loss are so soon TO experience
Atthis event, as citizens of great community
we feel apride only surpassed by our affection
as men.
When we behelI you succeeding TO the Mace
and honors of the iiastrions author ofthc De-
claration OF our Independence. under the aus
pices of whose private virtues aud public ,l,l-
Ties our local institutions were devised, we feel
more poIenantly the extent Of our loss from the
uncertainty that always hangs over the future.
We had found in him the enlightened friend of
place, which, amidst all the yicissitudes of
ITS fortunes, he continued with the great man
who founded ii, 10 consider tie keystone of
the union
In him, too, we had found one, who spread a
charm over society, by the urbanity, the hospi-
tality, the kindness of his private life
what, then, was our satisfaction on realizing
III his friend and successor, like devotion 10
principle, Softened by the same urbanity the
same hospitality, the same kindness, and per-
mt us, as we hope without wounding female
deicacy, TO add, irradiated bv a grace and he
nevolence that have inspired unver sal respect
and friendship.
We shall never forget, that, when our city
ieit the tempest OF war, twas Your wisdom and
hrmness that repaired the BREACH and from the
causes that Dlenaced its ruin, extracted the Gle
iments of It's stability and expansion. Nav yon
long continue, yourself happy, to behold i'm tho
prosperity of Others, the attestations ofyour
virtues, and especially, TO find in every heart
III W asAlngton sanctuary of gratitude!
Bound 10 the union BY ties indissolubJe. we
trust, as they are sacred, we cannot let this &C.
casi0n pass without contrasting for a moment
the past and present state of our country. At
the time youWere called To the Executive chair
the sky not only lowered, but the storm had al
ready hurst upon US. he world was i'm chaos
and violence and Injustice busy in the work of
instruction.. At that crisis, 10 one could feel
the weight OF responsibility more than Won did
or the obligations of that duty, which, while il
vigorously asserted 4 nations rights abstained
from wantonly eudlDg ering its vital interests.
You had participated largely in forming thai
Constitution under which we had fiourished
ana must have been fully sensible of the soiem-
nIty OF an nntred apprai which might prema-
turely exposed it to fatal pcrils. But the an
peal became necessary, and it was made. It's
fruits arc solid peace a name among The ma
tons OF the earth, a self respect founded upon
justice and conscious strength, aud above ali
a conviction that our liberties can never he LOST
SO long as that charter endures, which. formed
by tht Irsttaients, is now cemented by the best
oioon OF our country. At that era our rights
were tran pied upon-they are now respected
onrpropcrty was piundered--it is now whitman
danger spread over the globe our martial
character drooped-it isuow elevated ourn,-
Wy mad gathered an cphemcral laurel-itis now
crowned with immortal honor. Power and ma
tiona glory, Sir, have often before been ac-
CURED by the sword; but rarely without the
sacrifice of civil or political libert :. Iris hero
pre-eminently, that the righteous truniph OF
the one, under the smiles Of Heaven. secnree
the other. When we reflect that this sword
was drawn under your guidance, we cannot
resist onerInS you our Own,a "a we'll as q nations
thahkS tor the vigilance with which YOU have
restrained II within its proper limits the ener
ey with winch you have directed it TO its pro-
per objects, and the safety with which Won have
welded an armed force of fifty thousand mon
aided by an annual disbursement of many mil
LIONS, without infringing political, civil or re-
We remain, with the highest respect and re-
gard
JAMES II. BLAKE, Cha;rniau
On behalf of the Committee appointed by The
general meeting Of the citizens.
IL CARROLL, Secretary.