Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-01-27


tier recommendation to our affection and re-
spect, rs the friend OF temperate and regulated
li5 erty IN his own couutry. From the first mo
inent of the French revolution he was the dcci-
,ied advocate OF its general priNc,pie, and he
was the ocate CT that form Of civil liberty,
which ne conceived best adapted IL the circuih-
stances and genius OF France, iiIni! cd mon
archy accompanied with deiberative body. He
once Thought that be had attained this OBJECT,
but the excuses which followed Frustrated
all his fond hopes, and he himself, falling IN
to the clutches of despotic power, was thrown
Into the dungeons % Olmuts. A better state of
things afterwards succeeded, and he bad the
Immortal honor OF putting on record his vote
Ialnost solitary one) against tire enormous
grants 81 power to the late ruler of France
Ic is still the intrepid friend of her chartered
rights. As such, he has claims ON the respect
Of the friends Of freedom III all countries. But,
here, he has SO many claims to that regard, that
it would be an imputatiOn ON the American
character to suppose, that the measure now
proposed Will not meet with the hearty concur
renee of every member Of this House. If we
resort to the views and feelings of the illustrous
men who preceded us in this assembly, we
find only one sentiment, eyinced through sue
ccssion of ditteren acis, in relation to tins friend
of the American cause. Here MIR. l.. read a
Congress, expressing welcome, recording
thanks, Sci Here, said Ir. l.. ends the af-
fectionate, the touching intercourse between
america and this her voluntary son. But,
,vhe., ne left us ard we heard of his subsequent
imprisonment, farther resolution was passed,
requesting the President to take all proper and
practicable steps for his relief-By the heroic
efforts OF an American gentleman, who was his
campanon he obtained his freedom; and he
then sent his son for refuge to this country. ]
had myself, said Mr.. u. the honor on that ca
sion of introducing resolution, which autho-
riled the President to ascertain the fact, and if
it were so, to do whatever might, III bis rIsi9'-
nent, be proper to render the situation of the
young Lafayette agreeable, and evince the re-
spcct and gratitude we felt for the distinguished
services of his father
At present Gan. Lafayette is the only surviv-
ing general officer Of the Revolutionary war
he has EXPRESSED desire once more to visit the
he so etninen6p contributed to render
free and happy--onCe more to take into his
arms The companious OF his early tolls and dam
gers, and 10 witness for himself our progress in
improvement and the practical eXhibiGonof the
blessings OF a free ard enlightened governments.
Surely, sir, it is fit, it is becoming, ii such be
his wish, that he should be waited TO our shores
beneath ti,at flag which he once planted on the
breastwor<s Of our enemy. Let net ms coming
be in secret-let us join to do him honor-iet
the mode Of his conveyance to our shores cores
pond with that enthusiasm of the public senri-
nent which will greet hinl on his landing-if
gratitude has not grown cold, if feeling is not
,cai amongst us. Lafayette will be hailed by
ial Ills from cvcry part Of this land as hearty as
lev are ri..'', ,ac?itci.
NJ. Mitclieii stated, that since he had frst
sTouglt the subject before he house, letters had
ree1 received from t'le Marquis, extracts from
vh.;h he wished might now he read and nc
l&nlcd to The Clerk Of the House two letters,
)ne of the n to Mr.. 'yIlet, CT New York, ex-
Dressive Of the pie he should enjoy from
visit to the United STATES
Mr.. 4. Stevenson, O! Va. -len rose ard said,
.hrt ne felt il his duty 80 20 ;inunicate 10 the
House some recen! Intelligence tha, he had re-
ceiga.i, as - the MargI. De {.a'aye5e's wish to
return t. .Afa2rica. lie had then in his posses
ion letter (pfthc 25!h ofl'oyenbei LAST writ
to Il astirga1haSi citizen Of this country in which
the following sentiments were obtained &c Ey-
cry motive and feeling urge me to seek those
friends of my youth with whom may still ENJOY
the most pleasing recollections; to revisit the
happy shores ofan adopted country, which has
so well fulfilled our early and most sanguine ex-
pcctations, and where | find, in the third and
fourth generations, testimonies of benevolence
that fill my heart with the most atfectionate and
iev1lad r,a;ttnie. Sc Imore and more look for
.yard 10 che day when, with sac conscience,
i shall be NY napry lot 10 find myself oa Anne
r5an ground"
W.. Wariield said, the resolution under
cons IeratCn Which were original, roduced
~ MS friend and colleague, had his entire and
nos. cor,Ii',l appreciation. 1t Is not, said Mr..
m t,S tI,o
signal services rendered to this country when
in her utmost peel, by the great, the good, the
jllustrioyis i.aflyette-they have been expatia-
ted on bv fhe gentleman from Louisiana, (Mr.
are in the distinct recollcc-
ton Of every member of this House-ihey are
inielioiy imprinted on every American heart
they arc recorded-tbey adorn the faithful page
Of his his ry, aud will be read and admired by
ages vet to come. My only object, said Mr.
W. in rising, is TO express the hope that those
resolutions win -'acnive the unanimous appro-
baton of this body co imposed of the immediate
Representative OF the People OF the United
States Of America.
The question being put on the adoption of the
it passed unanimously in the afh-
native and the resolution as amended, was
ordered to be engrossed for third reading.
THE GREEK CAUSE.
Cn tu"hon OF W.T. w eDSter, tne house tnen
resolved itself into a committee of the whole on
the state of the union, Mr.. TAYLOR in the chair.
Mr.. Cay offered the following, which he de-
sire 20 lay on the table for consideration.
" yae,olDed bv The Se11qte md House of Re-
present fjUes Of the United States in Congress
resembicd, That the people Of these States
would not sec, without serious inouietude, any
f,rcibic interposition, by the Allied Powers OF
Europe, in behalf Of Spain, to rsruce to their
former srbiection those parts of th6 continent