Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-11-09

companies, in uniform, and took their
stations on both sides of the civic arch.
As soon as the General had entered,
Miss Sarah M. Watterston, represent
ing the District of Columbia, snd about
/ years old, advanced, and addressed
him in the following words:
Gen. La FAyETrE: A new generation,
as well as new cities aud new states,
have arisen TO welcome thy return to
the land your valor assisted TO make
free. In US, Sir, you behold the youth
full offspring of those whose lives you
protected, and whose safety you watched
over, in the hour OF peril and amidst the
conflicts of war. The young and tine
old, virgins and matrons, alike welcome
thee, as the galan, defender of their
country-as one, by whose generous as
sistance, We now enjoy the blessings of
freedom. Our youthful bossms heave
with emotions OF gratitude, IN 6eholding
you, whose name we have been taught
TO lisp with veneratioD, and our hearts
will never cease to cherish the recoIlec-
ton OF this interesting occasion. Ac-
cept, illustrious Chief, this humble no
mage of our young grateful hearts--it
is all we can, and all we have to offer
but our prayer is, and ever will be, that
your declining age may be pillowed by
affection, and that peace and happiness,
the attendants Of virtue may follow you
to the tomb. Associate of our Wash
ington, and friend of liberty, the District
delights 10 hail thee as its guest and in
the name Of that District, now welcome
you to its capital. The present genera
ton esteem and honor you and mill
lions, yet unborn, will love and venerate
your name.
The General appeared to be extreme
ly gratlied at this manifestation OF graft
tude in the beautiful and inter csting
group OF young ladies before him =: and
thanking them cordially, and with deep
emotion, he shook hands With each, and
passed on, through an avenue formed by
the male and female scholars ofthe dill
ferent sem inaries of the city, extending
from the civic arch to the Capitol. On
the right, as he passed between the
arch and the Capitol, another group OF
young ladies from Georgetown, taste
fully dressed, were observed supported
by juvenile company of volunteers, In
their uniform; and the whole display
seemed to afford our distinguished Guest
much real qualification. Having enter
edthe east door of the north wing of the
Capitol, he passed through the great
Central rnfpnAa uhare fbapconIe kal
assembled to welcome him; and enter
ed the platform of the portico OF the Ca
pitol, under the tent of Washington,
which MIR. Gusts had been so polite as
10 furnish, and which was erected for
the reception of The General, on this oc.
casion. Here nc was met by the May
or and members of the Corporation Of
the City, the Mayors of Alexandra and
Georgetown, ond their respective coun-
ellis, the Judges of the District Court,
the military and naval officers OF the
United States, and the reverend clergy
of the District. The Mayor of the City
then addressed him as follows:
GENERAL: In beholding you again in
our country, after lapse of forty years,
and in The Capital Of our nation, on the
vestibuis OF this magnificent temple, de-
dictated to lis liberty, and at the door Of
that tent, which for eight years, formed
the principal habitation of the great
achiever Of our freedom--of that tent in
which you have So often partaken Of his
cares and participated in his councils
the citizens of Washington feel emotions
beyond the power Of utterance.
The gratitude and admiration which
have been exhibited by our countrymen,
since your arrival in the land which
your exertions contributed to render free,
and evidences of the estimation in which
we hold him who bravely and generously
aided in the attainment Of the blessings
we now enjoy. But the admiration and
gratitude already displayed, cannot ex-
coed what we feel on this occasion, nor
what the whole American nation must
feel, in beholding the associate of their
Washington, and the brave defender Of
their country. The splendid and disin-
teressee actions of your youth, have been
deeply interviewer with the memory Of
the old, and transmitted 10 the young OF
the present day. Actuated by the prin-
ciples of the glorious Revolution, and
animated by the example Of its illus
trious Chief, we have rejoced to behold
you, in every condition in which destiny
has placed you, the same undertaking
and Interchangeable friend Of liberty and OF
man.
We will refrain from enumeratine all
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