Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-09-28

fDkmR peal winch was CeniluleQ unA
til be arrived at the State House.
He was met at the line by the Mayor
and the City Council. The Mayor adj
dressed him as fellows:
SIR,
The citizens of Boston welcome you,
on your return to the United States;
mindful OF your early zeal, in the cause
OF American Independence grateful
for your distinguished share, in the PEI
rils and glories of its achievement.
When, urged by generous sympathy,
you first landed on these shores, you
found people engaged in an arduous
and eventful struggle for Liberty, with
apparently inadequate means and amidst
dubious omens. After the lapse Of
nearly half century, you find the sane
people prosperous beyond all hope and
precedent their liberty secure; sitting
in It's strength, without fear and without
reproach.
In your youth you joined the standard
Of three millions Of people, raised in an
unequal and uncertain conflict. In your
advanced age, you return and are met
by Ten Millions of people, their descen-
dants, whose hearts ,hrong hither 10 greet
your approach and to rejoice in it,
This is not the movement Of turbu-
lent populace, excited by the fresh iau-
rels OF some recent conquerer. Ii is
grave, moral, intellectual impulse.
A whole people, in the enjoyment Of
freedom, as perfect as the condition of
our nature permits, recur with graz
'tilude, increasing with the daily
sense of their blessings, to the me-
mory Of those, who, by their labors and
in their blood, laid the foundations Of
our liberties.
r Your name, sir; the name Of LA
FAYETTE is associated with the most
perilous and most glorious periods of
our revolution; with the imperishable
names Of WASHINGTON, and Of
that numerous host of heroes, which
sdorn the proudest Archives of Ameri-
can History, and are engraven in indie
libe traces on the hearts oil the whole
American people.
Accept, then, sir, in the sincere spirit,
in which it is offered, this simple tribute
TO yoar virtues.
Again, sir, the citizens of Boston bid
you welcome to the cradle oil American
Independence, and to scenes consecrated
with the blood shed by the earliest mar
tyrs in its cause.
Gen. La Fayette then made the follow
ing answer:
To the Mayor and people Of Boston
The emotions Of love and sraliiud.
which have been accustomed to feel On
ny entering tbs city, have ever oeen
mingled with sense of religious reve-
renee for the cradle OF American, and,
lei us hope it will be hereafter said, Of
universal liberty.
What must be, sir, my feelings at
this blessed moneot, when after SO Ions,
an absence find myself again surround
ed by the good citizens Of Beston--w hen
am SO atiectianaleiy, SO honorsbiy vel
coined, not only by old friends, but ty
several successive generations--whe
can witness the prosperity, the inamensa
mprovenenrs, that have been he iust
reward of noble struggle, vir,uous
morals, and truly republican institutions.
81 beg of YOU, Mr.. Mayor, Gentle
men of ,he City Council, and all oil you,
beloved citizens of Boston, to accep, the
warm thanks of heart, which has for
nearly half century been devoted 10
your iiiustrious city"
The Mayor then took seat with Gen.
La Fayetie in the barouche prepared tor
that purpose, aud the procession moved
in the ors;sr aud through the streets,
mentioned in the order Of arrangements
IN yesterdays paper. a company Of
light dragons led the van. The light
Infantry companies belonging to the Bos-
ton brigade which followed, made an
elegant appearance. Following the
carriages in which the municipal autho-
rites rode, were field and staff officers Of
the militia, and next came troop OF
TrucHmen, consisting Of nearly two hn,,-
dred, neatly dressed in white trccks and
black or blue pantaloons, with all appro-
pirate standard. The cava!cade of cri-
zens on horseback and in carriages
brought up the rear. We are no, able
to state the number Of persons in Ills
part of the proccssion, but gentlemen
informed US that he counted upwards Of
seven hundred on horseback after part
OF them had passed. II was the largest
procession ever Witnessed in our city.
Bot the most beautiful part Of the
spectacle was exhibited on the Common.
The pupils OF the public schools, both
male and female, were arranged on the