Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1824-12-17

compliance with the wishes of Congress. and TO
assure you of the very high satisfaction which
your preseECA affords on this early theatre of
your glory aud renown. Although but few of
the hrs who compose this body shared
witt b the War of our Revolution, all have
a kr hge, from impartial history, or from
iai.i addition, OF the, periis, the suIferings
and sacrifices, which you voluntarily en-
cou and the signal services, in America,
and irope, which you performed for an in
faa isant; and aD alien people; aud all feel
aut the very great extent of the obliga-
ito er which you have placed our country
Bu Relations IN which you have ever stood
10 Dded States, interesting aud important
as have been, do not constitute the only
md OF the respect and admiration which
"a 5use entertains for you. Your consisten-
cYof character, your uniform devotion TO reell-
laled liberty, all the vicsitudes of n long aud
7Tluous life, also commands its highest adnira-
ION. DuiThg all the recent commissions of Eu-
rope, auidst, as after the dispersion Of every DO.
lhcal storm, the people of the United States
have ever bcheld you true 20 your old princi-
pies, firm and erect, cheering and aniIuating,
with your well known voice, the votaries of Ii
berry, its faithful and fearless champion ready
20 she'd the last drop of that blood which, here,
you so freely and nobly split in the same holy
cause.
The vain wish has been sometimes INDUCED
That Providence would allow the Patriot, after
death, TO return 10 his country; and 10 contem-
plate the intermediate changes which had taken
p'ace-to view the forests leed, the cities built,
the mountains ievelled, the canals cut, the high
ways constructed, the progress OF the arts, the
advancement of learning, and the increase Of
population. General, your present visit TO the
United States IS the realization of the consoline
object of that wish. You are in the midst OF
osterity Every where you must have been
struck with the greatest changes, physical anu
.v,O i,oxta r..
wen this very city, bearing venerated name
alike endeared to you u 10 us, has since emerged
ON the forest Which then covered its site In
one respect, you behold us unatered, and that IS
i.ihe sentiment of continued devotion to iiber-
Il, and of ardent affection al profound graft
tude to your departed friend, the father of his
country, and to your illusrions associates in the
field and in the Cabinet for the muItpIied bles-
sings which surround us, and for the very privi-
iege of addressing you, which now exercise
FMS sentiment, now fondly cherished by more
than ten millions of people, will be transmitted
with undated vgor, down the tide of time
through countless millions who are destined TO
inhabit his Continent TO their latest posteritv"
10 which address, General LA FAY
ETTE replied, in tone in which ener-
gy of character and sensibility of feeling
were most Interestingly blended, tossthe
following effect
s. Mr.. Speaker, and
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives.
While the People OF the United States and
iheirhonorable Representatives in Congress have
Ieigned to make choice OF me, one of the Anne
'1can veterans, to signify in his person their es-
'eem Tor our Joint services and their attachment
to the principles for which we have had the ho-
nor to fight and bleed, am proud and happy 10
share those extraordinary favors with my dear
Revolutionary companions-yet, it would be,
on my part, uncandid and ungratefui not to ac
know ledge my personal share in those testimo
MES OF kindness, as they excite in my breast
emotions which no adequate words could ex-
lress.
My obligations TO the United States, sir, far
exceed any merit ] might claim. They date
irom the time when have had the happiness to
be adopted as young soldier, favored son oil
America. They have been continued to me du.
ring almost half century of constant affection
aud confidence, and now, sir, thanks TO your
most gratifying invitation, find myself greeted
by series of welcomes, one hour of which
would more than compensate for the public ex-
ertions and suferings OF whole life.
" The appreciation OF the American people and
their Representatives, for my duct during the
vIcissitudes OF the European Revolution, is the
highest reward could receive Well may I.stand
firm and erect" when, in their names, and by
you, Mr. Speaker, | am declared TO have, in e.
very instance been faithful to those American
principles of liberty, equality, and true social or
der, the devotion to which, as 1t has been from
my earliest youth, so 1t shall continue 20 be to
my latest
''N on have been pleased, Mr.. Speaker, TO al
lude TO the peculiar felicity of my situation,
when, after long an absence, am called TO
witness the immense improvements, the admira-
BILE communications the prodigious creations Of
which we fud example in this City, whose
name Itself IS venerated Palladium; in a word,
all the grandeur and prosperity of these happy
United States. which, at the same time they no.
bly, secure the complete assertion of American
independence, reflect on every part of the
world the light Of far superior political civilizs-
ton.
what better pledge can be given Of pcrse-
vcTing naiional love OF liberty, when those bics-
sings are evidently tie resn, Of viriuons re-
sIsiance TO oppression, aud of institutions tourd
ed on the rights OF man and the Republican,
principle of seli-covernment. No, Mr. Speaker.
posteFity has rot begun for me-since, in the
same public feelings and. permit me 10 add, The
same feelings, in my behalf, which have hsG
the happiness TO experience in their fathers
" Sir bave been allowed, forty years ago, be-
fore a Committee Of a Congress of thirteen
States TO express The fond wishes Of an Amcr-
can heart. On this day have The honor, and
enjoy the delight, 10 congratulate the Represent
atves of the Union, so vastly ENLARGED on The
realization Of those wishes, even beyond every
human expectation, end upon Che almost infinite
prospects We can with certainty anticipate
Permit me, Air Speaker and gentlemen Of