Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-09-10

east ana west gates Of w ashington Square were
lornamented with peculiar taste and elegance:
and arrayed IN two lines between these arches
were assembled the children of the several
schools to the number Of about one thousand.
each bearing upon his breast portrait OF the H.
lustrious visitor. The procession entered the
eastern gate, which bore the following inscr;p-
tioM
| The Children
welcome with 10Y
the illustrious bene(;ictor
of
their Fathers
and slowly passed through the lines. the children
shouting "Welcome La Fayette" ami cheering,
the hero as he passed. Notwithstanding the
heavy rain this youthful band could not be pre-
vailed upon to leave the ground, but remained
bravcy at their post until they had shared with
their parents IN the honour aud happiness of
lgreeting the nations guest
+ From Washington Square the procession
passed to the La Fayettc Coffee House IN Es-
sex-street, where, upona stage erected in front
OF the house, the General and his suite the in
vited guests and other gentlemen OF distinction
were received by the Committee of Arrange
mcnts. Judge Story, the President of the dav
IN presence OF the committee and the company
upon Tie stage, and AN immense concurse of peo-
! pie, then delivered in the most interesting and
elegant manner to General La Fayette the fol-
lowing address
General Ia FAYErrE,
SIR,-Forty years have elansed since thc in
habitants of this town had the pleasure TO vel
come you within its limits. Many who then
hailed Your arrival with pride and cxui:ation.
nave descended to the grave, and cannot greet
you ON your long return. But, thanks TO n
good Providence, many are yet alive, who re-
collect with grateful sensihtv the universal
Joy ofthat occasion. Your disinterestcd zeal in
IlG I'M ~,
Your personal sacrifices in quitting a home en-
deared by all the blessings with which affection
and virtue can adorn life-Your tolls and perils
IN the conflicts of war and the vicsstudes of a
dlscouraging seryice-Your modest dignity and
Enthusiasm on receiving the homage of free
people hese were all fresh in their memories
and gave an interest to the scene, which can
not be described, but which time has hallowed
with his most touching grace. stand now I'm
the presence of some, venerable in are and cha
racter, who were the delighted witnesses of that
I interview, and whose hearts again GLOW witt,
the feelings of that happy day.
! 10 us OF younger generaiion-the descend
ants OF your early friends and companions in
arms-a different, but not less interesting pr
v3ge belongs. We are allowed the enyiahIe
oS'ihction OF meeting, I'm his ripper wears one.
whom our fathers loved in their Youth We
welcome you 10 our c0nntry--to our ho,ncs-to
I
achievemcnts-your honors-anJ vour snf;ar
ings. They are associated with all that is dear
10 us--witlI the battle grounds consecrated nv
INC oiood OF our heroes-witl the tender recoi-
lcctIons of our departed statcsmen-witI, rho af-
,ect'ofiate reverence of our surviving patriots
Ian we forget that we were poor and struggling
alone in the doubtful contest for Independence
ana you crossed the Atlantic at the hazard of
fortune and fame To cheer us in our resistance,
That you re-crosscd it to solicit naval and mill
tary succonrs from the throne of France and
Fe,uf"eu with triumphant success? That vour
ga"aHry IN the southern campaigns checked
The inroads OF brave and confident enemy
That your military labours closed but with tI,e
surrender at Yorktown, and thus ndissoubly
u,'Neu your name with the proud events of that
glorious dav We cannot forget these things If
we woud-We would not forget them if we
could. They Will not be forgotten until Ameri
ca ceases to be 4 Nation
But we have vet higher sources of prati6ca
non on the present occasion. You have been
The friend, not merely of America but of France
and OF the cause of Liberty throughout the
world. During long lie and in the most trv-
ing scenes you have done no act for W bich viz
tue need blush or humanity weep. Your pri-
yate character has not cast a shade ON your
public ''onors. in the palaces of Paris and the
dungeons of OImuz, in the splendor of power
and the gloom of Punishment, you have been
the TREND of justice and the assertion of the rights
OF man. Under every misfortune YOU have
never deserted your principles. What earthly
PRIZE eau afford consultations like this9 The
favor OF princes and the applause of Senators
sunk INTO absolute nothingness in comparison
| with tie approving conscience of a life devoted
to the good OF mankind. At this very moment
you arc realizing tie brightest visions of your
yFith III the spectacle of ten millions Of peopIe
prosperous aud happy under a free government.
whose moral strength consists in the COURAGE
aud Intelligence Of its citizens. These millions
welcome you TO the shores of the West with
! sPontaneono'unanrnity; and thev which now
addresses you, feeble as it is, repeats but tl,e
thoughts that are ready 20 burst from the Inns of
every American. f'
To which the General made v,rv ,,rro,r;-
ate and affecting Reply, copy of which we
have not been aOle to obtain. a verv ;,u,,oe
sve circumstance occurred in the delivery of the
honorable presidents address, which after en,,.
meratrrg the distinguished benefits conferroJ
upon our country by La Fsyette, he said 8. ,ve
| could not forget thcrn If we wonfj-t7e would
not forget item If we COuld.n A spontaneous
assent was Immediately returned by the crowd
NO. never! aud was repeated bv thousands of
/ VOICES, accompanied bv de1fcnin, sbouts of an
! P'ausc The General was then iptro,Iuced 10
tie citizens Of the iown, aud other gentlemen
among whom were several old fevolutionarv NJ
/ iiccrS and soldiers who had come fro,, x:.a