Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-08-24
From the Richmond Enquirer.
LA FAYETTE's VISIT TO AMERIC


OF this country, but with the whole civil
llzed world. With the moral beauty and
| subimliy of the scene which his arr, al
on our shores, will present to this as1,
there is nothing 10 compare in all hlsto-
| ~. He comes 10 the land of his adop-
Ton; he land be contributed most emf
nenty to tree from bondage, after an alb
sence oil 40 years. He cones 10 witness
ne fruits oI his own splendid and illus
lrious services. he comes to embrace
| once more inthe arms ut friendship the
| remaining few OF those immortal heroes
and patriots q the revolution, who still
| lnSer with US on this side oil the grave
he comes to BEHOLD the greatest repub-
| nc on earth, and the perfect demonstra-
'ion OF the grea and heart-chcerlng truth,
I" that man is capable OF self govern
ment."
He comes at time when iyrants and
despots o. tne old world are uniting their
endeavort 10 stop ~ march OF human
reason and eXtlnsulsn"lis Continental Eu-
rope, The celestial hight that mad dawned
upon lh0 'human mind and he comes
welcomed ana cheered by the unanimous
and grateful voices OF ten millions oil
ireemen.
All me hoDors which ever Bonaparte,
Caesar, or Alexander enjoyed, must
dwindle to msIsnitiCance before this
eplendid rlnu'e OF respect to the illus
lrious La Fayeue. | wlll be the volun-
tary Offering OF era eiul nation 10 one
OF It's greatest benelactors; not eXtorted
by the strong arm OF power from h
wretched and unwilling multitude.
In order to give more interest and
beauty to this delightful scene, it is TO be
hoped that this gallant and venerable
soldier viii permit himself TO be waited
to our shores under the national flag,
q" The Sar-S pangled Banner" OF the Re-
public.
The honors which the people Of the
United States are ready TO pay to La
Fayette is HE grateful homage they feel
Tor virtue, patriotism, and dlstine uished
public services. They SAVIOR nothing OF
tlauery, of sycophancy, or OF serviliiy.
they will be cheering TO the cause oi
liberty throughout me world. An Anne
rican hearts, then, ought and will unl,e
in paying henors to La Faye We
all bear III grateful RECOLLECTION the Pc
cullar circumstances that have attended
his evenliui lie, and which distinguish
HIN, perhaps, above all other men oil
the present age. lie visited our OPP
pressed and prosecuted country when
mere youth OF nineteen years OF age, and
boldly took sides with our revolutionary
heroes in Cause which was regarded
nearly Universally in Europe as hope.
less. He was moi a desperate adventur-
err, whose EMBARRASSED affairs al home
deprived him OF The means of enjoying
lie, and therefore was willing to risk all
under selfish hope OF lettering his own
private condition.. He was born 10 a
princely lolune. He was surrounded
by relatives and friends, and had been
blessed thus early in life with conjugal
love. He bid adieu to his native land,
10 relatives and friends, and to the ten
der aud interesting partner OF his bosom;
to all The pleasures and amusemcnts
which were presented to him in the
gay regions and vine-covered hills of
France" To join in the glorions contest
for liberty in the colonies of America.
He offered us his money and his blood
to aid US. He expended at one time
10 600 dollars for clothing for our naked
and suffering troops.
he served us without compensation.
He returned TO France, and exerted all
his influence at court in our behalf. He
came again to the United States with
large relhforcemen,s. He continued in
our service till the close of The war, saw
our independence scaled, and our coun-
try made free and happy, with brighter
prospect OF future greatness spread be-
fore US than ever had blessed the srug-
giles of any nation or earth. In '84, he
embarked again for his native country,
and when the French revolution broke
Out, he took sides again in the cause of
freedom. Amidst the tempestuous
scenes which agi.ated France, the yirtu.
Gus, tho brave, the noble.hearted La Fay
cite, had to fly from his country and from
the army he commanded, having most
unJustly and cruelty become the object
OF suspicion with the national assembly.
In travelling through Prussia, he was
| seized and imprisoned by the orders OF
the king, in the dark, damp and filthy
dungeon Il Olmutz, where he was con-
fined tor five years. His wife and two
lovely daughters, Virgins and Carolina,
named after our own beloved land, flew
TO him on hearing of his situation. and