Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-10-19

one, by whose generous az
ISSUANCE, we now enjoy the blessings of freedom.
1 yua'nai oosoins hcave with emotions of
gratitude, in bcholdmg you, whose name ,so
nave occn taught TO lisp with vcncration, and
our ncarss VIII never cease to cherish the rcco..
ccuoh oil tins Interesting occasion. Accent
hiustr'ous Chief, this humble homage of orr
Young but grateful hcarts-it is all we can. and
iii we nave 10 offer; but our prayer is, and
ever WIZ he, That your declining age may be pill
io"eu oy affection, and that peace and happiness.
ne ATTENDANTS OF virtue, may follow YOU 10 the
tono. Associate of our Washington. and friend
OF liberty, the District delights to hail thee as
IT'S guest; a'sd IN the name of flat District =
now welcome you to It's capital The present
generation esteem and honor YOU: and millions
yet unborn, will love and vencrate yo,r name
nc General appeared TO be extremely rrs-
,iicd al tins manifestation of gratitude in the
beautiful and interesting group of youpo ladies
before him and thanking them cor,liaJ5Iv and
with deep emotion, lie shook hands with each.
and passed on, through avenue formed by the
male and female scholars OF the diaeYest scmina
RES oil the city, extending from the civic arch 10
tie capitol. On the right, rs he passed be-
tween the arch and the Capitol, another gronp
OF young ladies'. from Georgetown, tastefuliy
dressed,were observed, supported by Juvenile
company OF volunteers, IN their uniEa1n: anu
the whole display seemed to afford our distin-
gnished Guest much real qualification: Having
entered the cast door of the north wing of tile
Capitol, he passed through the great central TO-
tundy, where thousands had assembled TO wet
come him; and entered the platform of tile po-
tico o.! the Capitol, under the tent of Washing
ton, which MIR. Gusts had been so polite as Il,
inrhis'i, and which was erected for the receipt
on OF thc General, ON this occasion. Here he
was met by the Mryor and members of the Cor
poiatlon oi the City, the Mayors of Alexandria
ana Ger etown, and thcr respective councils,
the Judges oi the District Court, the military and
naval officers of the United States and the re-
vercnd Clergy oftho District. The Mayor Of
the CITY then addressed him as follows:
GrNERAL: In bcholding yon again in our
country, a;era lapse Of forty years, and in the
Capital of our nation, On the vestibule of this
'n"gniiiccni temple, dcpicatod TO its liberty, &
al te door Of that tent which, for eight years,
formed the principal of the great achevler of
our ieedom--Of tlfat 10 which you have SO often
partakcn OF his cares and participated in his
coancils--the citizens of Washington feel emo
IONS beyond the power of Inference.
he gratitude aud admiration which have
bcen exhibited by our countrimcn, since YOUR
arriYain the land which YOUR exertons contriht-
ted to render free, arc evidences of the estima-
ton III which VIC bold him who bravcly and gem
erousiy aided III the attainment of the blessings
we now enjoy. But the admiration and graft
tude already displayed, cannot exceed what we
icei on this occasion, nor what the whole Anne
r1can nation must feel, III beholdmg the ascot
ale OF their Washington, and the brave dcfeI-
der of their country. 'Fhe splendid and disin-
terested actions Of Your youth, have been deep-
~ interviewer with the memory of the old, and
transmitted to the young of the present day. Ac-
tuatcd by the principles of orr glorious Revol,t-
ton, and admitted by the example of its illus
trous Chief, we have rejoiced to behold you i'm
every condition Ill which destiny had placed you,
underwriting and Interchangeable friend of liberty
and of man.
We viii refrain from enumerating all the
di;mterestcd and splendid services YOU have
rendered 10 our country; but permit us partcu-
larly TO refer TO that aw full period. when COM
handing as Chief IN the commonwealth of Viz
glnia, you ioiled the most renowned captain OF
our enemy, confding him to the narrow pre-
cints OF York Town, where he was soon after
compelled to surrender to the combined arms,
under Washington, o: the United States, and of
good TREND and potent and magnanimous ally,
Louis the Sixteenth, King of France inwhich
memorable seige, you acted Il leading and dis
tineuisied part.
with these recollection, we welcome YOU,
with our whole hearts, TO the Metropolis of our
nation, created since you left us ont Of wilder
ness: city, especially founded by our people
as the permanent mc0ioijai of their liberty. To
render 1t at the same time DejDef,s1t nlonu-
t..
wise, brave, and consummate leader of our ar
mes, and founder OF our Republic, they bes-
lowed ONT ile immortalna of w AsHiNGToN:
under whom you learned the art of war; under
whom You became great and mighty prop to
ou' cause; always commanding the confidence
OF your Chief in the hours of gloom and peril
ana, after our countries freedom and safety had
crowned your united efforts with imperishabe
glory, enjoying his steady, sincere, and unvary-
ing esteem and friendship, TO the latest moment
of his life.
To which Gen. La Fayctte made the follow
ing reply:
The Kind and llattering reception with which
am honoured by the citizens of Washington
excite the most lively feeling of gratitude; those
grateful feelings, Sir, at avery step of my hap
ny visit to the United States, could not but en-
nance the ineXprcssiblc delight have enjoyed
at the sight of the immense and wonderful i'm
Provemcnts, so far beyond even the fondest an
ticipations ola warm American heart; 6 which,
IN the space of forty years, have goriouslY e.
vinced the superiority of popular Institutions,
and sclf-goyernment, overthe too imperfect state
OF political civilization, found in every part of
The other hemisphere. In this august place,
which bears the most venerable of all ancient &
modern names, have, Sir, the pleasure to con-
template, not only Gentry of that constitutions
al Union so necessary to these states, so impor-
Iant TO tic interest of mankind, but also great
political school where attentive observed from
other parts Of the world may be taught the prac-
teal science OF true social order.
Among the circumstances of my life TO winch
have nr,Io coJ f, It,,Jo ,C