Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-01-11

the centre OF The House. Mr.. Nitchetl
,n,,odnced Gen. La TAyETTE IN the ioi-
lowing words:
Is Mr.. Speaker: The select commit
tee, appointed for that purpose have
the honor to introduce Gen. LA FAYETTE
to the House of Re representatives..
The General was then conducted to
the sofa placed for hE reception when
the Speaker addressek him in the iol-
lowing words:
GENERAL: The House OF Represen-
tatiyes of the United States, impelled
alike by its own feelings, and by those
of the whole American people, could
not have assigned to me more graft
tying duty than that OF presenting to you
cordial congratulations upon the occa-
sion of your recent arrival in the United
States, in compliance with the wishes OF
Congress, and to assure you OF the very
high satisfaction which your presence
affords on this early theatre OF your glory
and renown. Although but few OF the
members who compose this body shared
with YOU IN the Wa OF our Revolution,
all have, from ilbpattal history, or from
faithful tradition knowle ledge OF the Pc
rils, the suiferhgs, and the sacrifices
which you voluntarily encountered, and
the signal services IN America and IN
Europe, which you performed Tor an
infant, distant, and an alien people /;
II ho ay
tent OF the obligations under which you
have plat ed our country, But the rela-
tons in which you have ever stood to
the United Stats, interesting and I'M
porian, as they have been, do not con-
stltu,e the only motive OF the respect
and admifluon whichthe House of Re-
entertain Tor you. Your
consistency of characteb your firm de-
votion to regulated liberty, IN all the
Of long and arduous life,
also commands its admiration. During
ali the recent convulsiots Of Europe,
amidst, as after the dispenion OF, every
political storm, the people OF the United
States have beneid YOU, true to your old
firm and erect, cheering and
animaiing with your we'll known voice,
the votaries of liberty, its faithful and
fearless champion, ready to shed the last
drop of that blood which here yop so
freely and nobly split, in the same holy
The vain wish has been sometimes in
Obliged, that Providence would allow the
patriot, after death, 10 return to bis coun-
try, and TO contemplate the Intermediate
changes which bad taken placc---to
view the forests felled, the cities built,
the mountains ieveled, the canals cut,
the highways constructed, the progress
OF the arts, the advancement OF learning,
and increase OF population.--tieneral,
your present visl, to the United States
is realization 81 the eonsoiing OBJECT
Of that WISH You are IN the midst OF
posleily Every where, you must have
been struck with Me great changes, ply
steal and moral, which have occurred
since you lett us. Even this very city,
bearing yencra,ed maine, alike endear-
ed 10 ven and TO us, has since emerged
iro,n tie forest whioh lhen covered its
site. In one respect you behold Us IN
altered, ard tbat is in the sentiment OF
continued devotion to Ilber.y, and OF ar
dent affection and profound gratitude TO
your departed friend, the father of his
country, and to you, ard TO your Illus
triuus associates IN the field and in the
cabinet, for the multiplied blessings
which surround us, and for the very pri-
yilege ot addressing you, which now
exercise. This sentiment, now tondly
cherished by more than ten millions oil
peope, will DC transmitted, with unabal
ed vigor, down the tide of time, through
the countless millions who are destined
to iphabit this continent, TO the latest
pusteri'y.
While the Speaker was addressing
him, General La Fayette was very evi.
DENLY affected. Al the close Of the adj
dress he seated himself for few seconds,
aud then rose, and in tone influenced
by powerful feeling, made the following
reply: re 50
MIR. Speaker, and Gentlemen
of the House OF Representatives
While the people OF the United States,
and their honorable Representative in
Congress, have delgned 10 make choice
OF me-, one of the American veterans, 10
signify, III his person. their esteem for
our loint services, and their attachment,
to the principles for which We have had
the honor 10 fight and bleed, ! am proud
and happy 10 share those extraordinar..,
favors with my dear revolutionary COM
panions; yet 1t would be, on my part,
uncandld and ungra,elul not 10 ack now