Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-08-20
NO. 100

NSS~o StiN INV PiSoohS Ahuos ehAS
have been to your American and phi
lanthropic mind. To what pitch Of
prosperity and power, must nof such a
people attain, if they cast their eyes
backward to the administration Of that
excellent patriot who now honors US
with his company, and see what pros
perity at home, and what responsibility
abroad, has, during its continuance,
blessed their country, and forever en-
shrined the name of MoSRoE within
their bosoms; and if they look forward
to the great requirements, republican
feelings, diplomatic skill, and the firm,
impartial, and steady principles which
characterize the administration Of our
present Chief Magistrate, may they
not anticipate, during his administra-
ton also, continuance of all the bless.
ings we have hitherto enjoyed.-Thus,
nursed in the lap Of liberty, growing
under the strong and invigorating prin-
ciples Of civil and religious freedom,
what have they to fear for the continu-
ance of their systems, but the radical
imperfections Of human nature.
You are about to revisit your native
soil, may your return be greeted with
as true joy as your departure will give
sorrow to your adopted countrymen.
However that may be, virtuous man
will always love his country, unless
that country, sunk in the gloom of mo.
raj and political deprayity, should be
unworthy of him. Yours, my dear
General, is yet a country Of heroes and
of sages, and the small leaven of liber-
ty that is mixed in your systems, may
ere long, ferment the mass. In the
present enlightened age, your footsteps
placed upon the vestibule Of the tenn
pie of liberty will not be Withdrawn
and forward, forward will be the cry,
in modern improvements Of politics as
well as war. That you may live to see
all your hopes for the establishment Of
human freedom realized, and to enjoy
that felicity which ought ever to be
the portion Of the good and great, is
our united prayer to the blessed Author
of all. And may we not add hope,
that some Offsets from the parent stock,
may yet live and grow amongst US,
deep rooted in fathers virtues, and
nourished by the warm beams of ma
tional gratitude.
Permit me few words Of personal
feeling.-A reyered Father, who loved
and esteemed you, first taught me to
admire your virtues.-Your own good.
ness to me added affection to admira-
ton i; under these impressions / have
traced you through the vicissitudes OF
your eventful life-And, oh! how pleas
ing has it been to me, to see the vene-
ration and respect which my country.
men have universally shewn towards
you. And l thank heaven l am per.
mitted thus personally, to'express my
individual gratitude, before the hand OF
time shall separate US forever.
To this address the General made the fol-
lowing reply, in manner in which diguity,
modesty, and cordially were happily blended.
I feel the more grati6ed in this hap
by welcome from the citizens Of LOU
doun county, as amidst the congratula.
tons l receive on my extensive and de-
lightful visits to every one Of the states
in the union, feel deep disappoint-
ment and regret to leave the beloved
shores Of America, before have met
other invitations equally dear to my
heart. The recollection of those so
very friendly invitations, Of the affec-
tionate receptions bestowed upon me,
of the wonders Of creation and i'm
provement, that have been the result
Of independence and republican free
dom, shall ever mingle in my mind,
with the remembrance of the old times
to which you have alluded, and with
the hopes Of the progressive emanci-
patton of mankind, in which I'most
cordially sympathize with you. In
those old times, you, my dear sir, not
/ only as member Of family eminent
for their revolutionary services, but
particularly as confidential member
of our military family in 1881, in Vir-
ginia, had daily occasions to adj
nsire the patriotism, the perseverance,
the gallantry Of your countrymen, in
that arduons and decisive campaign,
as we'll as the jealous, spirited, and
cheerful assistance they received from
their northern brethren, circumstance
which, l flatter myself, shall ever be
| one of the links of the union between
the several parts Of the confederacy.-.
Your anticipations Of the extension Of
human enfranchisement, are, thank
God, wellfounded; the more so, my dear
sir, as the leaven ofireedom, as you call
| it, which exists to great extent, not in
| the institutions, but in the minds Of
men, particularlyin France,i is composed
Of truly american principles and feel
ings, those Of genuine liberty and equal
rights, without any mixture Of thst