Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-05-31

country, they saw THE harbineers Of succes.
to the struggles for freeiv,, now
old in the new world-.hsy say 4. !; re now
eriu incentive which would raise up champions 10
her cause in every quarter of the Garth Tho.
was enough TO have kindled the enthusiasm OF ey.
ry phanthropist ofevcry cline: but added 10 M.
considerations just mentioned, the people of Anne
RIGA had their peculiar for GRADUATION and
their peculiar obligations to fulfil. It was theirs to
review the times OF peril and dsmay and destution
at which they were looked upon the certain vic
TINS of those who had driven them to desperate
ressiance and to remember the renoy alton Of their
hopes, and OF their means of protection brought
by the accession of France 10 leir contest II
was theirs to recolect at this trying iunc,ure n
iavorite OF wealth and power, in the very seaso,
oil Ionh and gaety and pleasure, becoming at once
the grave phanthropisi, divesting himself of tho
preJWuces oi educauon-contrave ning the belcsts
OF arbitrary power and the wishes of friends and
assoclateS:--ioregong too, the endearment of do
mesiic tenderness; III order 10 bestow al his urea.
resources, his health and his blood rs 10 ,heironv
proper end) 10 lie welfare of his fellow men,
This reroSpection they would contrast with the
present wealth and prosperity and Increasing i.npor
lance Of their beloved coun,ry-nor could ther
fail IN this comparison embrace tie entire life az
tins singular man, who, whether mitigating the rule
oil inveierate oppression, resisting the torrent of
revolutionary phrenzy; in power and in chains il
seen TO be st'li the same the dauntless advocate Of
temperate reason, OF freedom rand of Justice II
here were presented sources of warm admiration,
common TO all America: Virginia had causes Of
attachment to Lafayette, and sustained in relation
10 Inn Obligations far more exclusive In Ter
darkest hour 1t was 10 him that her protec
ton was intrus,sa by her own Washington
Upon her soil he batiled the ablest soldier of her
enemies: and on that same soil cousurn,ra;ed n
event, the consequences of which wonderful a.
they have been already, prompt the mind 10 ar
ucilauons lar more stupendous: anticpations en-
brncins Indeed the whole civilized earth For ,ylo
VIII deny that the American revolution has mower
luily influenced the efforts for freedom nv which
France was recently convulsed, and which NOW
are agltatins old and SPIN, and modern
Greece! Who will venture TO affirm that the bannv
examples OF our federated republics NAV not ere
very long Induce the confirmation of civil md no.
iIica freedom, OF religious federation and private
security throughout the orldl Virginia, | repeat
II was lmPeriously bound 10 stand foremost in proofs
OF gratitude and veneration for Lafayet,e A nu,,
Der OF her sons yielding 10 Tie impulses ofboth-
aud impressed with the peculiar fitness Of rendering
TO INN honor upon the very spot which his ynIoJ
had consecrs,ed the place 100 that seemed 10 form,
the link that connected him with Virginia and the
renown OF Virginia; invited the beloved veteran
TO meet them at the Village of York n,
the anniversary of its capture from the British.
Their purpose was highly credi,abet TO themselves
ard honorable to their state 1t was TO sheyv
ther countrys benefactor, their sense of his imnor
'aht services and OF his extraordinary life and cha
racter and at the same time amidst the moulderng
traces oil hostie armies, TO recall with deeper and
more plous feelings, those heroes who toiled ana
bied and died in the achievement of that freedom
and independence so justly our pride so Justly our
esteemed, our richest possession. The Invitation
was at the reques OF the citizens who gave il con
munlcaled through the Chief Magistrate of the
state /, was accepted with kindness of manner
winch has particularly marked every word Of
tAat great, good man, IN rel .tion to Virsinie
Very soon after this occurrence it was ,vaI a.
certalned, that the means of suitable nroyision for
the general and has companions, " ouId be bevond
ti'e command OF those generous men who invited
nm 10 ork, subject as such provision would be 10
uie advantages OF decayed village and thin
adjacent population. Besides, had those meas
been more than ample would il have been ,rcror 10
place the weight of such provision upon ,bose indi
Vlduals! but chiefly such proceeding vropId have
stIgmatized indeb'y the character OF VIRGINIA. To
welcome her distinguished friend after an absence
OF AZ years, and many OF them years of peril and
suffering and sorrow, was her own pro,d oI;ce .S
assrace must have attended its surrender to others
was not TO be transmitted to pos,eritv tb,, por;
cies, ana not the Athenans had erected this nonu
ment to Liberty and Philanthropy. So reasorcd
aho so lelt ire Executive officers of virginia They
couil not DOUBT the virtue and good sense of the
people or ther representatives. and ther where
| IN
these qualities were il question, they did not bal
ance one instant, As republicans they would NOT
violate the laws---they would not take from lie
treasury one cent except in obedience to IN. die
tate oil the laws But they at once gave their per
sonai pledge TO obtain the means of sgyno the s,ot
ION defision and odiHm. La Fayette came. and
amid the streaming eyes of his surviving Tcllo,ysoI
ders---arnidst the throbbng hearts Of thousands
whose emotions were too deep for u,terance. was
received upon the field of his glory iIlust,s,;,g
there as every where by his disinterestedness and
moderation, the admirable influence of reppbIican
virtues. VIII not attempt description of this
haPpy example OF the true moral sublime ni,v.
the man VINO saw 1t not, still more (if indeed he i
worthy OF the teeling,) him who has NO canacj,x ~
nave enjoyed 1t. Posterity will cherish ,Lose Ico;s
iatoTs no have furnished to VIrgiuian history ,b
sory Oh TINS sccne.---Amongst those who y,ould
have denied to Tie State this bopor :, tIa
uncharitable to believe that there ,vero 49, "
suidea honest men, but that their course has bas,
unfortunate, most unfortunate there il mot i, ii
iieVeu amongst the candid, the enliehted and re-
hec'ihs, one man who will hesitate 10 decI,re R,,
"heIe shall we ind disgust and conte,npt strons
enough Tor the creature who shall have s,riveD 20,
make this bright day for Virginia mean Of roroo,-
ZION on the people: who by low election eeriro a.,.
~ 'ie suppression oil truths or the invention Of,
ialsehoods has converted it into an engine e.. L,.
individual advancement and for brir W me
ooioquy on tie peoples most faithful and bonor,bi
agents! vi such man il is to be honed ,It ILL,
ulese practices may have obtained Tor him n b,ioc
currency yer stlll the wrath of an INDIGNANT conr
NY winch ne has lnsued and attempted to DEGRADE
VIII soon overtake and consume him r. ,LL'
est opponent OF the York Town Bill. would co..
h certainty was not involved in the passage Of
',ia' OH, any principle whatever in compatible with
'he regular exercise of authority i'm the E,rec,,,i
JleglsIatutP