Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-11-01
Gsartous.

The President ofthe United States re.
turned to Washington on Wednesday
last, from Quincy, Mass. his place of
nativity, where he had been on d visit.
He tarried two or three days at Balti-
more on his return. On Monday he at
tended the funeral of Col. Howard
and afterwards received the visits of his
fellow-c citizens. On Tuesday, he visit
ed the field of battle at forth Point, at.
tended by a handsome escort OF citizens;
after bis return, he was waited upon by
the President and Vice. President of st.
Mary's College, several OF the PROBES
sors, and upwards Of 100 of the Stu
dents-besides many other citizens. An
address to the President was pronounc-
ed by the Vice President of the Col
lege-to which al appropriate reply
was made. AT tour o'clock, be dined
with the Cincinnati OF Maryland, and the
Officers and Soldiers wounded in the
battle of North Point The following
toasts was given in behalf OF the com
mittee:-Gef Sent.
The Unttsd Sales Of .America.-May
other countries learn from them, that the
easy access of the people to their rulers,
is the means of confidence on the one
side and of right government on the O.
Their side.
Alter a short time the President gave
the following sentiment, which be &C
companied with some remarks explana-
tory o! the allusion:-
Ebony and Iopas-Gen. Ross
Posthumous Coat OF Arms, and the Re
publican militia. man who gave it."
am apprehensive that the a~llusion
upon which this sentiment is founded,
may not be familiar to every one of you
at this table; and that it will therefore
need a short explanation.
Itmay perhaps not be known TO you
all, that for the splendid achievements
of General Ross in this country, bis ia
mily have been rewarded by a heraldic
addition to their coat of arms; and as it
was the arm OF a Republican Militia man
OF Maryland, that rendered this service
to the family, / may fairly consider him
as having given it. Heraldry is a mon
archial institution, about which | know
little. Whether this inference would
pass muster with the garter king at arms
or not, | do not know; but hope it
will pass well enough for a Republican
device.
But the connexion of this sentiment
with the names of Ebony and Topaz, is
founded upon a philosophical Tale OF
Voltaire, by which in my youth | was a
unused and instructed. II is an ancient
Fable of the Hindu Bramins, and has
come down, through the Aiabians, to
the modern European nations aud to us
The same tale, under different names
has been taId in English verse by Par
nell, as well as in French prose by Vol
taire.
In the Tale to which my toast al.
ludes, Ebony is the Spirit of Darkness,
or of evil-and Topaz is the Spirit of
Light, or of Good, and the interest OF
the STORY consists in the succession of
incidents by which they are continually
counteracting each other in the events
of human life. The application Of their
names to the part respectively perior
med o n this stage of existence by Gene
raj Ross and the Militia man Of Mary
land, submit to your judgment and
feeling, with this single remark, that
whenever the Spirit OF Evil shall invade
this Country, under the banners of a
foreign land, whatever honors may be
sbowered upon their commander by
his Sovereign, The Spirit of Good will
never fail to provide a Republican Mill
tia-man TO confer those honors by spec
ding a bullet to his heart"
On retiring, the President, after a few
remarks, returning thanks for the recep.
ton which had been given to him by his
fellow citizens of Baltimore, gave
Baltimore; The Monumental City-May
the days ofher safety be as prosperous
and happy, as the days of her dangers
have been trying and triumphant.
ALFxAypRYA. Missouri Sent. IL.