Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-02-25

spoke as follows:
Dear Friends and Fellow Citizens. While rise
to acknowledge my obligations to your kind invita-
ton" TO the gratifying toast, and to the manner In
which 1t has oeen introduced by lustrious chair
man. and welcomed by this numerous meeting, find
difficult to describe the sentiments which are crow
ding upon my heart, winch min ged the devotion
of an old American soldier, the sypathies ofarepub
ican, the feelings OF home, and the happy, shg CRATE
fn!, the glorious and also the nournful
of series of tttyfou years, during which HSse been
for the people of the United States objectof inces
SAINT affection of confidence, and OF numberess favors
During these vicssitudes ola lung life, to which your
chairman has 50 kindly alluded, my eyes have been
fixed on the United Safes my polar star. In
cry trying act mine, my first idea has BEEN what
will The American people think of it? Indeed, Cen
tlcln"n am happy to say that predominant wish has
been fully graifed More than forty years ago, when
had the satisfaction the first in Europe, pro-
claim the rights OF man, declaration of American
growth, was congratulated by great Washing
ton, by the American sages, and the heroes of our
time When victim to injustice and persecution,
the American appreciation and sympathies followed
me into the dungeons of the Coalition. While OH
my last visit, during fifteen months. every day, every
hour, was marked by continued series of popular
favor 1t was proud moment for me, when in pre-
sence the two houses Of Congress, told from
the representative chair. that every instance on
this side of the Atlantic. had proved nlyselfa
genuine disciple of the American school, not
unworthy of Washington And gen
tlcmen, that have indicated and exercised
in France the American principle of the So
vereignty of the people, | receive from the
United States. and from you, gentlemen, testmo.
MES OF your appreciation my own behalf; i'll that of
my friends OF the harrcades and the National Guards
OF FTance-whilc cannot but agree to what has
been observed by my FREUD, honorable chairman,
in his remarks former toast, upon the appro.
praton OF ms, buttons to the actual of cTcur-
stances. shall at the same time prop Use the fol
lowing toaSi:--
'''fo the American people, the first born and most
| highly gifted sons of independence and freedom
Tho of Ea,l,S
ION and of sclt-gOvernment.
! This address was received with strong applause
and the whole company rose il acknowIedg tnent of
| the compliment.
The Chairman next called the attention. of the
company to a toast, about which he said he should
make but few eurks, lest they might be accused of
saying too much of themselves he could not intro
Cuce however, without expressing his pleasure nj
seeing at the table, high officer Of the Governments
and one whom he was happy to rank among his yer
sonal friends-f trust he will not consider il p,e-
Stunning IN me to say, that while my long residence
in Europe, and favourable opportunities have piveu
me frequent occasions to note the zeal and patro-
tlsm OF most Of our agents abroad, would not hes
itatc to add, that never yet one, better adnp-
ted TO discharge his grave trusts, or whe more
throughiy devoted himself to ell his real duties We
all know what delicate and difficult task has lain
before him during the recent events though ell NAV
not know, well as circumstances have put it in nv
power TO ascertain, how ably and promptly and ef.
tclenliy, and how completely with an American
heart, he has acquitted himself of that critical tu,v
| / know not that any opinion of nine will have
weigh! with yon, gentlemen, with our Country
but must have greatly abused my opportunities
not to have been able to nave observed truth az
what have just said and, though there NAV be an
ndIScretion in Introducing it here I should have
done violence tn my feelings have been entirely 81
lent on this subject, on an occasion joyous and as
much adapted to generous national feeling "a this
! (AppaiIse.)
Mr. Cooper then gave as the fourth regular toast
! <'The People and Institutions-The Pre- .ident and
other Functionaries of the United States"
I Mr. Riyes arose, aud addressed the coulpanv in
substance as follows:-
"The very fattering auson to myself with which
our distinguished Chairman has been pleased to intro
duce the toast just drank, and the very kind manner
in which that aluson has been received by the com
pany, impose 1t upon me, duty, in the name of a
very numerous fraternity, to thank yon gentlemen for
the honor you have done us. In government like
ours, where public functionary is, in fact a public
servant, enjoying splendid sinecure, but charged
with aborous and responsible duties his situation NAV
we'll lay claim tn share of iDduIgent consideration
(adheson)- hope Of securing the appreciation of
those whom be cheers and aniates him under
the weight of official cares But the first aim of a
public funcionary in my opinion, should be to do his
duty, according to the best rights of his own con.
science, and with single eye to the interests of his
country looking, neither TO the right to the left
for any applause, but that which is the fair and
taneous result of faithful and mcritorious service-(ap.
pf2use.)
In the difficult situation in which have been placed
IN the service of my country here, bsve CONSTANTLY
endeayored to regulate my conduct on these or;i,ci
pies. have never been visionary CROUCH to hone fos
or aim ct, universal appreciation. Accustomed to
place duty before every other consideration, have
iaboFed necessarily to accomplish the important bust.
ness with which my government hiss charged me; no,
doubling however, that, in the end, my feov-ctzens
enlightened by knowledge Of facts would do iusiice
at least to the assduity of my exertions and the rec
tItude OF my intentions. (Narked appFobation) The
conslderate kindness with which you have remember
ed the public functionaries the present OCCASION
is consoling earnest of the candid Judgment which
our country will ultimately pass on us ali,
But far more inter esting object, gentlemen has
brought us together, the present occasion we
have met to render ial homage to one of the IA
theirs OF country, and offer him our heartfelt
congratulations on the glorious destiny which has at
the same moment, consUmmated his own fame and es.
tablshed the liberties of his native land-Faithful To
him IN all the vlcssitudes of his eventI and iusfrinus
ilie he, and his generous countrymen here present
wil pardon us the national pride which has SO often
canned him tor "our own Lafayette" nor will he
value on! sympathy in his elevated fortunes the less
because 1t happens to be mingled with qualification
o. our own vanity In the relation we sustain 10
~ "
In family feast like the present, cllling ND 50
many Patrlo'i' recoectons, may we not be p9rdoned
ALSO TOT passing retrospect to our native land In
witnessing the commissions which have recentlv ar;,a
!e 'he Ola world, we must have been more than eye
baDrv