Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-05-17
NWIIMSPI1s
Froe tie Savannah Georgian of May 6.
DINNER 10 MIR. BERRIEN.

''s ~ 'SHh dn VI al
a. The dinner given 10 hi, gentleman, by our ciiizens,
on wednesday last, prepared by the Committee, which
owing 10 lis Length, we were unable to publish IN cur
last paper. Throughout the ies ival, hatmo' Y prevail.
ed, and he Company, which was vsry large, wer,
unanimous in the mary EXPRESSIONS OF ligh esteem for
their Distinguished guest. ELECTED duriog the evening.
REGULAR TOASTS.
i. The United States: The Pharos, 10 guide the IA.
tons Of The world to the haven Of Liberty.
z The State Of Georgia: She has triumphan,ly sus-
ia'nsd the IN jes,y Of he Constitution, by preserving
unsuilied he .dieniv OF her own soveie gaiy.
). The Preside Of tie United Siates.
4. The Governor of the s ate OF Georgia.
The ~Pfeiident OF he Day, John Cumming, Esq then
rose, and PrefacSd the following toast VITA these re-
marks:
The terms 10 which nur invitation was accepted, for
nu arei:rspce 10 ihs public services Of OR respected
guest IL 1t were otherwise, the fair honor OF his ca
reer Ia the Forum, on the b nth, in the Senate, and ia
the Cabinet, would form a theme, on which The pbilan.
hiopist and patriot might delight to dwell: but since
he has desiret to be reeeived az our ie!l W. itiZ IN, we
have only TO tender him our friendly salu,a,ions.
b. OlF Guest: We esteem him for his virtues-we
honor him Ter his SCI vices.
Mr.. B;rtion then r.se, and responded 10 the ohserva.
lions from the Chair. and toe sentiments of the Compa
ny, in nearly The following words:
l thank you very cordially, Gentlemen. for This ex.
pfsssoo OF your Kindness. 1 could 20. be insensible
TO HE APPRECIATION OF So respectable an ~ssoemolsge Of
any portion Of my fellow-ciiizsns but such a recep-
ton f'om this Community, leaves me wi,hou, the pow.
sr sdequa'ely to express my grateful sense Of tue 20.
nor which II coulers. Ii brings with il, however, he
cheering conviction, that | am 10 the uiist Of those, to
whom L may safely ton6do the Interpretation Of roy
feelings. Accspt, then, Gentlemen, the simple acknow-
Judgements OF my gratitude, for this rene we'd nantes
'aiion OF your INV arying kindness. 1 should vsinly
attempt to express to you my feelings on this occasions;
but your own hearts will b:ar ne witness, and / cheer
fully submit myself TO their testimony.
Returning, after an absence which has seemed 10 me
to be a proracied one. TO this cherished SPOT, which is
eIdeared to US all, by a thousand recollec ions, | have
IN grsuheaton 10 see, in this assembly, many OF those
who have been my companions in the urney of lite.
L NEE, you, therefore,, with no ordinary emotion, and
with little qualification for the disebarg of he duty
which your kindness, and ,hs customs Of the festive
DO >rd, have devolved upon me. The stranger who Wis
I've our city, con,empiates il as The abode oil hospitality,
aud tie bone OF the domes ic virtues ; and leaving il,
carries with him a lively remembrance of the inte!Ii.
sence anu the courtesy which constitute the charm of
lis social utter course. But to me, il presents itself wi h
all those awakening reeo.lec,ons which are connected
win The idSa OF home-oi youthful friendships, and
cherished remembrance OF the bes, and bsppies; pok.
ton OF my hfs-of bright and sunny hours, which are
destined never TO return.
l wish | could have found you, Gsst'emen, in the
enjoyment of that prosperity, which tue natural adyan.
tags OF our location, and The intelligence and enter
timN. when i y lie s.ii saees sesii 81 c our :" ss,ical;u Fii-' and =" dss-
consequent prosperity of our eoto:sereial operations,
gave animation TO every thing around us-when The
busy hum Of commerce was heard in our streets, aad
it's fruits wsre exhibited in the rapid impiov ment of
our city-nhsn here, as well as else ~ here, all the com
forts and enjoyments OF life, were placed within
the reach Of Individual exeriion. WIZ does this state
Of ,hings 40 longer exi', in the sans degree as hereto
fora? Why IL il that stiffness now pervAdes those pla,
css, which, in mssp past, were the scenes ot bus,ls
and activity! Whence comes ii, that the best exer.
tons of the planter, and the most intellig sni efforts OF
tbe Dsfcbaui, fil 20 receive the rewards which hereto
fore awaited them :
l will no, do violence to The social feeling, 10 which
this occasion Ia devoted, by no discussion of a much
agitated and highly agi,a;ing question, whici,is CON-
nected with this subject. l %purposely limi, myself 10
the enquiry, whether sons oil the evils which we suf-
Ter, may not have resulted from our hiiure 10 keep pace
vita The changes which have occurred else " hers, and
especially in the Other States OF the Union! Extend
ing our view 10 the State at large, whether we have
not relied too much on the value Of our products. and
tue natural advantages OF our position ; and looking
rather to our pas, property, ihan TO thoss unwelcome
indications which menacel It's continuance, have re-
NAMED to a certain degree stationary, while o!hors
have been advancing in The career OF internal inprove-
ment! i do not Disguise from myself the fact, that the
change in our condition, has been greatly Influenced BY
causes over which we could exercise no conrd (; by
the altered polidcal and commercial state of the other
portions Of the world. Constituting a part Of the greai
family OF nations, we cannot be insensibls 10 that which
materially affects lis other members ; for that law OF
his Lature, v hich ordains that man shall be a social be.
lag, iorbidJ that. either as an individual, or as a MEM
Der oil society, he should be wholly independent u bis
fellow men.
Sull" II may be worth the enquiry, whether all which
we nave lost, Can be Jusiy imputed TO this cause |? and
especially, whether something may mol be regained by
intelligent and unremitted eXertiOns to facilitate our in
terror communications, and TO improve the ocean inlet,
On which we are 20 advanlageousiy posted (! When the
great staple product OF our Safe commanded three
times the price which can nov be obtained for IL. the
difficulties Of ommun alton were overcome, because
the value Of the article compensated the labor and ex-
peBse, which we're ne ceesoTy TO tie accomplishment of
ihis object. Our sioiehouses were then filed with The
fruits OF our agriculture and here, also, were sought,
IS an almost necessary consequences, thoss supplies,
which our citizens derived from the skill and Industry
Of other nations. Our city was then The great mart OF
the great agricultural productions Of our State, as veil
as OF those foreign supplies which then reached ue, in
no inconsldere6le quantity, BY difec, importation. But
this is ~unhtpply a picture OF by-gone times ; a state of
things which wa can tcafc5ly expsat 10 zee realized
again, IN all us former extent. The eOniiiion OF the
world affords lille prospect OF aby material advance
part, then, from such improvement ia asricul.
ure, 80 may Teduca tbs cost o. production, us
vaiue to the producer is chiefly 10 DO increased
by facilitating, and thereby dininishins the exosnss
truth has been fell aud acted upon, and We are in no
iDcOnsiderabie d'gsse, the victims OF the dive zion,
which II has already OecasiOned Does il become us, /
speak Of our fellow. oiuzsnJ throughout the State. 10
awaii III lislles5 inactivity, The -umm OF this re-.
sulR
II is row several years age, fince q distinguished en-.
glneer, who bad been engaged in making surveys la
various paris Of the Union pronounced his part TO bs
NE appropriate Atlantic outlet Of the Southern and
South west-fn ) aies, aud The truth of this opinion,
would ere this have been demonstrated, II the rroni.
~ e exefltoDs bad been made TO improve those interior
communications, which are suggested by he natural
aOVontdges OF our position Such an operation hove.
yer, IN The extent, which ought To DO given 10 ~, be-
longs alphabetically TO The State, because the c initial
which II would require, ttansCends the recourse, of
our city, and because also, The benefits which ID yould
confer, would be CO. Extensive with tn Whole
line Of communication. May we moi bope that This
subject will ind favor in tho councils of our Sttts. and
that some portion OF the ample fluid, which must ere
long be- placed at our disposal, will DO set apart tor
purposes Of internal Improvement. Whoever shall sue
ceod In awakening the attention Of lie LegiIaure 4,
| tUI4 WtalM fmuUffgIt annl4Tl and ah m Iaaa gLa .uDI