Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1835-07-30

DINNER TO Nh LIVINGSTON.
"A DE ~ - di.sss givsa By he eisis~.s a
New fc<t Mr. lxvsxssrex. IN rhur,d,v
NE I'm in<ssst, the threcsi.r toast wa q
followw
EowAsp tSvtxesveS.-As q patriot and
statesman. be belonE, % America; n juris,
and philasoPhes. 10 The world. tIs expositioa
nj tbe 25th April. emhoase> The sentiments N
hs eounsrymcn. and stands = texi book for
American diplonatisssL
AZ the eoacluSioa of the cheers which 40
eomPanicd the reception OF this toast, Mr..
iIvn.sTos rose and thus addressed the com
pany.
! had arranged some phrases which
] thought might suit the oceasidh. But
they are driven from my mind by the
impuise which the scene abound me
most naturally peduces. : Z, find them
tame. fiat, Poweriess. 10 express the feel
ings by which am exciied-agitated-
almost overpowered.
Centlemen-I did not expect this
l returned without having attained final
success in my mission. I returned with
the satisfactory, but humble conscious
ness of having done my duty; and
anticipated no other pleasure on my re-
turn than the greetings Of personal
fnends, and that exquisite sensation
which one who loves his country feels,
when, after a long absence, his foot
presses his native shore. Such of you
gentlemen, as have been abroad will
understand this. But all Of YOU must
join me in lamenting, that the poverty
OF our language has no other word than
the vague one Of country to express
the relation between it and its citizens.
We have no derivaiive from the pafria
OF the Romans, and have not adopted
the Fdder-Laad Of our Saxon ancestors.
Nothing can be more appropriate to ex-
press the feeling, nothing more resem-
bles ilial duty and affection, than the
obligation We owe To our native land
or the attachment which binds us
by voluntary ties to the country Of our
adoption. But If We have not the word
IN our language we have the sentiment
IN our hearts. Properly cultivated, il will
teach US, not only to support our eoun-
try on occasions like the present, when
IT can appeal TO all nations for the uni
form moderation and justice Of its
course, bot with the pious sons of the
patriarch to veil even the occasional ex-
cesses Of our common parent from the
eyes Of the world; not like their de-
generate, unnatural brother, TO exasge-
rate and expose them TO the dension-
to conceal, not TO discover, the naked
ness of the land, to glory in its honor,
and lament its misfortunes, to spouse
ITS cause as our own, and identify our
selves with it in its prosperous or ad-
verse fortune. This Is patriotism, this
is true love Of country, and as il is COM
mon to all who hear me, I may be per
mitted to say il guided me in my con-
duct, cheered me during the difficulties
OF my mission, and that looked to the
consciousness Of its having animated
me for my best reward.
/ repeat, gentlemen, that / did not
expect the reception | have met with.
But ! should be guilty Of an absurd af-
fectation, If attempted TO conceal the
heartfelt pleasure it has given me. l
thank you for myself. l thank you
more for my country, for have not the
vanity 10 believe that any merit Of
mine could excite the enthusiastic de-
monstrations that have been made. and
my feelings Of personal qualification
WERE Loaf a., Sha b.cho. ...:...--..a n
national pride, when, amid the shouts
that greeted my arrival. the first words
! could distinguish were those which re-
probated any unworthy conccssion.-
Never within my recollection, in the
course Of long political life, has the
public sentiment on any question been
so strongly, so unanimously expressed
expressed as II should be, calmly but
with energy-without buster, without
violence-in the language Of high
minded men, who appreciate their Own
character, and the dignity Of the coun-
try. In a settled determination to suf-
fer no degrading interference with our
legislative councils. ali party feelings
seem TO have been forgotten, and the
assurance | gave TO the French govern
ment on my departure, that every at
tempt Of this nature would be repeIled
by the undivided energies Of the nation,
seems nobly confirmed. loud cheen. }
This intimation would have been
unnecessary, If the character Of our
country had been known and appreci-
ated. But am sorry to say that two
parties IN France seemed 10
vie with esch other ia iRventing ca.
lumnics 10 degrade our national cha
racter--and the tribunes Of the Cham
Der Of Deputies from day TO day re-
sounded with the yilest terms Of re-
Proach applied TO our merchants, who
were represented a. fraudulent adyen-
tureFs, ~ our Government, as endeavoF-
ing by the most Infamous arts, 10 sup
port their unfounded claims. Not tie
least Notifying circumstance. a. vas
sarcasticslly but truly observed by one
Of the Ministers, those who made those
charges we're supported by The votes
and encouraged BY the applause Of the