South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-02-21

timeus 0i Siuhhuuc nuu dHeStoh io
!, Lafayette, far from declining with thu
lapse of time, quickened 10 spirit as i
advanced in years, and seemed to mul
tiPly with the increasing numbers Of the
people. The Nation had never ceased
to sympathize with his fortunes, and
in every vicissitude of his life, had
manifested the deepest interest in his
. welfare. He had occasionally express
ed his intention to visit once more the
scene of his early achievements. and the
country which had requited his servi-
| ces by a just estimate of their value.
10 February, 1924, solemn Legisla-
live act, unanimously passed by both
Houses of Congress, and approved by
the President of the U. States, charged
the Chief Magistrate OF the Nation,
with the duty Of communicating to him
the assurance of grateful and affec-
Tomato attachment sill cherished for
him by the Government and People Of
the United States, and of rendering to
him national ship, with suitable ac-
commo dalton, for his conveyance to
this country.
Ten years have passed away since
the occurrence of that event. Since
then, the increase Of population within
the borders of our Union, exceeds, 10
numbers, the whole mass of that iafant
community to whose liberties he had
devoted, in early youth, his life and
fortune. His companions and fellow.
soldiers of the war of independence, Of
whom scanty remnant still existed to
Join in the universal shout Of welcome
with which he landed upon our shores,
have been since, in the ordinary course
Of nature, dropping away: pass but
few short years more, and not an indi-
vidual Of that generation with which
he toiled and bled in the cause Of hui
man kind, upon his first appearance
on the field of human action will be
left. The gallant officer, and distin-
guished Representative of the People,
at whose motion, upon this aoor, the
invitation of the Nation was given
the Chief Magiatrate By @hnna, in
compliance with the will of the Legis'
lature, it was tendered--,he surviving
Presidents Of the United States, and
their venerable compeer signers Of the
Declaration Of Independence, who re-
ceived him ID the arms Of private friend.
ship, while mingling their voices 10 the
chorus Of public exultation and joy,
are no longer here to shed the tear Of
sorrow upon his departure from this
earthly scene. They ell preceded him
in the translation to another, and, we
trust, happier world. The active,
energetic manhood Of the Nation, Of
whose infancy he had been the protec-
tor and benefactor, and who, by the
protracted festivities Of more than a
year Of jubilee, manifested to him their
sense of the obligations for which they
were indebted to him, are already de-
scending into the vale Of tears. The
children of the public schools, whe
thronged in double files to pass in res
view before him to catch glimpse Of
his countenance. and smile from his
eye, are now among the men and wo-
men Of the land, rearing another gene
ration to envy their parents the JOY
which they can never share, Of having
seen and contributed to the glorious
and triumphant reception Of Lafayette.
Upon his return to France, Lafay-
ette was received with welcome BY
his countrymen scarcely less euthusi.
astic than that with which he had been
greeted in this country. From his land
ing at Havre till his arrival at his resi-
,, dence at La Grange, j. was again one
triumphal march, rendered but the mor'
. striking by the interruptions and obsta
cles OF an envious and jealous Gov
ernmeni. Threats were not even spar
ed Of arresting him as criminal, ane
!. holding him responsible for the sponta
0 neous and irrepressible feelings mani
e tested by the People in his favor. H
: was, very soon after his return, agail
# elected member of the Chamber o
8 Deputies, and thenceforward, in tina
!, honorable and independent station
9 was the soul of that steadfast and in
7 flexible party which never ceased I
n defend, and was ultimately destined t
e vindicate the liberties of France.
The Government of the Bourbonl
from the time of their restoration, wa
a perpetual struggle to return 10 tn
Saturnian times of absolute power
d For them the Sun and moon had stoo
e still, not, az in the miracle Of ancien
e story, for about whole day, but 70
d more than whole century. Reseate
II upon their thrones, not, as the Stuart