Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-07-30
SELECTIONS,
MIR. LINlNGSTONS' SPEECH,
II the Dinner recently grin 10 him in Phiiode


gratitude should appear simple and unadorncd,
pray you to consider that it comes direct from
the heart, and that have the talent 10 il
in the norid language usually employed on similar
occasions
All | can say under the feelings which agitaio me
is, that thank You, my w-citzsnS, thank
you sincerely, from my heart | thank Nou. Much
for myself more, much more for our common
country for You have bu, recorded ITS voice in the
shouts You have ln>t uttered, witch proclaim, in
language not TO be misunderstood, that democratic
rrnublics are as tenacious oftheif dignity, and as
sensitive to any impat,tou ON their national honor
as the proudcNt monarchy The case that Ia,
drawn forth this noble expression of national
feeling, is of novel occurrence Heretofore we
have contcndcd for rights withheld, interests nya-
ded--we contcnded manully, successfully, but
never with perfect nnannlty. Now, we are cal
led on TO consider question OF national dignity,
unmingled with any other consideration, and the
country shows, by its nncxamplcd unanimty, that
it considers this last of paramount importance.
Lost rights may be recovered the battles of free
DOM though " sometimes lost, in the end
"always won.' Inuric, To interest ma, be repaired
but the reputation of a country, once lost, can
be rcgaincd
The people Of the United States seem 10 be
deeply sensible of this great truth, and the cry
which first heard on my arrival off No apoloeH
NOC0nfcsSiOn' has been repeated by the unanimous
voice of the nation from the scabuard 70 the NOUN
tains from the mountains to the great Lakes aud
the valleys ofthe Mississippi. Notonl> all theprc
udces Of party seem lost in tllis national spirit,
but strong personal interest gives way TO the patr
otto feeling, which prompts even those who are
interested in the claims ON France to reject with
d,dln the idea Of purchasing their payment by an
act Of national di,honor. | renew, therefore, nay
con zratulations To You and to the country on the
noble spirit which pervadcs it.
Til occasion which has brought YOU together
adds one more to the many preceding rcnalions
of the charge of insratitudc against republics for
the people have on this occasion most generously
repaid moderate services, ordinary talents, and
humble efforts, by the highest Of all rewards their
appreciation and applause.
No! republics are not unera I'LL The charge
is made by the sorlid and the vain, who think mo-
thing valuable but gold nothing honorable but IL
ties, and that Caudy ribbons the PROPER recon-
pcnse for merit. No gentlemen, republics not
unaraenl, but they are iulicous in their choice of
reward. They do not give hereditary honors to
virtue and wisdom which may descend to folly
and vice. They do not wiring its earnings from
the hard hand of labor, that it may be poured ont
pensions the idle and unworthy. They do no,
decorate with stars and Spanglcd gartcrs- with
ribbons and crosses and gcwgaws, men, who, if
they have done any thing that may seem to have
deserved these childish TOYS, may afterwards prove
unworthy of the decorations. But they give
bier, higher rccompense for seryiccs--they give
their confidence and the seal of their appreciation
is aproudcr distinction ihan ANY tla bangles from
the button hole, ors embroidered ON the breast
Of the titled counter; and feel myself more ho'-
orcd as well as er1ifcd by the appla1iing voice
of my fellow cltizens-by the Grasp ofthelr friend
ly hands, some OF them hard with honest labour--
by their couuteaaaee, bcaming with the fire Of
patriotism, infinitely more honored than | could
be by any timlar apPcndaco 10 my name thai
monarch could bestow.
1t would be the bases, want oi gratitude in me
were 10 complain ii that Of IN, country. In my
case this noble reward has hcea bestowed VIII ao
undersigned profession. Good intentions, some dill
gcncc--a love Of country common to with all
OF you, and much zeal for its honor, have received
that which would strictly have been due 10 sue
ccssful talent. | was sent to procure payment ola
debt long due to our fellow citizens, aud have re-
turned empty handed. was instructed to recon
Gle the Earring interests of our country with that TO
which was sent, and have left them more en-
broilcd than ever. | have returned then, as the
lawyers say, nc infccta totally without success.
Yet my return has been welcomed as ifmy mission
had been crowned with complete success Why
is this Simply because circumstances placed me
in situation to assert the honor and dignity of my
country-to strike a chord that yibratcd through
every Amcricanheart and to do il IN a manner which
every one approves because every ono feels that in