South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-02-07
Adams's Grafton on Lafayette.

AUdlllo vi dLlOu Ol AuAdJ CtIC'
Grafton on the Life and Character Of
GILBERT MoTIER DE LAFAYETTE :
delivered at the request Of both Hou-
ses of the Congress of the U. States
before them, in the House of Represen.
tatives at Washington, on the 8 LIST De.
cember, 1884. BY JOHN Quincy Ap.
ANS, a member ofthe House.
Continued.
Fellow Citizens of the Senate and
House of Representatives ofthe U. s.
The day after the date of his com.
mission, he was introduced to Wash
ington, Commander.in-chief Of the ar.
mics ofihe Confederation. Ii was the
critical period ofthe campaign of-1777.
The. British army, commanded by
Lord Howe, was advancing from the
head of Elk, to which they had been
transported by sea from New York up
on Philadelphia. Washington, by a
counteracting movement, had been ap-
preaching from his line of defence, in
the Jerseys, towards the city, and ar.
rived there on the 1st Of August. 1t
was meeting of congenial souls. AT
the close of it, Washington gave the
youthful stranger an invitation TO make
the head quarters of the Commander
in-chief his home !; that he should es.
tablish himself there at his own time,
and consider himself at all times as one
of his family. 1t was natural that, in
giving this invitation, he should remark
the contrast Of the situation in which it
would place him, with that OF ease, and
comfort, and luxurious enjoyment,
which he had left, at the splendid
Court of Louis the Sixteenth, and OF
his beautiful and accomplished, bu, i'll.
fated Queen, then at the very summit
of all which constitutes the common
estimate of felicity. How deep and
solemn was this contrast! No native
American had undergone the trial oil
the same alternative. None of them,
save Lafayette, had brought the same
tribute, Of his life, his fortune, and his
honor, to cause Of country foreign
70 his own. To Lafayette the soil Of
freedom was his country. His post Of
honor was the post Of danger. His
fireside was the field of battle. He &C.
cepted with JOY the invitation Of Wash
ingtoD, and repaired forthwith to the
Camp. The bond of indissoluble
friendship-the friendship of heroes,
was sealed from the first hour of their
meeting, to last throu ghout their lives, &
tolive in the memory humankind forever.
1t was, perhaps, at the suggestion Of
the American Commissioners in
France, that this invitation was given
by Washington. In a letter from them,
ofthe 25th of May, 1777, to the Com
mittee of Foreign Affairs, they an
..ornce that the Marquis had departed
for the United States in ship of his
own, accompanied by some officers Of
distinction, in order to serve in our ar.
mics. They observe that he is exceed
ingly beloved, and that every body's
good wishes attend him. They cannot
but hope that he will meet with such a
reception as will make the country and
his expedition agreeable to him. They
further say that those who censure it as
imprudent in him, do nevertheless ap.
plaud his spirit and they are satisfied
that civilities and respect shown to him
will be serviceable to our cause in
France, as pleasing not only to his pow.
erful relations and TO the Court, but to
the whole French nation. They fl.
nally add, that he had left a beautiful
young wife, and for her sake, particu'
larly, they hoped that his bravery ane
ardent desire to distinguish himsel
would be a little restrained by the Gen
ERALS [Washington's prudence, so al
not to permit his being hazarded much
but upon some important occasion.
The head quarters of Washington
serving as volunteer, with the rank
and commission of Major Genera
without command, was precisely the
station adapted TO the development O.
his character, to his own honor, ano
that of the army, and to the prudent
management ofthe country's cause. TIC
v him it was at once severe school o.
experience, and rigorous test Of me-
rit. But it was not the place to res
Train him from exposure to danger
The time a, which he joined the camp
was one of pre-eminent peril. The
British Government, and the Comman'
der.in.chief of the British forces, had
imagined that the possession OF Phlla'
delphia, combined with that OF the line
II along the Hudson river, from the Cam
adam frontier to the city Of New York
would be fatal to the American cause
Re- tho ronturo IF Rur0nvna and his a r.