The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-01-25
From The Geatieman's Magasine
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH AND SERVICES OF
COMMODORE CHARLES STEWART,
Of hs.Navy Of tie United States.

GEOGRAPHICAL SKETCH AND SERVICES or
COMMODORE CHARLES STEWART,
Of The Navy Of tie United STATES.
(coNTsuED.)
In December, 1879, his ship was equipped,
and ready for sea, Captain Stewart embraced
the occasion TO give splendid entertainment
on board that vessel, to all the branches OF
government, and the citizens of the district ;
there were upward Of eight hundred ladies'
and gentlemen on board, where they passed
without accident most desirable day, and
returned 10 their homes at night, delighted
with the entertainment and hospitality of the
captain. Soon after the citizens Of the dis
trict gave return ball TO Captain Stewart,
and the officers Of the navy; it was at this
ball room, about ten O'clock al night, that Mid
shipman Hamilton, the son Of the Secretary
OF the Navy, and the aid Of Captain Decatur,
arrived with the flag Of the Macedonian fri
gate, and the dispatches Of Captain Decatur,
giving an account Of his having captured her
with the frigate United States. The dancing
ceased, the flag was spread on the floor, the
dispatches read to the President, and the as
sembled ladies' and gentlemen; to describe
the scene which followed would require a
more graphic pen than we hold The reader
will we'll be left to his own reflections and
feelings, and glorious sympathies. Nor will
he, we are certain, omit to recur to that GAL
liant impulse which led Stewart and Balm
bridge TO Washington, to demonstrate against
the inglorious policy that had been adopted of
shutting up our ships, and the way to those
brilliant scenes which lighted up the ocean
and the lakes, with such umTading glory We
cannot resist the impulse to say something Of
that memorable occasion. The building, large
and commodious as it was, as the flag lay in
the midst Of the brilliant assembly, literally
trembled TO its foundation withthe plaudits -
Ladies were seen laughing and weeping with
Joy; gentlemen embracing one another; mem
bers of Congress who were opposed TO each
other in the morning, on questions concerning
the war, were found in each others arms !;
the opposers Of the war recovered for the mo-
ment their lost patriotism, and in the arms Of
their democratic colleagues, their hearts beat
in unison with each other over the glory ac-
quired for their country, while the tears Of
gratitude streamed from their eyes, and fell
on the PROSTATE flag of Britain, The penera-
bic Macon, forgetting his stern consistency,
exclaimed, " never behold an officer Of our
navy, without the expansion Of nv heart
making me feel as much affection for him as
could for brother" In the general confu-
sion, and the loss of all personal distinction,
through the patriotic feelings of the moment,
the President himself received the fraternal
embrace of federal senator. In this ball
room, and on this occasion, the Secretary of
the Navy, (Mr. Hamilton stated TO those as
sembled, IT IS TO CAPTAINS BAINBRIDGE
AND STEWART YOU OWE YOUR NAVAL vIcTo-
RIEs." We do no more than repeat the histo-
~ of the times, when we say, that IL ,oas 10 the
uictorieS of our brave tarS, on the ocean, ouer
the English, that the first impulse and success
Of The War are TO be fairly aseribed.
Unprepared, at its commencement, the ma
lion diuidcd on the question, and the fleets Of
the enemy lowering on our shores, doubt and
darkness enveloped IT'S declaration, and made
the boldest hearts quail. Who that remem-
bers that day, will ever forget the shouts Of
ioy which rang through the land, as victory
upon victory was announced, and flag after
flag of the proud mistress of the deep, bowed
to the star spangled banner Of freedom! The
national pulse beat high in every bosom !:
and every valley, and every hill top, sent
forth its song of praise Our cities, towns,
and hamlets blazed with illumination and our
armies marched joyfully to battle. The spell
was broken! The foe had been confronted,
on his owa element ship to ship, man to man,
and gun to gun, and never had the stars and
stripes of our country come down. The heart
of the traitor shriyelled up within him, and
the notes Of despair died upon his lips. Our
foe was struck aghast at his defeat, and trem-
bled as he grappled with us, on sea and
land. Mr. Madison's administration acquired
strength, his friends confidence, the people
hope, and the army and navy assurance ofvic-
tory and fame Such were the results OF the
noble council Of Captains Stewards and Balm
bridge, and such the glorious ful6lment Of
their predictions One only of these chival-
rous heroes lives towitness the deep and last
inc gratitude of his country. Death has set
his seal upon the other, and Sanctifed has
memory in The affections Of has conntrymen.
The fruits of their generous patriotism will
long be seen in our elevated national charac-
ter, in the glory of our arms, in the potency
of our influence, and in the arrest of the ruff
fan hand of impressment, from touching the
humblest head that seeks shelter beneath our
striped bunting" once so condemned and
despised American decks are now inviola-
bic as the American soil, and the proudest
foot in the enemies rank dare not tarnlsh
them with rudeness or insult. The last Anne
rican sailor has been long since dragged into
foreign bondage, on the high seas.
Amongst the assembled fashion and beauty
on the memorable occasion referred to, we
observed Mrs. Madison, Miss Mayo, (now
Mrs. Gen. Scott and Misses Cation, Mrs. Je-
rome Bonaparte, and many others.
Captain Stewart shortly after proceeded to