Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1839-08-27
fut the lI,rsld.
RECEPTION or THE PRESIDENT ~
WHITEHALL

,,if aes. at least might Judge so from Tire onical
accounts which are recorded an the city ncwspa-
pors. As they are generally written IN the same
strain whether pro or con- any information can
give on the subject, presume, will be considered
but tho stale haclncyod, and worn out expressions
with which tie newspapers are already saturated.
Still, ihuk, there are many little incidents connoc-
ted with the public reception of great nan, which,
although they do not appear in print yet s,ill throw
form and fcahrc over the whole, and serve as land
marks in the devoopomcn, Of general principles to-
gchcr with the object and end of such exhibitions
With this Harmed prciule, will give YOU a short
history of the entrance and reception of President
Van Buren,, in the little city Of Whitehall, on the
2lst inst, trusting that it may interest you and some
of your readers. Having gone 10 see him as a dis
interested spectator, and as | viewed him with an
unprcjudiccd eye, Qlaving never seen the man be-
iore) and write tlns with unbiased mind YOU NAV
consider this account as Rcanv impartial. though
not perfect DO not approve of the doctrine of in
iability. Wen to bcgn--l found mysclfon a most
outrageous hot day, at about 10 o'clock A. NJ in
the streets of the aforementioned city, patiently
waiting the approach OF the President The wealth
er being excessively hot and, seeing no symptoms
of bis immediate proximity, Itook a stroll in compa-
NY with friend TO view the now and elegant steam
boat Whitehall, in which the President was TO leave
the place, and which was then undergoing the inter
esting operation Of being frialn3ed. On our return
we discovered that the procession had already ar
rived at the hotel prepared for the occasion Moth
ing very extraordinary occurred, as | could learn.
during the grand "Entree" into the place. except
the squabbc of men, women and children TO catch
si,y 'pftl ,,l..., f.
inc streets TO the tune of Zip Coon,n gracefully
played by the Whitehall band If you recollec, the
ioordS OF this tune you will perceive it was 'appro
pos, on this occasion
81 trent dorn 10 Sandy Hook tothcr drfcrnoon," &c
Mr. Van Buren, having left Sandy Hill that morning
AS we arrived at the suburbs of the crowd col
leccd in front ofthe hotel, we heard the loud voice
of the Marshal commanding the multitude TO "stand
still and prcscrre silence" A temporary stage had
been erected under awning in front of the build
ing, on which the President was to be addressed.
&c by dint of considerable elbowinp and soueez-
ing, pushing and iamming, twisting, turning and
lodging, managed to place myself within three
feet Of the mortal ''phz" and in the immediate vi
emily OF the 'sanctum sanctorum" of that being
whom the scandal of the world has termed the slit
v
"the Little Dutchman." &c. &c but whose given
and christian name is Martin Van Buren, TECHNICAL
y'liis Excclency the President of the limited
STATES OF America On looking at him, the first thing
winch iorclDly struck my mind was the great dispro-
POI uoh "hich existed between his occpm and the |
anterior portion OF his Uranium, the preponderance
beng decidedly in favor of the former, which Gail
Comoe and some others, would insinuate denoted
great ascendancy of the animal and sensual over
The nfehectua faculties. In his appearance he was
very fleshy, quite 'Em-Jon-point" was rather older
and altogether better iooking, than | had formerly
imagined lie has a keen, cunning eve. and q mr.
h'hg her, which played about his face continually
lhere was nothing striking or remarkable in his
dress, unless twas his boots, which were small him
ghy pollshed, and doubtless in the very tin ton lis
SINUS OF fashion. lie held his hat in his ripl hand
oelhd HIM. rested his left his umbrella in front
advanced ms right foot about nine and a hair ,ncbe
forward of his left, and stood "Straieht as n ,o h
ale" The Mr.. Hon. Judge NJ. Wheeler was adj
dressing him. Had been gifted with kno,vlodoo
OF the science Of sienograpfy, would give Won his
speech, and likewise the reply verbatim lteratim
e' puhctua'im' But, alas must rely entirely on
my memory, and that you know is very treacherous
4
ostng OCCASION HAPPY meeting, "-"present null
'ude' sturdy anry,"-"honest tanners. -
union Of democratic feeling" ClD-"baule Of
Tla'isburg '-'braye men who fought" sc. &c
ne President, maintaining the same position
hroughouD replied TO each Of these particulars in
nll said he was there 25 years before at the
launching of the first Steamboat on the lake -"
hahked the audience twice for their Ioyav and on
hustashc feelings and sentiments bowed very {
politely o''d 'toRped Three protracted cheers then
'rose from multitude consisting of the silk stock
ng gentry, '-dandies of,he first water-gen,lomo,
Observation-Disclosures anics-clerks-Gar )
'rahgers-ioa iers-yagabonds and !
iAeVes' 40 all, nearly 600, no more During NJ, I
" heeiers address, The multitude were as still a. q
ouid be expected under existing circumstance d
oui as soon as the President began his repv. gen
raj MN arose. and cries, yells, curses and damn. =
ngs were continually issuing from the assembled a
hrohg' After this, the President went into the .. g
ing room where the nirodlctory ceremony com 7
nehoeu. ms was quite novel aud inierestino