Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-16

RIcHMoSp, Dec q, lSil.
Gentlemen: have the honor to acknowledge The r..
ceip of your letter of the 18th instant, inviting be-
half of number Of my fellow citizens in the City OF
Richmond and county OF llenrIco, TO Public Dinner,
which they DESTROYS Of giving, as manifestation IL
their good wishes for my safe return among Them, aud
their appreciation of my conduct and services whilst
abroad.
shall not affect conceal, Gentlemen, the cordial
pleasure which ! derive from such ! distinguished
mark of personal esteem and consideration; and IN
turning nv grateful Acknowledgements, | must be- al.
low ed 10 say, that should feel myself unworthy otle
Kindness that has prompted such token Of confidence
and honor if did not receive it, in truth do, with
feelings Of unaffected gratitude To such mark q!
confidence and favor, proceeding from such quarter,
no good be Indifferent, and he that coad, does
not deserve to be thus honored! Indeed, should
act frankly If did not declare, that should consider
any expression of public esteem and appreciation on the
part of my country, however general, as incomplete,
without that Of my intimate and personal friends and
those especially who have known longest and best
beg you, therefore, Gentlemen, 10 accept for your
selves and TO convey to those friends whose organyou
are the deep and respectful sense entertain Of The
kind and gratifying manner in which have been re-
ceved and honored and the grateful impressions which
il has made upon my heart accept with grea, plea
sure your kind invitation, and will name Saturday next
as the day when it will be in my power TO meet you,
and which ! understand will in oil probability be The
most convenient and agreeable TO yonrseves.
am gratifed, gentlemen, in recognizing among you
many Of my old and best friends, and beg to tender TO
individually, assurances oil the corulal Regard
esteem with which have the honor TO be,
'N'' '''' a. STEVENSON
To VIM Pope, James Bosher, Charles Palmer, }. NJ
Selden, Daniel Truehcart, Thomas II. Ellis, Thos
T. Giles, Richard Cary Amber, John b Chapman
Washington Greenhow, VIM. II. Roane, Edmund
Christian Henry l.. Carter, Esqs.
The company assembled at 5 o'clock Besides Mr.
Stevenson, there were present as invited guests Col
Rutherford lieutenant and Acting Governor Of Vir
gina;) Mr.. Patton, Councillor of State; Mr.. Nlosson,
Consul of France Tor the State of Virginia. Mr.. Persco,
Consul for the King of Naples, and OF the Two Sc'es,
for the port Of Richmond; and W. J. Bennett, Esq, OF
South Carolina The tables were arranged in the form
ola half closed paraelogram. Mr.. Richie, as Presi-
dent occupied the Of the table, with Mr.
Stevenson, Mr. Patton, Mr. Bennett, ard Mr. Pope
Chairman Of the Committee of Arrangements, on his
rirht-and COL Rutherford, Mr.. Nloisson, Mr. Per
sico aud Judge Daniel, Of the Justices Of the SI.
preme Court Of the u. S. on his left. Col Rober, Is
Corbn of Crroline lst Vice President occupied The
extremity of the right side Of the tableJon W Nash,
ESQ., of Powhatan, Speaker of the Senate Of Virginia,
as I'd Vice President, the extremity of the left side
Philip Harrison, ESQ Of Richmond as 81 wee fresi-
dent, the centre of the right-and James NJ Selden'
Esq, of Henrco the centre Of the left. The company
numbered more than hundred.
After the dessert was removed, the following toas's
drunk.
Regular toasts, Jy the Committee 7oasts
]. The Memory of Washington. When Nirginians
TO do honor TO Vrginan, their first thoughts are
on him, whose the world has claimed as an honor
to- humanity.
Music by the Band. Air Uashington's March.
2. The American Union Respected abroad-he.
loved at home. Founded upon the rock of Human Ii
berry, while il shall withstand the storm of internal
commotion may bid defiance to the assault Of foreign
antagonists Air Haa Columbia
g. The States of the Union! lie, them sacredy
observe the Bond OF the Union The Constitution
their guarantee Of peace and harmony.
Air-The Sdr.Spansied Banner.
4. The departed sages of Virginia Their memory
endears to the land of our birth. Let the venera
ton with which America regards them, excite 10
emulate their rcnown. Air-Rosslyn Castle
s. The President of the United States.
fair Presisidents Narch
When the sixth toast about 10 be read, the Pre-
sident Of the Company rose, read the correspondence
which had passed between the Committee of Arrange.
ments and Mr. Stevenson-and also the terms Of The
Letters of Invitation to the Guests, stating that The
Dinner given "by number Of his personal friends,
former constituents, members of the Legislature, and
others, acitlom distinction Of party" The President
then addressed the Company as follows:
Yes gentlemen, this tribute TO distinguished guest
comes from number of citizens, without distinction
of party. "Upon this head speak. On that cue,
would address the most generous and liberal passions"i
your nature For myself may truly say, that | feel
honored by the distinction which the Committee OF Ar.
engagements have conferred upon me of presdinga thus
hospitable board and but attribute that honor not
much TO the many winters which time has showered
upon my forehead-as 10 the long period Of my ac-
quaintance with your Guest, and TO the cherished
friendship which has bound for many years oge
Their.
Gentlemen not only obey the wishes of the Com
mittee, and consult the pleasure of this respectable
sembly, but also my feelings, when say that party
spirit shall not be permitted 10 show its front IN tins
liberal meeting. ] have done just as the Turks do
when they leave their slippers at the door OF their cham
bers. have left my party politics behind me yondr
door, and wear them not in the course Of this evening
And indeed how couldit be otherwise: How could !
find it my heart to disturb your meeting with pary
l.o,I IF vh
generous and liberal feelings gIace THIS board-gcn.
ernen who sit both 10 the right, (poiniing to the lst
Vice Presidency and to the left, po'nng to two other
gentlemen who sat upon the left ofthe Char) Is there
never to be moment when party politics are IL
cease '-never to be Sabbath Of sentiment ?-neycr
one Saturnaa, when fellowship and good feeling are
to be the order Of the day But if there ever is to be
such me what moment is so suspicious as this, when
together 10 do honor To citizen, who has sc.y-
ed his country abroad, for five years and half-who
been separated from those agatng contests, which
haYe excited ouyselvec-and who has Just returned
among us, American in all his principes-and II 4
be not too much Boosting Of ourselves Nirg'nan ~
principle, well in sentiment-srpt Of that aspe'
ty Of party feeling which is nauspcious to socai
intercourse itself. lf,hen there time vine"
may display such liberality Of feeling, this y me
time, and that is the man, (ayIng his hand upon w
Stevenson shoulder amid the enthusiastic cheers o.
the audience,) on whose behalf it may be eSeI,ed
Yes, gentlemen, we meet this day to honor man.
who has long been abroad IN the service Of our coah
ry-to welcome citizen, who has just returned to 'he
soil Of his native State, the City Of his former Tes'
dence, the circle Of his kindest friends and 10 the 10
som OF his former Constituents. Should we not vel
come CORDIALLY welcome such man his return
among u.s. Need ask That question, when ! sec 'i-'
sentiment strongly reflected from The countenan2e.
of many respectable gentlemen Of all parties aFonh
me- May we not welcome him, when he has ii'"
fully and ably served country abroad-as Tue -.
chyes of the Government will in due time display
May we not welcome him, when those who have pts"
most behind the curtain, when those who have Inc ~
cGments which ye haze not seen, haze attesleu 'no
strongly TO his nerits-when The former Secretary =
State pronounced him TO be an able and efficient hH's
ter; and when the present Secretary, who witness witness
his conduct on the first diplomatic theatre ia The
has declared him 10 be an honor 10 his country gus"
recount his services in detail Shall point 10 w.
successful efforts in obtaining remuneration al n.y.
cost too, for sundry slaves who were sb'Pwresss" -