The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-11-06

Dsitpsred at q Public Dinner Eepsn 10 AIM
prior to his departure for Sardinia, by tho
Citizens Of Lsrington. Without regard 70
party on the 2ist October, isl3.
The 4th regular toast having been announced
Our distinguished guest, Robert Wieklifie, jr.--'
We reluctantly surrender him TO the service Of his
country"
MIR. w. rose aud addressed the company substan-
TALLY as follows,
Gentlemen In rising TO respond TO the very fiat.
terng sentiment which has just been announced by
the President Of the Day, feel, most keenIy, not
only my own unworlhnoss OF the high terms in which
he has pleased to speak Of me, but my inability,
upon the present occasion, TO do justice to my
self Conscious that ! have neither said done any
thing worthy of the high honors which you this day
pay me- | attribute their bestowal not 10 my own
desert, but entirely to your own neghborly kindness
and partial friendship. know not whether, at this
instant, my breast is filled with stronger emotions Of
pride or of sorrow--of PRIDE that should receive
this distinguished mark Of affection and respect from
those amidst whom was born and reared--of sor.
row that this day part with you and the residue OF
my friends for time and II may be, forever. As
light and shade chase each other DER summers
field, feel at moment, eated with delight, and
at another, depressed with sadness. Indeed, from
man who has so many ties to bind him to his home
who fastened to his native land by thousand links
of friendship and of blood-who glories in her past
history and watches with glowing pride her onward
march to greatness and renown--who loves not only
the people, but the very soil OF the Commonwealth
which gave him brth-it requires no ordinary effort
to tear himself from the endearing scenes OF his
youth and to take up his sojourn in foreign cline.
The time and the talents, however, of every citizen
belong to the Republic, and called, as have been,
TO high and responsible station in the service of my
country private interest and personal convenience
must yield to the commands of public duty. In the
discharge Of the arduous duties Of my mission, your
tested friendship and sustaining confidence will be
the genius that will cheer in maintaining the
honor and protecting the rights of our common
try and the brightest reward of my humble, but we'll
meant abors, will be your hearty sanction and APP
proving smiles.
Gentlemen, rejoice that party and politics have
been excluded from this festive board. rejoice that
this meeting is composed Of gentlemen of all par
ties and of every shade Of political complexion
Although it has been my misfortune, (and l sup
pose it must be considered as the lot Of all public
menu to encounter prejudice and incur enmity yet
have never allowed my political sentiments to
interrupt my social relations. | address you, then,
neither as Wings Democrats, but as Kentuckians.
OF that high title you have good reason to be proud
For countless centuries this dark and bloody ground
in time of peace, had been the huntingground Of
friendly, and in time Of the battlefield Of hostile
tribes Its virgin soil had never been contaminated
by the footsteps OF civilized man, and had been
inhabited even by the Indian. 1t was wrested from
savage foe only by the most dauntless bravery and
heroic exploits. The deadly struggle between the
rifle and the scalping knife-the constant exposure
to the depredations and assaults Of willy and
derous ioe-the hair-breadth escapes the countless
skirmishes, the daring eats the romantic adventures
and thrilling incidents which fill up the early history
of Kentucky, impressed character upon the people
by which their descendants still strongly marked
While this State was still in the griste, and not yet
hardened into the bone of manhood, her gallant vol
unteers, led on by George Rogers Clarke, captured
all the British forts northwest Of the Ohio river, and
this conquest following close upon the heels of the
victory at Saratoga put end 10 the Revolutionary
War Kentucky may point 10 this expedition, as
the part, and the important part too, which she bore
in that momentous struggle and may justly claim to
be the FOURTEENTH Of the United Colonies that
achieved the liberties and independence Of America
In the late war, what State, more than all Others
barred her breast and poured ont her choicest blood
defence Of the rights and the honor Of the nation =;
In the northwestern territory, what river not
tinged with the blood and what field is not even now
beached with the bones OF her noblest sons Whe-
Their at the midnight surprise Of Tippecanoe, on
the disastrous banks Of the Rasin the victorious fields
Of the Thames, the triumphant plains of New Or
leans; first and foremost in the conflict the shril
crack Of the Kentucky rifle was always heard Her
Bench and her Bar have been adorned by long line
of illustrous judges and lawyers, whose names will
live as long as Jurisprudence itself From her first
admission into the Union down TO the present tune
the Capitol Of the nation has resounded with the
eloquence of her orators and statesmen. And to her
may be addressed the words Of the Roman poet
"Filia pulchrior pulchra matre."
But, gentlemen, we must not rely upon any stand
ing, stagnant reservoir Of merit in forelathers
In our day and generation we have duties discharge
the neglect performance Of which must seriously
affect not only our individual happiness, but our
tonal welfare. We must respond to the sentiment
Of the Caledonan leader, and live worthy Of
cestors and worthy Of postery. As absolutely
cessary to sustain our Republican Institutions, in the
eyes Of all mankind, the first great duty which every
American citizen owes to himself to eternal justice,
and the Republic is with unfailng and nevertr
ing exertons 10 uphold the public credit and redeem
the plghed faith Of his country Although in foreign
estimation the States Of this Union blended and
identified, that all are held responsible for the dis
honor Of either yet, in fact, far their indebted
ness is concerned, they are separate and distinct
Each State makes its own contracts and is response
bic for its obligations. Let US not chidc and re.
Irosch those members Of the Confederacy, whose
msfortuncs and misrue have rendered them for
time unable TO comply with their engagements.