The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-06-08

ADDRESS OF M. LAMARTINE.-On the appear
ance of Mr. Rush, the American Minister in Paris
to present to the Provisional Government his ere
dentials as Extraordinary Ambassador and Minste
Plenipotentary of the United States to the Republic
of France, he briefly congratulated that Government
in the name of his own, upon its successful progress
thus far, and upon the cheering prospects which
seem to await the young Republic; taking occasion
to express the earnest desires of the President and
People of the United States for its success and
prosperity, and for the Jealous cultivation of friend
ly intercourse between the two nations
We can make room only for the eloquent and no.
bic reply OF NJ. Lamartine in the name of the Pro-
visional Government which was as follows
Citizen Ambassador: The Provisional
Government has appointed me its represen-
tative to receive from your hands the first act
Of official knowledgment of the French Re-
public. France was the first to recognize
the independence of the Republic of the
United States of America, when she was
young, weak, and contending for her exist
ence but under the fructifying influence of
democratic principles she has grown in half a
century to the proportions of almost an entire
continent. BY the retributive justice of
Providence, it was reserved to the American
Republic to be the first to acknowledge the
new Republic of France, and if / may be
allowed the expression, to put its signature to
the certificate of birth of the French De-
mocracy in Europe. Her signature, Citizen
Minister, will bring happiness to the Repub.
lie.
Notwithstanding the agitations and en-
barrassments inseparable from a crisis like
this, of the fall of form Of government, of
the creation of institutions entirely different
of so great displacement of men and of
things, make known to your fellow citizens
that their wishes for France shall be accom-
plished, and that the Republic shall leave
our weak hands great and powerful, to pass,
greater and more powerful still, into the
hands of the whole nation. What gives us
this confidence is, that the French people
are henceforward mature for their institu-
tons. What existed ffty-fve years ago only
in the heads of great spirits has now become
a part Of the thoughts ard the actions of the
entire people. The Republic, which our
people desire at the present day, is the same
which you have already established among
yourselves Progressive Republic, but con-
sentative of the rights the property, the in
dustry, the trade, the rectitude, the freedom,
and the moral and religious sentiments of its
citizens. This is Republic, whose first call
was that of generosity and brotherhood, which
at once broke in twain the weapon of re-
yenge and of political reaction, and instead
Of the fatal countersign of robbery and pro-
Scription, wrote upon its banners the aboli-
ton of the punishment of Death, and the fra
termination of the people. These principles,
adopted, as we hope, by the National Assem-
bly,, strengthened by an invincible public
force, in which each citizen, as you have
seen, has become voluntary soldier, and
concentrated into powerful Representative
Unity Of the Government, the French Re-
public will make the glorious sister of the
American Republic; and it may then be said
of the French people and the American peo-
pie, as was once said by man dear to our
two countries-the Republic of the two
Worlds.
As regards the sentiments which the French
people thankfully and ardently cherish for
the people and the Government of the United
States, can give them uttcrance, Citizen
Minister, in a single word; Ecery French
man has for the americans tie heart Of La
fnuofIoD