Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-03-02
THE RETURN TO FREDERICKSBURG.
FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA,

The PRESIDENT and suite, accompanied by the
committees, the Governor of the State, and several
other gentlemen of Richmond, left that city by an
extra train at nine this morning. The President
was escorted from his lodgings at the Exchange
Hotel to the railroad depot by several of the mill
tary companies Of Richmond, and, on ascending
to the platform of the car, was greeted with loud,
long cheers by thousands of citizens, congregated to
take another look Of him and give him their parting
testimonials of respect and kindly feeling
The short time to elapse before leaving here to
take the steamboat at the Potomac will permit me
to sketch you but in part, and briefly, the proceed
ings had in this fine old town in honor of the Pre-
sdent during the three or four hours since his arr
val. Such further account and remarks as the OBJ
ject of these sketches seems to call for, viii pre-
pare on board the boat, when the passage up the
river affords ampler time for the purpose.
On reaching here the President was received at
the depot, amid an immense concourse of citizens,
by fine soldierly body Of military, and the COM
mittee, headed by its chairman, Hon. r. B. SEM
PIE, and addressed by one Of its number, JOHN M.
FORBES, Esq, as follows
GENERAL On behalf of the authorities of this Corpora
ton and its people, tender you cordial welcome to our
town. We welcome you as the eminent citizen at the
sight of whose person hearts knde afresh with patr
otic fire. We welcome you the gallant chief who, by
bis sk and vaor hath proudly borne countys stars
and stripes to victory every against every foe
And, above all, welcome you the President Of the
glorious Union of these States who has taken the model of
his the Administration of beloved WASHINGTON
your desire aid in the erection at the metropolis of Vr
gina, Of memorial worthy of his exalted fame, presents
the occasion which enables here this day these
testimonials of our respect.
The banks of the stream nigh which you stand rich in
"reminiscences connected with the early mature
of three your veneraed MA
OLSON, and MONROE and enjoy additional satisfaction IN
the fact that amid the crystal fountains OF its waters we can
proudly point to the spot Of your nativity. And while
others of sister States with equal pride designate the
whence drawn and upon which developed,
those qualities Of robust strength which in every crisis have
skngy marked your character but deduce thcreom
cumulative proof of the benefits Of this happy Union, which
indeed the main pillar in the edce Of real indie
pendence; the support of tranquility at home peace
abroad of prosperity, of safety, and of that very
liberty we highly prize"
That Unon the history Of your birth and Of your uteage
the scenes of the chywon honors Of your advanced years.
and especially the acts of your administration Pes
dent give every that your desire and purpose
to guard and preserve, Union in which collective
and individual happiness is involved = Union in which
all the consultations in its brilliant group shall have equality
Of right and differ only as one star diereh from another
star in glory"
Again, in behalf of our citizens bid you welcome, well
come, welcome!
The PRESIDENT briefly replied, rendering his
thanks for the welcome given him, and the eloquent
and kindly expressions accompanying it remark
ing that in all his wanderings and amid all the tolls
of his long period of public service, he had ever
remembered with pride that Virginia was his ma
tive State and had never ceased to regard her with
the liveest filial feelings: that Of the military
achievements to which alluson had been made, the
the glory belonged in large degree to the brave
men whom he had had the honor to command,
and amongst whom Virginians had ever been con-
spicuous; and responding TO the illusions of the
address, in respect to the Union of the States, thus
In the sentiments respecting the inestimable value Of
National Union, Just eloquently uttered, fully
cur In regard to my duty and determination to employ my
best efforts preserve it, ought to be sufficient to say that
have taken before the world oath that will to the best
Of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution Of
the United States. This requires TO do all that am en-
powered to do guard and maintain the UNION Tor the
Union and Constitution exist and would fall together. In
case therefore, necessity (which trust to exPerence)
shall require me TO act negec, TO employ, for the
preservation Of the Union all the powers entrusted to
without committing peury and that you, fellow
citizens, have not the slightest intention Of doing.
That this expression of honest patriotic purpose,
met the cordial appreciation of the assembled peo-
pie, was abundantly shown by the warm applause
with which it was received.
The speaking over, the PRESIDENT and company
were provided with carriages and escorted through
the principal streets Of the town TO the hotel where
the entertainment is to be had, and where the Pre-
sident has exchanged personal greetings with hosts
of visiers, including large proportion of those
genter beings who most admire bravery and revere
goodness.
On passing through one of the streets, there was
pointed out TO US at little distance on a gentle
elevation on the southern skirt of The town, the
modest monument, constructed Of marble, purely
and appropriately white which rises over the grave
where Mary the mother Of Washington" reposes. |