The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-09-27
MAYOR BIGELows ADDRESS TO
TIE PRESIDENT.

lnlM lh' pVonlo OF BOntnn now crown hof
gates 10 receive with tokens ct honor, the
great head Of thu Republic, and 10 their name
bid you welcome To this metropolis. We
regard Il as, a happy onon that Ne receive
YOU ON the spot where our fathers gathered
To hail the coming OF Washington, ia abe first
year OF his presidency. Tho contrast oX-
hibitcd between that period and this, Is in
shuctye aud striking. THIS GalutatioRs ek-
tcpdcd TO the FIRST President were the offer
Ing OF only eighteen thousand inhabitants
while the welcome proncred to his successor
this day, Is the voice ofa population Of Que
hundred and forty thousand. The ruler who
WINS then received, administered the Affairs
OF less than four millions of people, who hal
ia:cly emerged from the smoke Of battle, Rnd
were but bcginuingN under the jrluenrcs of
ribrrfy npd union, Make rank among the
lnatiqns of the Garth, You, sir, wa receive as
the Executive Chief ola liquidation oftwcnty
four millions, living in the enjoyment Of ah a.
laaaat sg FTsi.-g!is sl l,pifr,tr,-- utmost TN
paralclcd in the history of the world.
by remarkable enln-idnilea,- ,l.-t.i-i-
Ttcss, has occurred to yourseif, YOU visit ms ON
the anniversary Of the completion of the Fed
eral Constitution. Its day peculiarly fitting
I tor our reception of him, whose authority as
the Federal Chief Magistrate, is derived from
the great compact The day has also cspsic-
ial interest for this city, for Il is the anuivcr-
sary Of its settlement. While the occasion
thus calls to mind the Philadelphia concsvc
and the Pilgrim colony trust that Won will
recognize in the character of our people and
their institutions, the happily blended iuflu-
cnccs of the puritan aud the patriot
You have recently, sir, visited Virginia, and
now stand upon the soil OF Massachusetts The
names OF those States recall the story of the
Revolution, aud the noble part sustained by
each in that great drama. Your reception in
the Old Dominion indicates her fcalty TO the
Union, and her attachment TO the principles
Of other times. This day will furnish evi-
dcncc of the regard Of the Bay State also for
that Union, and those PRINCIPLES, by the man
ncr in which her people will testify thoir re-
spect for the faithful administrator of tho
Constitution and the Laws.
Ii has been the custom OF war, sir for the
inhabitants of captured cities to bring forth
the keys and lay them at the victor's feet A
noblcr offering is rendered to you than was
ever surrendered TO the conqueror, The
hearts Of our people are here, TO greet you
with grateful and alectionatc salutations, and
bid YOU welcome TO our homes.
PRESIDENT FILLMORE'S REPLY.
!. Mn MAYOR: | receive from YOU, ms the
executive organ Of this proud city, this well
gratitude and emotion. You have alluded to
the fact that this is the anniversary OF the day
On which the Constitution was completed and
Won have also alluded To the visit of General
Washington TO this city. What change
since the time when he frd visited this city,
not for The purpose of receiving the~~ordial
congratulations of the citizens, but for the
purpose Of ,lcfeHAil4a- Aar against the tyranny
aud apprass.,,l, % the mother country! III
my memory scrvcJ me right, this son OF vir-
ginia, who connected She fate or that state
with yours was appointed the Commander
in4Chief Of the, army in Philadelphia, and
started thence for the seat or war, near your
proud city, forthwith History tells us that
he Travelled from Philadelphia here in eleven
days, and on his arrival the good citizens Of
WATERFOWL, in your vicinity gathered togeth-
cr, and congratulated him on the speed of his
Journey. What has brought about this change?
Why Is itthat the distance which took him e.
lepen days, and that too, after the battle of
Bunker Hill, which urged him TO use the
speed ola express, has now been travelled
Icy me, as matter of pleasure, in almost MS
many hours2 II is owing 10 the intellect OF
your citizens, who have opened the avenues
OF commerce 10 tire western world, and pour
ed into your lap her rich treasures You
have stretched your Briarean arms to thcrap-
ind my own state, and laid her under con
tribuion. You iiRtc aso stretched them to
tho capital ofthc Caundas. and laid them too
nndr4 eeht+ih4tfo-s,
Iho,o oyidcHccS of,itilIEaiion and injclIi.
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