The republic., 1851-08-15
The President at staunton, va.

az w eStcHeSteT.
The President at Staunton, Va.
The long expected visit of the President of
the United States to Staunton (says the Staun-
ton Spectator of Wednesday, has at last taken
place, and many of our people have had the
pleasure of seeing and hearing him.
1t having been understood that the PRESIDENT
and Secretary STUART would arrive here about
noon ON Saturday last, committee of our citi
zens, accompanied by the Mayor of Staunton, in
carriages, and from eighty to a hundred citizens
ofthe town and country, on horseback, proceeded
to meet them. Rather more than a mile from
town the cavalcade halted and waited the
arrival of the stage When it came up the
PRESIDENT and Mr.. STUART, at the request OF
the committee, took seats in an open barouche
drawn by pair of elegant horses, led by grooms,
and preceded by the Churchville Band, play
ing national airs, entered our town. As they
passed through the streets the scene was
highly exciting. Every window and door was
occupied by ladies, whose bright faces and wav-
ing handkerchiefs expressed their appreciation;
and the sidewalks were thronged by multi
tude who gave vent to their feelings by re-
peated and hearty cheers. On arriving al
the Virginia Hotel the scene surpassed any
thing we have ever witnessed In this place.
The street was soon filled with dense mass of
people on foot and on horseback, while from
every window of the large hotel, from the base
ment to the attic, and from the windows Of the
neighborlng houses, and even from house tops,
human faces were peerlng eager to see and
hear. The PRESIDENT was conducted to an
elevated platform, where he was addressed by
Judge l.. P. THOMPSON in highly compi
mentary speech welcoming him warmly to the
hospitalities of the town and county:
The reply of the PRESIDENT was substan
TALLY as follows:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN AND FELLOW CITIZENS: This
most unexpected compliment has found me with.
out adequate language to express the CRATE
ful emotions of my heart. ! left Washington
for few brief days to seek retreat for while
from the cares of Office and the dust of the
city, and on my way looked not for the cere.
mony of formal receptions. To say that / am
delighted with your beautiful valley would but
family express the feelings with which / have
passed through it. II reminds me of my own
native land-its farms resemble those Of West
ern New York. Your valley, however, ia fringed
by blue ridges-W Western New York is fringed by
the blue waters of the lakes. To pass through such
a valley, greeted by compliments such as have
received, is honor enough for do not how
ever appropriate these honors to myself; but re-
gard them expressions of what you consider due
to the exalted station Providence has permitted me
to occupy. They designed, too, for your hon.
ored friend, the Secretary of the Interior (urning
to Mr. STUART,) whom have brought with me to
his home, and whom, like yourselves / delight to
honor And how could doubt that, accompanied
by him to your town, embosomed in the hills
h;,be I shn a
welcome from the citizens of old Augusta. Zap
plausel
In reference, Mr. Chairman, to my Administra-
tion, to which you have been pleased to allude in
terms of euogy, have nothing to say II has been
remarked by wise that ones biography
should be written until heis dead and prudent
should leave his public acts to be judged by others
My past acts the only pledges can give Of what
my Administration is hereafter TO be- ! have nc
promises to make, except that in all do ! shall
take the Constitution for my guide, and will as
sumo all the responsibilities it imposes, whatever
the sacrifice may be; and while that flag float,
(pointing to the national flag suspended from the
hoteD will maintain that Constitution and the
Union it secures at any and every cost. [Great
applause.l
Again, fellow citizens, tender to you my CRATE.
fol acknowledgements for this very fatterng re.
ception.
MIR. STUART subsequently delivered short
address, marked by much feeling and elo-
quence.
The PRESIDENT then retired to the parlol
Of the hotel, where a large number OF la
dies and gentlemen were successively in
troduced to him. At four o'clock about
hundred gentlemen sat down with the PRE
sIDENT TO a sumptuous dinner prepared by
the proprietor of the hotel and in the
evening he was entertained at the residence o.
Mr.. STUART, where many Of our citizens paiC
their respects to both guest and host. On Sun
day the PREsIDENT attended divine worship a
several of the churches; and, after breakfast OF
Monday morning, left town in an extra coach
for the White Sulphur Springs.
"Thus (says the SPECTATOR Mr.. FILLMORE
has come and gone, but the impression made
= by his manly bearing, his honest face, and his
plain yet earnest and patriotic language, will
not be transient. He is, indeed, noble spe.
cimen Of man and gentleman, and wins al
hearts that approach him by the unaffected
sincerity and gracefulness Of his manners
'Prepossessed as we were in his favor, our ex
'pectatious were far exceeded, and this WI
believe 10 be the unanimous sentiment of ou
people He came among us travelling a
any private citizen, without ostentation o
display, and only preceded by the know
ledge that in trying times he had discharged
the duties Of his high office with wisdom anC
fidelity; he was received with popular en-
thusIasm such as is seldom awakened excep
to greet military hero, and he has left NJ
with the personal best wishes Of every indi
vidus,