The republic., 1851-09-05

following interesting addresses were delivered.
We were not present, but are informed that the
crowd was large and respectable. JOHN l..
PEXToN, esq, having been selected to make
known the sentiments Of the people, addressed
the Secretary of the Interior in the following
appropriate manner:
MR.. PEYToN's ADDRESS.
Mr.. STUART: 1t gives me great pleasure to ex-
press to you, in behalf of this large and respecta-
BILE meeting of your old friends and fellow county
men, their feelings of qualification at seeing you
once moro in their midst and surrounded by your
family. Sir your brief but brilliant in pub
lie life, while it has endeared you to your party,
has not lost you single friend in the opposition;
for however much they may have differed with you
upon public affairs, they all appreciate fully the
high considerations of patriotism which have al
ways actuated your course.
The duty we to our country is real and sub
stantial, not chimerical; and you have performed
yours, in the opinion of those by whom am sur
rounded, with faithful regard to the public in
terest and not like that numerous class of false
friends to the people, :" who intend nothing by
serving the public but to feed their avarce, their
vanity, and their luxury, without the sense Of any
duty they owe to God or man.
Your firmness moderation, and ability in the
support Of the Compromise measures of the last
Congress, furnish striking illustration Of the wis
dom, sagacity, and patriotism for which you have
ever been distinguished, and for which who
know you best have long done you honor. At
this moment storm threatens in the South; and
should it prove but true that already in
voved in serious difficulties with Spain, we feel
that it is no disparagement to the illustrious head
Af he tO pt we haV aHH
confidence in the action of the Government since,
sir, that action to a certain extent is influenced by
your prudence, zeal, and fidelity to the rights and
interests of your country-that country TO which
bound by many sacred ties of affection,
by So many associations of IDEAS by many hopes
Of future peace, happiness and security; whose
name inspires many feelings, awakens many
recollections; and whose glory, distinction, and
perpetuity, are dearer even than life, and which
we pledge ourselves this night defend from every
peril, whether from the enemies she nestles in her
bosom or those less dangerous foes who menace her
from without.
We have therefore come together for the pur-
pose of paying you the tribute of our confidence
respect, and regard and to give expression to our
ceilings of sincere pleasure at seeing you once
more upon the soil of Augusta.
We trust your public duties will admit, after
your long absence, of protracted stay, that your
old friends and associates may have an opportuni-
ty generally of taking you by the hand and well
coming you to your home.
Go, however, when you may, let me assure you,
in behalf of this large assembly, that you carry
with you best wishes for your continued health
happiness, and prosperity.
Mr.. STUART met the unusual demonstration
with his usual courtesy, and responded most
happily as follows. His speech will be read
with interest throughout the country.
MIR. sTUART's REPLY.
FELLow-C CITIZENS: | have no language ade-
quately to express my gratitude to you for your
kindness. / am here but for a single day before
my return to my official abors in Washington. 1t
has been of great pleasure to have an op-
portunity of greeting my old friends, and taking
them once more by the hand But such compli-
ment as this wholly unexpected. The only
return can makeis to express to you my grateful
thanks. 1t saan honor which is greatly enhanced
by the fact that it is bestowed by those who have
known well for the greater portion of their
ives and who therefore best prepared to testify
how far have endeavored to discharge my duties
as citizen and man.
But fellow citizens, understand, from the lam
guage of the gentleman who acted as your organ,
for me individual, but to express your appro-
baton of the course of the Administration with
which have the honor to be associated Disclaim-
ing for myself any merit for my participation in its
measures, feel at liberty to say that in my opinion
the head of that Administration, and my associates
in the Cabinet, richly deserve the confidence and
respect ofthe public. believe that at time have
more patriotic and upright men filled the high
places of the land. The President has recently
been among you, and you have all had oppor-
tunity of seeing and hearing him, and forming
your opinion of his character and conduct. /
am content to abide the judgment which you may
pronounce upon him. But / cannot forbear from
saying that wish you all knew him as well as
do. OF one thing am certain, the more you know
of him the more highly you will esteem him.
Two years agoit became my duty to vindicate
him before the people of Augusta of the foul charge
Of abotionsm and ocalism of sentiment and prin-
ciple. Having served with him in Congress and
known him WELL | was enabled to hurl back these
charges with scorn and contempt told the people
that he was a sound and trustworthy man, spotless
in his private relations and conduct aborous in his
habits national in his principles, and patriotic in
all his purposes. To convey to my fellow citizens
the most correct idea of his character said to them
that if were to select the man OF all my acquant-
lnce whom he most resembled in person, in the
purity of his life, and in the fairness and manli-
ness of his character and in the strength of his in
teectual faculties that man would be Chapman
Johnson. knew full well the import of the words
used ! knew that Mr. Johnson had spent the
greater part of his life among the people of Augusta
md was properly appreciated by them. l knew,
therefore, that in their minds the name Of Chap
man johnson was the comprehensive synonymo Of
every thing that was virtuous in private life and
elevated and noble in official station
Fellow citizens, leave it for you to decide from
inspection Of the original, how far the portrait
which then drew true to life
But little more than year ago this nation
clothed in mourning for the death of the late Pres
dent Taylor. What pang shot through every
heart when it proclaimed that the old
thunderer of Buena Vista more What
deep solicitude pervaded the public mind, partcu
arly in the South, when it was found that the
destines of this great Republic had passed into the
hands of a northern man, and one who repre-
Iented by his opponents to be sectional in his feel
ngs and uniaithful to the Constitution. For my