The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-06-30
From u. Richmond ppais qr Saturday.

| qualification. To our citizens, was escorted, al
eleven o'clock yesterday, from his quarters at
| the Powhatan House, to the southern portico OF
the capitol, where he was welcomed to Rich
mond, in behalf Of her citizens, by VIM. III.
MAoFARLAND, esq, who spoke as follows:
"Mr. PRESIDENT: have the honor, in the name
of the citizens of Richmond, to greet you with a
cordial, sincere, and hearty welcome. Your arri-
val among us is occasion of congratulation with
one and all. We are happy of the opportunity to
manifest our respect for the President OF the United
States; aud we embrace it more gladly in this in
stance, because we know that your title to the es-
TEEN Of your co6ntrymen rests not alone upon
your position; yours is. indeed, high Office
high for its dignity and honors - but higher
yet for the fearful influence which it does
and must exert upon the destinies of the Re-
public. Its best and truest qualification, that
without which all other endowments are
worthless, they be not dangerous, is earnest,
watchful, invincible devotion to the Union of the
6tates-a devotion 30 ardent and unfaltering to
be inaccessible to sectional appeals, come they
from the North or the South, the West the East
claiming any thing at the expense Of the harmony
and integrity of the Union. II is such sentiment
and habit of devotion to the Union which consti-
tntes the browning virtue of an American states
| man; and without it public services and talents
can serve only to betray Sir we believe that you
possess this virtue, your public acts have evinced
| it, and we are confident that your Administration
will be conspicuous for steadfast, energetic and
trust, successful endeavor to preserve, confirm
| and perpetuate the Union. Again, sir, bid you
| and the distinguished gentlemen who accompany
| you, heartfelt welcome to the native State Of
| Washington, and to its metropolis
| Mr.. MAcFARLAND introduced to the assem-
| bly, the President of the United States, who
! spoke as follows:
"Mr. CHAIRMAN This very fiattering reception
from the capital of the Old Dominion leaves me no
language adequate to express the grateful emo
tons of my heart That | should have received
such welcome from any part of the Old Domin-
ion would have been gratifying to me; but to have
received it from its capital and from its citizens
large, causes emotions of gratitude Nat are over
whelming. This ID the first time ever had the
pleasure of seeing Virginia and Virginia life. Sir,
have passed through the lower parts Of your
State. was anxious not only to visit your cities
and your noble rivers, but your hospitable inhabi
tants. wished to look at some of those noble
plantations for which Virginia Virginia has
been celebrated. II was granted to me and
must say, sir, have witnessed those scenes which
have impressed upon my mind that it is impossible
Virginia ! cannot conceive it possible that State
SO large and extensive this exhibit many such
beautiful plantations highly cultivated, as had
the pleasure Of witnessing yesterday as l sailed
up your noble river that leads to this beautiful city,
watched with anxious solicitude the first appear
ahce fthe SPIRES but regret to say that they
barely visible when the shades of night closed over
them, aud was compelled to land upon your
shores amidst thevast multitude which thronged
the streets, whose faces l could only by the
Pickering light Of the lamp, the flash Of the
non, and the lightning Of heaven. of course saw
but few faces as passed through your streets.
| am happy this morning to meet face to face, in
this vast multitude that assembled here, the in
| telligence Of the Old Dominion.
"You have been pleased, sir, to alude to the
humble services which it has been my fortune to
render the country in the position in which am
now placed. believe can say,with full sincerity
| of heart, that whatever may have been those SER
vices, for good or for evil whatever may have been
the exalted position now occupy, it is one to
which never aspired. My sole ambition has been
since the responsibility has been cast upon me by
an all.wisc Providence, SO to discharge those du-
ties, if possible, to cement the Union Of
try, and to perpetuate our glorious. Constitution
| IGreat appause.l
| BILE dispensation of Divine Providence, the Chic
| Magistrate Of the Union, who by your voice was
elevated to this high position, laid in the dust
confess, sir, feared our glorious Union was ap-
preaching its dissolution. When the balance seem
| ed to be trembling, uncertain whence it should vi
brate, received from the glorious capital Of the
| Old Dominion an expression Of sentiment, from the
representatives of the people in this glorious State
that gave more Joy to my heart than it would re.
ceivc were to be elected thousand times to the
| high office which ! now hold. Cheering and mp
pause.l
81 beg to return to you, and through you to the
citizens of the metropolis, my sincere and grateful
thanks for this kind reception. ] have no language
to express the pleasure and delight have expert
enced day in travelling about your beautiful city
and in witnessing the palaces with which it ii
adorned.
my stay amongst you must necessarily be
short But have seen enough of Virginia hospi
tally to induce me, if ever it is within my power
to visit you again. If cannot, hope to NEE,
| you at some other time, md at some other place
"Again, cir, return you, and those associated
with you, my thanks for the hearty welcome yot
have given me. 1t is not my habit to speak, Blu
there are those with me-those from the soil o
Virginia--who associated in the Administra
ton, whom doubt not you will be happy to hear
Mr.. MAcFARLAND then said:
81 know, my fellow citizens, upon this occasion
shall perform most grateful and acceptable ser
vice in introducing to you one of our own honorec
and distinguished fellow citizens = Mr.. STUART
the Secretary Of the able and distinguished mar
whom we have had the honor just to hear. / intro
duce to you, gentlemen, Mr.. Stuart"
He was welcomed with vociferous cheering
which, having subsidized, Mr.. STUART spoke a
follows:
| "FELLow-cITIANs: feel If it were somewha
unkind in my distinguished friend to present M
thus unexpectedly before you. came here not /
participate in the enthusiastic ceremonial whic
we are now witnessing. but to be silent spectato
| and instructed auditor. You must excuse me, In,
fellow-ctizens, from making speech on this &C
casion. All that desire to say is, that am hap
Ply to stand again in the metropolis Of this Old Do
minon. am happy to have come here through
the plorioua which leads fo he M