The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-07-02

tor, Henry Clay, [greal cheersil and this evening
we shall pass by the land which is consecrated as
the depository Of the ashes of the Father of his
Country. Is il then TO be wondered that should
feel interest in every thing connected with this
portion Of the fret settlements of the Old Domin-
ion?
"Fellow- citizens, l beg you again to accept Of
my most cordial Acknowledgements for the kind
ness with which you have received my friends and
myself"
After holding levee in the parlor of the Elk
change Hotel, of several hours, at which much
of the beauty of the town had assembled, the
President and his company were escorted to
dinner-and most sumptuous and elegant one
1t was too, prepared and arranged by ''mine
host" of the Exchange, Mr.. Bowen. We
had intended pocketing a bill of fare, that our
readers could have an idea of the FEAST but neg
lected to do SO.
At the dinner the President OF the United
States occupied a central position, the presi-
dent OF the day, Thomas Barton, esq, occupy
ing seat TO the right of his excelency; Judge
Lomax sitting to the immediate left; Messrs
j. M. Forbes, Eustace Conway, and DR.. Ma
son, acted as vice presidents, and occupied seats
respectively at each of the tables, with Messrs
Stuart, Hall, Faulkner, and Miller to the right
and left.
The cloth having been removed, the order
to 'charge glasses" was given by Mr.. Presi-
dent Barton, who in admirable style read the
following regular toasts:
REGULAR ToAsTs.
|. The Constitution of the United States: A mo-
del OF political wisdom-a monument of American
patriotism-An enlarged philanthropy demands
| the perpetuation it has established
As preface to the second toast, Mr.. BAR
TON said:
| ''FELLow- CITIZENS OF FnEDEnIcKsBuuo: desire
to hold little private conference with you not to
be heard by strangers, and which you are to keep
entirely secret. will remind you that we in this
| ancient town never invite any person to see
less we really desire to extend hospitality to them;
and no official station, however exalted, can unite
US, in our various political opinions, to unite har
moniously as now in tribute of respect unless
founded upon higher claims to our esteem. There
is another habit of our people which highly COM
mend, and it is, to say few fattering things as
possible to any one who is present; and there
fore we will merely suppose a case: that one
| should come among us who was the artifcer
of his own fortune-whose energy, talent and
virtue, without intrigue, concealme MT or pre-
varcation, in contest with the galaxy of talent
our glorious country exhibits, should reach high
| stationary, the most eminent and exalted upon
earth, and, when it was attained, wisdom, pru-
dence, and moderation, marked his every act, and
stamped 1t with the characteristics of love Of
| try, and the absence of all sefshness orambtion-
a man born in different cline than we occupy
and yet knows North, no South no East, no
West, but who knows and loves his country, and
his whole country; why, fellow citizens, if such
a man this should come among u.s. would we
only respect, or admire? No, he would take cap
tive our hearts; and it is just with that feeling de-
| sir vou IN he lo,vir
" Our distinguished guest, the President OF
the United States: True to the Constitution of his
country as the needle to the pole. He has steered
the ship of State through threatening storm with
a ssatesman's arm and patriots soul"
To which, after prolonged applause, Presi-
| dent FILLMORE responded.
"Mr. PRESIDENT AND FELLow-cITIzENs: hope
and trust that the imaginary character alluded to
by my honorable friend my left, will never be
| applied to Ihave no claim to such an honor;
and the toast which you have given ia of itself
| even quite too flattering.
"But wish to say, before proceed further, that
in the few remarks which have to make, / desire
to address them to you in private Ihope, If there
| is "a chiel amang ye takin notes, that he will
burn and not print them. My own impression is
that an individual exercising the first office in the
I gift OF the nation should rather be known by his
official acts and official course, than by speeches
inhuc At dinner thOc Bnhll therefore not uVall
myself of this occasion to express to you the policy
| by which mean to be governed in the admins
tration of the Government. Upon that subject
suffice it to say, when i took the oath pre-
acribed by the Constitution, to support the
! Union and defend it, l meant what / said,
| and intend to carry out that promise [Great
and long prolonged applause In the execu-
ton of this duty / mean to know sectional
differences. My maxim is equal and exact justice
| to all, favors TO Renewed applause and
cheeringl Those who willing that the Gov
eminent shall be administered upon those princi-
Piles hope will be my friends, no matter by what
political appelation they may have been known
| by Observation-Disclosures Wings or Democrats.
| [Cheers.] could not but be sensible when unex-
peccdly elevated to this position, of the great dan
| ger which threatened our country We have heard
much of danger to the Union-I fear no moro than
all have heard; but pardon me for saying that in
my estimation it should never have become source
| Of discussion The very idea OF disunion should
| be frowncd upon by every true American as de-
| serving Off argument and of no justification. 1t
is to painful that it should even be a subject of
conversation.
"Pardon me for abiding in this connexion to
an anecdote in my congressional career. had an
| old and valued friend, one whom esteemed, yet
who possessed some eccentricites and peculiar no.
tons oil political duty OF which did not approve.
need not say that allude to the venerable Mr..
Adams, You all aware that he was early i'm
bued with the principle, upon which he universally
practised, that every citizen had the right to be
| heard in Congress by his petition, and that he was
often made the medium of presenting to the House
matter of which he entirely disapproved. His ma kim
was that every citizen had the right to petition, and
that it was the duty of Congress to consider such pc
ttion. Acting upon this known principle, he was
often played upon doubtless by those who were
| influenced by mischevous purposes. we'll recol-
ect on occasion that he rose and stated to the
House that he had received petition OF very pc
culiar character the sentiments ofwhich he did moi
approve; but on the principle upon which he univer
sally acted he felt it to be his duty to present it to
| the House. He stated that II was petition from
certain citizens, whose names were signed to il,
praying for dissolution of the Union; but for the