Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-07-05
THE PRESIDENT AT FREDERICKSBURG.


calling to their aid the services of the Reporter
now on duty in the VIRGINIA CONVENTION, hav,
been enabled to place before the country, in thei
paper of Monday full, and we have no doubt
faithful account of all the proceedings incident Il
the reception and entertainment of the PREsIDEN1
of the United States at Fredericksburg. on Saturday
last. We extract from that paper as follows:
On the cars reaching the depot at Fredericks.
burg, the PRESIDENT and his party were received
with the most enthusiastic cheering from the great
concourse OF citizens which had there assembled
| Upon being introduced by Mr.. CONWAY, one o
the Delegates from the district in the Convention
the PRESIDENT was addressed by r. B. SEMpLE
ESQ.,. the Mayor of the town, as follows:
an" President In behalf of the Corporate authorities Of
Fredericksburg tender you the hospaes Of this town
gives pleasure to inform you sir that majority of our
people are the advocates OF your Administration and
among those who your political opponents we believe in
your honesty and your fidelity. When the circumstance
under which you Unexpectedly entered upon the duties of the
station which you hold occurred, many of your best
friends feared the result Of the crisis which then mpend
ing was an awful crisis to this country II was one
which involved the fortunes and liberties Of this people, But
happy say sir that you it, and met most
successfully We doubt whether the page Of history furnishes
parallel OF such peace quiet and prosperity prevails
over the land and which, in small degree has been
pernduced by the wisdom and patriotism Of the Admnisra-
ton of which you are the honored head.
"Mr President, you stand sacred ground Along
these streets, which you will traverse this day, the play
grounds OF WAsHIFcToS in his childhood. Within the
limits Of town. yonder hill repose the remains Of his
venerated MOTHER. Here was the home Of MERcER who
fell at Princeton, martyr to our counys liberty mem
ton these things you, stranger for the rst time visiting
State, "reminiscences Of the past tme which cannot
fail to interest every American. Isl
"Permit to tender to you, and the distinguished men
with you, the hospitalities of our town."
To this address the PRESIDENT replied
Mr. Mayor beg leave to return to you and the citizens
Of Fredericksburg my profound acknowledgements for this very
cordial reception. had heard much Of Virginia hospitality
but say with the Queen Of Sheba the half had
been told" At every turn have met with kline and well
come greeting, and you that visit this place
with no common interest.
"You have alluded subjects that have called Up emotions
in my heart which, did they not show hemselveson this
cason must confess myself dead the feelings opatroism
This is the play ground Of WASHINGTON Hen sleep the
ashes Of his veneraed Mother Sir the American heart that
shall not beat at illusions like these indeed be dead
patriotism And long Mount Vernon stall be the
shrine where political pilgrims shall worship, long will
Fredericksburg be remembered containing the ashes of his
Mother.
81 beg leave also to you my thanks for very kind
manner in which you have been pleased to aud to my Ad
minstation. only say, reference that that have
endeavored to perform my duty and you that
the qualification feel having discharged that duty,
that which feel at knowing that my fellow cizens appe-
clae ana approve OF the manner IN which have dis
charged it.
SCI again tender to you my Acknowledgements and
mst cordial thanks for the welcome you have gwen me- and
those accompanying me-" (Great cheering.l
4 Mr.. Secretary STUART, the POSTMASTER GENE
RAJ, and the remainder of the Presidents party,
comprising Messrs. MILLER and Faulkner of the
Convention and others, were introduced and most
kindly welcomed.
Upon reaching the hotel the President and suite
were received by DR.. WEXFORD, the chairman of
the committee on behalf of the citizens, who spoke
as follows:
"Mr. President: As the organ of my elow-c,izens, it
becomes privilege to tender you and your honored
ciaes, cordial welcome to ancient town. Unpeend-
ing in posion offer for your admiration none Of
the umphs of art in travesiDg we pre-
sent your view any embellishments Of architecture
To these our brethren Of larger cities refer
evidence Of their wealth and prosperity Our Jewels are of
different On the further bank our own placid Rap-
pahannock point the hills rod by the feet Of our
youthful Washington, and the cosgp which
sheltered the age, and to the ground where ose the
ashes of her who gave him his being who nurued his child
hood watched his advancing years, and lived to him en-
oyng worldwide reputation, which will be surrounded by
halo brighter and still Frightening when the hereditary
sLords of day forgotten fools remembered as
worse We may exhibit the humble office in which your
predecessor Monroe commenced his aspran for
legal and political honos to the home where the private
virtues Of Mercer illustrated life freely surrendered for the
eanciPaa oi his auoPed country on the Dloodsaned soil
Of Princeton.
Sr, when asked for the evidence Of claims position
among the cities of the South, refer coud-capt
towers gorgeous palaces, but like the Roman matron
proudly point sons those hohave devoted their
manhood and their blood to found and their Intellectual vgor
to the noble temple of beres the worthy high priest
of which have the honor address, Sir, with rem
nscences and associations such these the people of
cksburg would be untrue to- the best and worthest impulses
of our natures they could for moment fail in attach
10 the glorious Union which it your high destiny
to preside, and which they believe it has been your
honest endeavor to preserve The cordial sincerity with
which greet guest cannot be doubted when
you we happy to recognise not the President Of
party section, but the President of the country the
whole country statesman who spurnng the prejudices
birth and education, embraces the expansive grasp of bis
policy the interests and the happiness Of ALL from the shores
OF his native lakes to the borders of the broad Atlantic from
frozen regions of the North the land Of the cypress and
MYRTLE the extremity of beloved and sunny South
Sir, our gallant ship of State, with such commander off,
cered by Webster and Hall and Stewart and Crtenden
her crew the yeomany Of the country, her compass the
sutlon and the laws may defy the empests which howl
and the breakers which foam around her, until she rides in
triumphant security in the safe anchorage Of preserved and
prosperous Unon amid the acclamaons and the blessings
united and happy people. Sir the Union must be pre-
served and with stern and nfexbe obedience the Con-
sution and the country fear not the parcda efforts Of
Aboltionists or Disunionists.
"The earth hath bubbles as the water hath,
| And these are of them"
"But, Mr.. President there must be per;od in coming
time when the existence Of Governments Of individuals
will be numbered among the things that were-when even
this glorious Union, towering in the pride of its strength
the niuci tho nations Of the earhths hona
homeessthe city of refuge for the desos and
having achieved the destiny designed for by the God Of