The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-15


ths SUN eAarmingly hprniuAsd up and reflected
every thing that was oommanding.
RECEPTION AT CAsrLs GARDEn--At intervals
during the forenoon the military, accompanied by
bands of music, were vending their way towards
the Battery, and by ono O'Clock had formed upon
that beautiful parade ground. their line in the
shape of an oval, the right resting on whitehall
street, and the left reaching around tho southern
most front Of the enclosure. We have never seen
the military turn out moro imposing, taken alto
gether.
Meantime the committees Of the Wing and
Democratic parties assembled in the Castle whittier
goodly number of invited guests alse
fast gathering. Among those present we noticed
Ex-Governor Fish, Speaker Hasbrouck, Hon.
George Ashmun, M. @. from Massachusetts,, Col.
LAy, and the delegation from the city authorities
OF Boston.
The display Of the cortege coming up the bay
was most imposing. and was greatly enjoyed by
large concourse of people upon the Battery and in
the Garden. The scene most exhilarating.
Long before the steamer bearing the Executive
party rounded Station Island, reports of artillery
were heard from the salutes Of welcome to tho
President and his Cabinet to our waters. Then, NJ
the Erie showed herself at the mouth of the Mar
rows. Fort Hamilton was seen and heard to repeat
the welcome; and it was taken up and re-echoed
by the other fortresses in the haybor.
The British steamer Niagara, lying ather dock
at Jersey City, at the same time with the COM
mencement of the salute from Governors Island
joined in the joyous reception, and the Hermann,
North America, and Empire City steamers be-
sides. The effect was truly exciting. A Dutch
merchantmen, lying off the Battery, was beauti-
fully decorated with flags, and ensigns were dis
played by all the vessels in the harbor.
The pealing Of park Of artillery on the southern
ssplanade Of the Battery announced the arrival Of
the cortege; the landing was made, and, in few
moments, the President and his Ministers, duly
escorted, entered the Garden by the southwest por
tai and asccnded the stage. the whole assembly
cheering the while most enthusiastically.
Each of the Cabinet who was recognised was
checred in succession, ms the party assembled the
stairs, and, when all had reached the platform, the
Mayor Of the city advanced to the front, (while
the President and his advisers stood near him in
linc,) and was received with three cheers.
His Honor then spoke as follows:
Mr.. PRxsIDENr: shall ever consider it one Of
the most acceptable honors of my Office that, by my
occupancy of it, at this time, it becomes my pleas
ing duty and my high privilege to be the first per-
son to welcome you homo to your native State, in
the first hour when you tread it's soil as PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATS.
Il il not many months Il believe it 10 hardly a
year) since you were last on New York ground.
You left, then, not a private citizen, but in
honorable office-an Office second to but one in
America.
By the act Of God, in removing venerable pa
triot and hero-whose death you well as we, and
the whole nation. yet lnment-you have since been
elevated from that second station to the highest in
the Government of the United States.
We, your fellow citizens Of New York, proud Of
your elevation, and cordially approving of your
conduct in it, now meet you here, your first re.
turn, TO give you a glad and hearty "welcome
home"
And, with you, we joyfully welcome the illus
trious members OF that able Administration with
which you have surrounded yourself among whom
we recognise the eloquent defender of the Consti
tuition. the glory and boast of the nation.
New York this day opens to you new route
from the ocean to the lakes. [Cheers.]
The Mayor then took the hand of the President.
and said: "Fellow. citizens: the President of the
United States"
The cheers which followed this graceful intro
duction were deafening, and they subsiding-
The President then addressed the assembly in
speech, in which he alluded to the past history of
the city to the patriotic associations connected with
it; to the fact that it was the spot which General
Washington met the first Congress; where the Con-
stitution was ratified, &c.; and he congratulated
the city that it retained the patriotic spirit
which animated it in the early days of the Re-
public.
He greeted it's citizens the lovers Of the Union;
gracefully attributed to the Office and not himself
the honors that were there paid him; and closed
with eloquent expression of his thanks for the
reception with which he had been complimented.
Mr.. Webster being called for with great enthu-
siasm, also spoke; and after him Mr.. Attorney
General Crittenden. General Sanford, of the
First Division of the New York Militia then in
the body of the large area, and in neat terms, in
vted the President and suite to review and receive
marching salute from the troops under his oom-
mand, who were waiting to do them honor on the
Battery; and, thereupon, the whole body of those
present left the Garden.
At the end Of the bridge the President mounted
a horse that had been procured for the occasion,
and reviewed the troops.