Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1851-04-05

nENTLEMEN 81 have the honor TO acknow
, edge the receipt oi your kind letter, informing m
that the fellow citizens in celebrating the annjve,
sary of Washing,on's birthday, ard inviting n,
TO participate in he festivities. Many consldera
tons would tempt me 10 accept this hatterins in
vitatIon, did not my official duties compel me +
decline it.
Nothing could be more gratifying than to NEE
my oId friends IN your enterprisng city. Tbe;,
uultorm kindness has laid me under many ohli,
CATIONS, and the noble stand which thew have
taken in support ofthe sws and the Union, / ID
serving otthe highest COMMUNICATION.
II appears 10 me, too, that the birthday a.
Washington Is deserving of every honor which
Americans can bestow upon it. II i now more
than halt century since the grave closed over
afl ihai was mortal Of This iIlustrious man, hu,
his voice still speaks from the tomb. His na,.r.
nal advice still sounds in our ears, and b;s far
seeing wisdom still warns US Of our DANGER. How
truly prophetic is that paragraph in his Farewell
Address in which he says:--
" In contemplating the causes which mov de-.
fuib our Union, it occurs as matter of serious 81,
cern, that any ground should have been furnished
Tor characterIzng parties by geographical die.
rlmnaions--Norhem and Souteern-- AtIo,t;o
ana western; whence designing men may on,
deavor to excite belief that there is real d;r
terence OF local interests and views. One or ia
expedIents otpary to acquire ennuence within
particular districts is, TIC misrepresent n. o,,;a
ions and aims OF other districts. You cannot
shield yourselves too much against the jeaIousics
and heartburnlngs which spring from these mis-.
representations They tend to render alien To
each other those who ought to be bound together
by fraternal Affection"
Who can doubt that his calm, con,spnl.Gno
mind looked down the long vista Of comny wears
and saw in the distant that "despning MAJ"
would sow sectional Iealoasies for selfish oh.
ects, which might destroy that Union which ba
loved 50 we'd, and which he justly regarded "a tbo
very palladium OF our liberties and national
prosperity
Out This lnstrious patriot taught quite as much
~ his example as his precepjs. He was blessed
1y nature with vigorous constitution and a |
we'll balanced and discriminating mini Ma
'f,'iian'' nal sngnlarly calm and practical Ills
Z was never ciouded by prejudice or
disturbed by passion. With nerve falling tr,st
\ an everything Providence, he never doubted
hat righteous cause must succeed: and viii
self reliance. which nothing could rive bn,
devotion 10 his country, and a firm
esou'on-li necessary-to offer himself upon ~
-lter, no proved himself the prudent, brave md
ctorious general, and the wise and sasacoua
tatesman. He never sought Office. but when
onierred, he devoted soul and BODY to The nor.
lrnance Gifts duties. He shrunk from M Iabor
sacrifice, aud whenever his services conld b.
lspenced with, he voluntarily resigned the higA
usis with which he was invested, and without
regret, retired to private life. 1t il truely re.
eshing to contemplate such character and
ack ones thirst from SO pure fountain Of pa.
io'ism.
Bat ! aave said more than intended and
ust close BY returning my thanks for your nyi
ton, and expressing the hope that so far IRON
eakening- the recent agtatIons may strengthen ,,
2 bonds Of Union; that every sectional ealousy
ay be dispelled; that every constitutional riebt
aY be held sacred and inyiolae and that our
orious Union may be as enduring as the fame
The immortal Washington.
have the honor 10 be,
Your friend and tellowctzen, &
WILLARD FILLMORE.