The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-03-02
The Congressional KsiaMTt'ct i'm
hHOEhOr of the Birieat'iay of
Washington.

Stuart, Hall, CrittcIdcn, and Major
Gen'l Winfield Scott.
A large number members ofCon-
crcss were present on the interesting
occasion.
Tho Hon. r. + Stockton, of the
Senate, presided, and WAS assisted by
Nenable aud Taylor.
After the removal of the cloth Hon
II. +. Stockton made speech, from
which the following is WI extract:
Friends aud fellow citizens, following
in the footsteps of Washington. let
us cherish his prcccptS, and let
us benefit by his experience and
wisdom. Members of both Houses of
Congress, let us keep this Government
within its prescribed constitutional
limits, [applause,], preserve it as an
economical and frugal Government,
drawing from the people no more than
is absolutely necessary for an honest.
frugal administration. Let II" tcmpta
tIon, however great or magnificent,
induce us to violate the spirit or the
letter of the Constitution. Let for
hcarancc and cancellation he the
watchword towards the various sections
of this country, and their diversified in
tcrcsts. Then, then, we can bid de-
iiance to tho ncvcr-apPcased appetite
of corruption; and we will be II
wall imprcgnablc to nciario'lS factions.
Disrcgarding the maxims and for
getting tbs virtues of Washington. We
perhaps might reach the pinnacle OF
greatness sooner. but it would he at
the expense of the longevity Of the
Republic. Let us adhere +" his
principles, for they will soon carry
us to the utmost round OF national
cxaltation. Adhcring, then, To prin-
ciplc and virtue, aud patriotic devotion
to the Constitution, let us look high
enough to see, and open our hearts
wide enough to embrace the diversified
interests OF this widcly-cXtcnlcd c"uu-
try; and if We stand up, under all cir
9ulnstancos and at all times, for our
country, some of us indeed may
fall victims to the small tricks of
small politicians, but even in death our
country will be our monument at
testing our fidelity and honoring our
memory. [Applausc.
Fellow citizens, ! give you the
first toast:
"7He Day ms Neutrality-suspicious.
50 the cause OF national trccd"n: 1t
gave to liberty its abicst defender, and
to republican institutions their true>t
cxroundcr." Music.
Attorney General Crittcndrn having
been called upon by the company,
rose to respond, and was heartily
greeted.
After lis speech, the following
toasts were scvcrally drunk:
"INe P,esidcntot'Me Unihl .Shntts.
"The tSiynets Of tie Declaration Of
sssZlss ssors7y, mt Jnssts ,meys tile
haa the resolution to assert the
true principles OF government, and the
valor and wisdom to establish them"
"1hc Constitution V the L'nhd
States cn,2 the Union OF tie States: The
faithful discharge OF the obligations of
the former essential to the prcscrva-
ton Of tho latter" - Music lundre
D0cIie.
I,c fifth toast was then announced,
as follows:
"I2e llrmy Of Tie Enjtd states:
MAY it ever be actua,cd hv the
spirit, and governed by the principles,
OF him who was first III peace, first in
war, and first in the hearts Of his
countrymcn."-- Music.
Major General Scott was loudly
called ttr, when he arose, and was
greeted with much enthusiasm. lie
was in tnii military dress.
The General concluded ly offering
as a toast:
"7nc Memory Of Washington: DO
VIC ask for his Monumcnt! Behold
this capital and the thirty one sovereign
States which this capital represents;
He took his scat amid loud plauditS.
The eighth toast was announced:
"7He Nory--It has Christian
erranl: Peace on carth-good will
towards men," commerce with all ma
tiohs-intcrtcrcmcc with none. . Nut
sic.
The President, (Scnator Stockton.)
there being no response, asked whether
there was nobody present to say
word for the Navy? Voices; Speak
Yourself" 'Sloclton.A "Stoclton."I
He then spoke again, and at the
conclusion, the company gave nine en-.
tlusiastc cheers for the Navy, and
three for Com. Stockton.
The ninth toast was announccd:
''Ioteruenhion: We are not to be
deceived by artfml definitions. Our
true policy is, Friendship with all ma
tons, cntanyling alliances with none"
The Hon. Mr.. Toombs, of Georgia
responded. When he concluded, the
next toast WAS announced:
"Or COunhy: a safe retreat for
the exile, and quiet home lorthc
omlgrant; but not theatre for foreign
propagandism. . Music.
''The eleventh toast was announced:
"1Hc Press: a necessary auxiliary to
popular intclligencc-it needs no cen.
sor but popular virtue"