The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-24
Visit To the President by the Members OF the
PreshYterian General AasembIY.

L
Presbyterian General Assembly.
The members of the Presbyterian General As
sembly, now holding its annual session in this
oity, vsited the President of the United States,
companied by quite number Of ladies connected
with their families Saturday afternoon last.
| The visitors, upon entering the Presidents
| House, were arranged in a circle around the spa
cious East Room, where President FILLMORE soon
| appeared, and introduced to the Rev. DIR. Ap-
ANS the newly elected Moderator Of the Assembly,
| by the Rev. JOHN g. SMITH
Rev. DR.. ADAMS thereupon addressed the Pre-
| sident follows:
| "Mr. President; We trust that you will at once
appreciate the sentiment which has inspired this
ancient body, the General Assembly Of the Pres
| byterian Church. (and it is u pleasant rcmins-
cence that II was first organized in the same year,
| the same month, and In part by the same men,
with the first American Congress) in this, it's first
| convocation in the city of Washington, TO wait
| upon the President of the United States. Do not
| impute il to idle curiosity. As ministers Of reli
gion, and officers of Christian churches, we should
lmpeach ourselves for improperly, IL we
failed to improve the opportunity which your ex-
celency has afforded for expressing our profound
respect for the Chief Of this free, Chris
| tan, and Protestant country. A self governed
people, OF all others, should never be deficient in
the sentiment of loyalty As expositors OF inspired
truth, we believe that rulers are ordained OF God
that we may "lead quiet and peaceabe lives;" and
| that good rulers and good governments among
the greatest blessings which His benignant Proyi
| dence can bestow upon any people
| eve have observed that the remnants Of our In
dian tribes accustomed to address the Precedent
OF the country their "Great Father" Our
hearts respond to the beauty and propriety of tie
designation. We have this day, as body. viz
tied the tomb OF that immortal man of whom il has
| been said, providence ordained that he should be
childcss, that nation might always call him
| Father On those melancholy occasions when
death has sinttcn the head OF the Republic, and
allaIt rs.
tional grief into the channels of religious TRUTH we
were ourselves surprised into consciousness Of
| the tenderness OF that relation which unitcs the
people OF this country to their chosen Presidenta
sentiment often overlooked amid tho collisions Of
party spirit, but which would every occa
zion cultivate and express.
"Though many of our body are laymen, and
some of them have held or now hold important
political positons--as Governors Of States, judges
OF the highest courts, and members OF State Ma
tionai .Legislatures--yet, as a body, we have no
political relations or associations. We aspire to
connexion between Church and State; yet it may
not be presumptuous In Ia to think that our peculiar
relations tn our fellow citizens may exert be-
nehcent effect upon the condition and prospects, Of
the county. We remember history; are
thankful Tor our ancestry; and We believe III the
superintendent of an ALI wise Providence. That
Is the best nation which ID composed OF the best
men; and It is our constant aim, by tho inculca-
tons Of religious truth, to nurture that intelligence
and virtue, that liberty and restraint, which at
once our national ornament and projections.
cit may not be without interest to you, Mr. Pre-
sident, to be informed that prcscn twenty
synods, more than fifteen hundred ministers and,
in connection with the delegatcs from correspond
ing bodies now with US, many hundreds Of thou
sands OF Christian people. Coming from almost
all the States OF the Union, our fraterna feelings,
like the roots OF the a" willows along the watei-
courses' binding the banks in u solid and compact
sod, contribute directly TO a strong and decided
national sentiment. Our religious sympathies
make patriotic
Mr. ia i,,ap r,at.. iNt "a,
occasion 10 say that We accustomed pray for
you. We instruct our people that il lie alike unkind
and unsafe, ungcncrous and irregious, to elevate
fellow-citizen the very highest position Of trust
and responsibility, and then withhold from him
the benefit Of their prayers When saddened
by the burden Of your official cares. it may be "a
support and satisfaction Tor you 10 remember, that
often as the Sabbath returns, thousands in all
cities and villages, resorting TO the temples OF
religion, fail not to implore the aid and blessing Of
Almighty God upon the President OF the u nited
States.
Thanking you .or this kind reception, VIC. beg
you TO accept the assurances OF sincere respect
and affection"
President FILLMORE briefly responded TO the nd
dress, expressing tho high qualification it afforded
him of receiving the visit Of so large intelligent
and imposing ecclesiastical body The senti- f,
ments Of love, of religious and political freedom of
devotion to the country expressed, he duly apprc-
ciated; and in regard to the regular invocations of
we Dressings ana aid OF Heaven IN behalf OF the head
of the nation, he felt its full force and Importance
To appreciate his feelings, his deep anxiety. grow
ing out Of the daily incidents trsnspiring of home
and abroad, IT was necessary TO be placed in n sit
uation where the weight Of such matters are per-
sonally imposed; and he therefore felt the moro |
pleased to know that continual prayers were Of |
fered in behalf OF him upon whom many impor- |
tant public duties devolved The mission OF the |
ministry having for its object the dissemination of
truth. religion, and intelligence, forms an inter
eating guarantee OF the peace. perpetuy, and pros
perity Of our common country. Again thanking |
them for their VISIT he wished them pleasant 80.
journ, and happy return to their homes.
The visitors were then individually introduced to |
the President; quite number of whom he rccog-
nisod citizens of the State Of his nativity
The scene was of imposing character, and |
formed, as VIC have reason for believing, an Incl |
dent in tho sojourn of the large and intelligent |
body that participated in it Of the hgbest gratifi
cation.
Mr.. WEBSTER appeared in State street to-day |
during Change hours, and wns most cordially re. |