The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-09-13
TIE DAILY DISPATCH.
lAeported for the Daily Dispatchl
DiNhEh 10 HON. WILLIAM C. RIVES,

4
lReported for the Daily Dispatch.l
DiNAEh I0 HON. WILLIAM C. RIVES,
AT CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA.
Dh saturday afternoon last, pursuant to ar.
ehienl, portion of the friends and coun.
,nen ., y. the Hon. WILLIAM G. RrvEs, gave
complimentary dinner to that erentleman
az ~ the Central Railroad Hotel in he tn,-,, af
ohariottesville, of which some one hnndreds
partook 'pee'ise Vi party,
y Inc nj oncers selected for the occasion. wore
". w. ooUfaALL, Esq, President Colonal
= rHohAs Y. hAsDoLpH, lst Vice President
eI, u pntnsAhD n.i PEYToS, I'd Vice President
= conc., ~. ou u. wee President; and DIR. w.
Inc dinner was arranged uponl lthrao tah1o.
running the entire length of the dinino roon,
.he centre one at which the Honorable Guesf
was seated being presided over bv tbe prar;
dent and his first Vice President and ~
wo Others by the second, third and fa.r.h M
Vice Presidents. anu ioartn
we nave seldom seen a more sumptuous
repasf, than the enc served by nina bast 20 20
the Central Railroad Hetel Mr. Cenre,s nos' y oi
omohondro, consisting Of meats. fowls Sers =.
;aoies, fruits, creams, jelies, cakes, preserves
res, etc. all prepared in excellent style. Of
Hnlch the company seemed to partake with
lively satisfaction 's-No "i'n
Arrangements had been made for the az.
cohiinedatIon of twice the number of nersoTs
mho were present, but who had been pre-
&c aen.ea irom attending by the continuous rain
Inc ~ .he past thlrfy-six hours, which had only
,ro raSeu snort time before the banquet was
u Ihe most choice of Albemarie's sons were
mere all OF whom, we have no doubt, would
nearby Unite In doing honor to the distin-
Suisned guest of the occasion who had honor.
eu himsef by doing honor to his naive
county and his country. The occasion was
truly "a feast of reason and flow of soul !"
ana we have no doubt it was one that viii
often be reverted to with pleasurable emo.
festivity. ,'''-'' VI 'ne
Dinner being over and the cloth renewed
the PRESIDENT arose and announced that he
had been furnished by the committee with a
number OF sentiments, the first of which he
would proceed to read:
REGULAR ToAsTs.
/. The Union of the States and the States
OF the Union-the preservation of one essen
tial to the peace and prosperity of the other.
Drank with applause. ''~
2. The Constitution of the United States
let us cherish and preserve it with the reve
renee of the AthenianS for their tabled Pal
ladium-as the last best legacy of our heroic
| ancestry-the source of our political security
and happiness. [Cheers
j. Our country-in the steady pursuit of
her onward career of manifest Destiny
may she be ever guided by Justice and mo-
deratiOn, remembering the admonition of
Holy Writ, that righteousness exalteth a
nation, but sin is reproach to any people,
Applause.
The President arose, and after asking es
pecla attention to the next sentiment, which
8 w n tn 4l I e
assured that every word in it would meet
with a most cordial response in the breast of
every gentleman present. The sentiment
was one IN which every neighbor and friend
OF the distinguished Guest would heartily
unite-it did but justice to a distinguished
statesman and worthy gentleman. He
read:
d. Our honored Guest-William C. Riyes-
the ylrtuous citizen, the accomplished scho-
lar, the profound and patriotic statesman
while the country may proudly point to him
as one of her brightest ornaments, we Assem-.
BILE as his ceuntrymen and neighbors to bid
MN :" retcome home with all our hearts. p
Prolonged cheers.
MIR. RIvES arose and said he knew not how IN
express suitably his acknowledgements for the bo
nor that was done him by this social and festive
meeting, and by the hearty manner in which the
natterlnS toast just offered had been received
When continued he, after absence of four wears
(and tour eUenttat years. may say) in the service
of the country abroad returned to my native land
my mind was naturally filled with warm and thrill
ling anticipations of joyful meeting with old
| friends and companions and neighbors longed
to give to each of them the4ordial grasp of iel
lowshlp, and TO receive from them in return the
same token Of traterpal remembrance. Allthis lux
ury OF the heart have freely enjoyed. Wherever
have been, whonsoeverI have met the eloquent
kmdling of the eye, the sympathetic tones OF the
voice which never misinterpret the feelings of the
heart, have given me the gratifying assurance that
was welcome back to the faithful affections of nv
friends and countrymen. This was all that could
nave right to eXpect--all that [ hoped for or
wished. But you, gentlemen, in the generosity of
your hearts have judged otherwise, and wished to
give me this public testimony your kindness con-
sideration and esteem and to do without distac-
ton OF party t61 c=<i .
can only say to you, gentlemen, that the honor
you have thus done me, is appreciated as it ought
to be. 1t is appreciated proceeding from gentle
men hoRorcd themselves for their intelligence and
virtue and patriotism, some of whom have been the
witnesses, and the present occasion attests the
partial and indulgent witnesses of my manner of
lie from my youth up until now, while those who
have not had opportunities equally extended of
personal observation, shew themselves no less kind
and liberal In their judgment. Nor can forget
gentlemen, that you who unite in this tribute of
Kindness to me to-day, were the countymen or
neighbors of Jefferson, Madison and Monroe-ha
bi.uated to the daily contemplation of their patrio
Ut
high example, and imbued with the living energy
OF their public principles and maxims Those great
men were so identified with all that surrounds us
here that they yet to live in the midst of u.s. for
30 long Monticello shall lift its serene front to
the skies, the classic domes and poricos of the
University shall mark the abode OF science and
learning in Virginia their spirits will hover around
and still find dwelling place on earth
Much has been said or written as to the nature of
the sentiment which binds us to our native land
Many have treated it as species of instinct. i'm
planted even in the breasts OF animals independent
OF and superior to the force OF reason know not
how this may be, or what may have been the expe
rience OF others, but for myself I have never been
III foreign country without feeling my heart yearn
more and more towards the land OF iny nativity. and
like the captive Israelites when they hung their
harps upon their willows, have felt "How shall
we sing the Lords song ia strange land, and with
them have been ready to exclain.-'If forget thee
o, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cur
ning'
return TO you, then gentlemen. be assured. none
the less patriot and Virginia patriot for having
been abroad On the contrary RETURN loving my
state and country, II II were possible to oso more
than ever Tor having seen how blest her lot is above
the other nations OF the earth II is here only that
man Is born to the full inheritance of his faculties-
here only, that an unbounded career is opened be-
fore him. free from the shackles and restraints i'm.
posed by the traditions OF older and less perfect
political eivilization-and here, too il TO furnish
him with every ad vantage for running great ca
,.afih ;.l..