The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-03-05
LAFAvETrE IN AMERICA.
"Reminiscences Of His Last Visit to
the Country for Which lie
Did So Much

tuo country Tor which lie
Did So Much.
A Washington correspondent of The
Louisville C0urier-Journal writes: Con-
gress, learning that Gen. Lafayette had
expressed an anxious desire to visit this
country. the Independence of which his
valor, blootl, and treasure were SO ill.,
strumcntal in achieving. requested tho
president of the United States to :,sccr-
tain the time when it would be most
agreeable for him to perform this visit.
and that he offer to the general a con-
vcyance to this country in one of our ma
tional ships.
Gen. Lafayette declined this offer of a
public ship He sailed from Havre in
the packet ship Cadmus, accompanied
by his son. George Washington La
fayettc, and arrived at New York on the
18th of August, 1924. His reception in
the city was all that his heart could de-
sire. He soon proceeded on tour
through the United States. Everywhere
he was received and honoredl AS THE ma
tional guest" For more than u year his
journey was a complete ovation. As he
passed through the country, every city,
village, and hamlet poured out its inhab-
itants en- massc to meet him. He visited
all the states then composing the union.
When the time of his departure drew
near, u new frigate, the Brantlywine,
named in honor of the galIapt exploits
of Gen. Lafayette ut the battle of Bran
dywine. was provided by congress to
appropriate that he should take final
leave of the nation at the seat of govern
mcnt in Washington. President Adams
invited him to pass few weeks in tile
presidential mansion. During his So
journ ut the capital he visited ex-Prcsi-
dents Jefferson, Madison and Monroe
at their several places of residence.
Having paid his respects to these vcn-
Grated sagcS, the nations guest pre-
pared TO take his final departure from
the midst of u grateful people. Tho 7th
Of September 1925, was the day ap-
pointed for taking leave. At IL O'Clock
the officers OF the general government,
civil, military and naval, together with
the authorities of Washington, George
town and Alexandria, with multitudes
of citizens and strangers, assembled in
the presidents house. Mr.. Adams then
addressed him in an appropriate speech.
! copy Il single paragraphs:
''YOu have traverscd the twenty-four
states of the great confcdcracy; you
have been received with rapture by the
survivors of your earliest companions in
arms; YOU have been hailed, as IL long
absent parent, by their children-the
men and women of the present age; and
a rising generation, the hope of fut]Ac
time, i'll numbers surprising the whole
population of that day when you fought
at the head and by the side of their
forcfathers. have We'd with tho scanty
remnants of that hour of trial in acca-
nations of joy at beholtling the face of
him whom they feel to he the common
benefactor Of all. You have heard the
mingled voices Of tho past, the present.
and the fut,lre age joining in one uui-
versal chorus Of delight at your ap-
proacil; and tho shouts of nnbiddcn
thousands. which greeted your landing
on tho soil of freedom, have followed
every step of your way, and still re-
sound like the rushing of many waters
from every corner of our land"
Gen. Lafayettc's happy reply closed
with these words:
'Nod bless you, sir, and all who sur
round us. God bless the American
people, each of their states, and the fed.
eral government. Accept this patriotic
farewell Of al ovcrflowing heart. Such
will BE- its last throb when it ceases to
beat"
The moment of departure at length
arrived, and having once more pressed
the hand of Mr.. Adams, he entered the
barouchc, accompanied by the secrctar.
les of state, OF tho treasury, and Of the
navy, and passed from the capital. An
immense procession accompanied him
to the banks of the Potomac, where the
steamboat Mount Vernon awaited to
carry him down the river to the frigatc
Brandywinc. The next morning this
boat anchored in safety near the Bran
dywinc. Here Lafayette took leave Of
the secretaries of state, the treasury,
and navy, and the guests who had ac-
companied him from Washington. to.
gctlcr with many military and naval
officers and eminent citizens, who had
assembled in various crafts near tho
fri1atc to bid him farewell