Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-03-17
LAFAYETTE IN AMERICA.
His Last Visit to the Country for Which
He Did So Much.

He Did SO Much.
Congress, learning that General La
fayette had expressed an anxious de-
sire to visit this country, the independ-
ence of which his valor, blood and
treasure were so instrumental in achiev-
ing, requested the President of the
United States to ascertain the time
when it would be most agreeable for
him to perform this visit, and that he
offer to the general a conveyance to
this country in one of our national
ships.
General Lafayette declined this offer
of public ship. He sailed from Havre
in the packet-ship Cadmus, accompa-
MED by his son, George Washington
Lafayette, and arrived at New York on
the 10Th of August, 1924. His recep-
ton in the city was all that his heart
could desire. He soon proceeded on
tour through the United States. Every
where he was received and honored as
''the National guest" For more than
a year his tourney was complete ova-
ton. AS he passed through the coun-
try, every city, village and hamlet
poured out it's inhabitants en- masse to
meet him. He visited all the States then
cOmposingthe Union.
When the time of his departure drew
near, new frigate, the Brandywine,
named in honor of the gallant exploits
of General Lafayette at the battle of
Brandywine, was provided by Congress
to convey him to France. It was
deemed appropriate that he should take
final leave of the Nation at the seat of
Government in Washington. Presidents
Adams invited him to pass few weeks
in the Presidential mansion During
his sojourn at the capital he visited ex-
Presidents Jefferson, Madison and Mon
roe at their several places on resi-
dence.
Having paid his respects to the vene-
rated sages, the Nations guest pre-
pared to take his final departure from
the midst Of a grateful people. The
9TH OF September, 1925, was the day
appointed for taking leave. At twelve
O'Clock the officers of the general Gov
eminent, civil, military and naval, to-
gether with the authorities of Washing
ton, Georgetown and Alexandria, with
multitudes of citizens and strangers,
assembled in the Presidents house.
Mr.. Adams then addressed him in an
appropriate speech. [ copy single
paragraphs:
"You have traversed the twenty-four
States of the great Confederacy; you
have been received with raptures by
the survivors of your earliest COM
panions in arms; you have been hailed,
as long-absent parent, by their chill
dren-the men and women of the
present age; and rising generation,
the hope of future time, in numbers
surprising the whole population of that
day when you fought at the head and
by the side of their forefathers, have
We'd with the scanty remnants of that
hour of trial in acclamations of Joy at
beholding the face of him whom they
feel to be the common benefactor of all:
You have heard the mingled voices of
the past, the present and the future
age joining in the universal chorus of
delight at your approach; and the
shouts of unbidden thousands, which
greeted your landing on the soil of
freedom, have followed every step of
JO0l w dyS dHO SUll1 1CSOuHO llhC UuC
rushing of many waters from every
corner OF our land. )"
General Lafayette's happy reply
closed with these words:
''God bless you, sir, and all who sur
round us. God bless the American
people, each of their States and the
Federal Government. Accept this
patriotic farewell of an overfiowing
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
barouche, accompanied by the Secre-
taries of State, of the 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
frigate Brandywine. The next morn
ing this boat anchored IN safety near
the Brandywine. Here Lafayette took
leave of the Secretaries of State, the
Treasury and Navy and the guests who
accompanied him from Washington,
together with many military and naval
officers, and eminent citizens who had
assembled in various crafts near the
frigate to bid him farewell. Cor. LOU