Memoirs of General Lafayette Part 10

"General LAFAYETTE.

"SIR--Forty years have elapsed since the inhabitants of this town had the pleasure to welcome you within its limits. Many, who then hailed your arrival with pride and exultation, have descended to the grave, and cannot greet you on your long desired, return. But, thanks to a good providence, many are yet alive, who recollect with grateful sensibility, the universal joy of that occasion. Your disinterested zeal in embarking is a cause, deemed almost hopeless--your personal sacrifices in quitting a home, endeared by all the blessings with which affection and virtue can adorn life--your toils and perils in the conflicts of war, and the vicissitudes of a discouraging service--your modest dignity and enthusiasm on receiving the homage of a free people--these were all fresh in their memories, and gave an interest to the scene, which cannot be described, but which time has hallowed with his most touching grace. I stand now in the presence of some, venerable in age and character, who were the delighted witnesses of that interview, and whose hearts again glow with the feelings of that happy day.

"To us of a younger generation--the descendants of your early friends and companions in arms, a different but not less interesting privilege belongs.

We are allowed the enviable distinction of meeting in his riper years, one, whom our fathers loved in their youth. We welcome you to our country, to our homes, to our hearts. We have read the history of your achievements, your honors, and your sufferings! They are a.s.sociated with all that is dear to us--with the battle-grounds, consecrated by the blood of our heroes-- with the tender recollections of our departed statesmen--with the affectionate reverence of our surviving patriots. Can we forget that our country was poor and struggling alone in the doubtful contest for Independence, and you crossed the Atlantic at the hazard of fortune, fame and life, to cheer us in our defence? That you recrossed it to solicit naval and military succors from the throne of France, and returned with triumphant success? That your gallantry checked in the southern campaigns, the inroads of a brave and confident enemy? That your military labours closed only with the surrender at Yorktown, and thus indissolubly united your name with the proud events of that glorious day? We cannot forget these things if we would--We would not forget them if we could. They will perish only when America ceases to be a nation.

"But we have yet higher sources of gratification on the present occasion.

You have been not merely the friend of America, but of France, and of liberty throughout the world. During a long life in the most trying scenes, you have done no act for which virtue need blush or humanity weep. Your private character has not cast a shade on your public honors. In the palaces of Paris and the dungeons of Olmutz, in the splendor of power, and the gloom of banishment, you have been the friend of justice, and the a.s.serter of the rights of man. Under every misfortune, you have never deserted your principles. What earthly prince can afford consolation like this? The favor of princes, and the applause of senates, sink into absolute nothingness, in comparison with the approving conscience of a life devoted to the good of mankind. At this very moment you are realizing the brightest visions of your youth, in the spectacle of ten millions of people prosperous and happy under a free government, whose moral strength consists in the courage and intelligence of its citizens.--These millions welcome your arrival to the sh.o.r.es of the west with spontaneous unanimity; and the voice which now addresses you, feeble as it is, repeats but the thoughts that are ready to burst from the lips of every American."

The General's reply was in his usual manner.--It was brief, affectionate, and full of feeling.

An impressive circ.u.mstance occurred in the delivery of the address.--When the Judge came to that part which says, "_We could not forget them if we would; we would not forget them, if we could_;" the spontaneous a.s.sent of the a.s.sembled people to the sentiment, was given by "_No, never_;" repeated by thousands of voices, and accompanied by deafening shouts of applause.

A great number of introductions to the General took place. Of them, were several revolutionary officers and soldiers.

At Beverly and Ipswich he received from the a.s.sembled inhabitants, the same cordial welcome with which he had been greeted in other towns, through which he pa.s.sed. The selectmen of these places waited on him, and offered him the congratulations of their fellow citizens; the people greeted him with repeated cheers of "_welcome, welcome Lafayette_;" and arches were erected at several public places, containing appropriate mottoes. The houses of the villages through which he pa.s.sed, after the evening set in, were brilliantly illuminated.

It was evening when he arrived at Ipswich, and the weather was very inclement. The inhabitants had, therefore, a.s.sembled in the meeting house to receive him. Thither he was conducted by a committee of the town; and on his entrance, he was greeted with great exultation and joy. One of the committee addressed him as follows:--

"GENERAL LAFAYETTE,

"Accept from the people of Ipswich, their cordial congratulations on your arrival in their country and within their own borders. To this ancient town, sir, we bid you a joyful welcome.

"Having devoted to our beloved country, in her weak and critical situation, the vigor of your youth and the resources of a mind intent on the cause of freedom and humanity, and committed to a common lot with her, your own destinies,--that country can never forget the services you rendered, and the sacrifices you incurred, for her defence and protection, when a.s.sailed by overbearing power.

"We rejoice in having an opportunity of presenting ourselves in this house, consecrated to the wors.h.i.+p of the G.o.d of our fathers, who has kindly raised up friends and patrons of the cause of our country and of liberty, to pay to you our grateful respect for your eminent labours.

"Most of those who acted in, or witnessed the great scenes in which you bore so conspicuous a part, have now descended to the tombs of their fathers. The present generation can rehea.r.s.e only what they have heard with their ears, and their fathers have told them. But the name of Lafayette is not confined to any generation. While the liberties of America shall endure, it will descend from father to son, a.s.sociated with those of the immortal Was.h.i.+ngton, and other heroes and sages of our revolution, as the friend of our country, of liberty, and of man.

"Ill.u.s.trious benefactor--may the blessing of Heaven ever attend you, and may your remaining days be as happy, as your past have been perilous, useful and honorable."

To which the General made the following reply:--

"SIR,

"The attentions paid me by my American friends, I receive with inexpressible grat.i.tude. I regret that so many of my friends here, should be exposed on my account to this storm. I have ever considered it my pride and my honor, that I embarked in the cause of Independence in this country; and I rejoiced when I found myself again landed on the American sh.o.r.es.

You, kind sir, the people of this town, and all who are a.s.sembled in this solemn place, will please to accept my thanks for this expression of your attachment, and receive my best wishes for your individual prosperity and happiness."

He reached Newburyport a little past ten o'clock, where he pa.s.sed the night. His lodgings were the same which Was.h.i.+ngton occupied, when he made his tour through the northern states, in 1789, the first year of his presidency. The following address was made to him, by the chairman of a committee of that town:--

"GENERAL LAFAYETTE,

"The citizens of Newburyport are happy in this opportunity of greeting, with the warmest welcome, a distinguished benefactor of their country.

"The important services, which you rendered this people in the day of their distress; the devotedness which you manifested in their perilous cause, and the dangers which you _sought_ for their relief, are incorporated in our history, and firmly engraved upon our hearts.

"We would lead you to our inst.i.tutions of learning, charity and religion; we would point you to our hills and valleys covered with flocks, and smiling in abundance, that you may behold the happy effects of those principles of liberty, which you was so instrumental in establis.h.i.+ng.

"Our children cl.u.s.ter about you to receive a patriot's blessing. Our citizens press forward to show their grat.i.tude. Our nation pays you a tribute, which must remove the reproach that republics are ungrateful.

"As the zealous advocate for civil liberty, we bid you welcome; as the brave defender of an oppressed people, we make you welcome; as the friend and a.s.sociate of our immortal Was.h.i.+ngton, we bid you welcome."

General Lafayette replied in his usually courteous and animated manner, and evincing his great sensibility to the kind and friendly greetings with which he had been received. He here also met several veterans of the revolutionary army; a gratification which he enjoyed in almost every place he visited. Though the number is rapidly lessening, a few remain in most of the populous towns of the Commonwealth.

He left Newburyport Wednesday morning for the capital of New-Hamps.h.i.+re. The escort contemplated to have attended on his way to the bounds of the state, was prevented by the heavy rain. It was at his urgent request that it was dispensed with. The committee of the town however, accompanied him to Hampton; where he was met by a deputation from Portsmouth, and conducted on his intended route. When pa.s.sing through Greenland, a procession of the citizens was formed, by which he was attended through the villages. Here he was welcomed also by salutes from an artillery company, by civic arches and repeated acclamations of the a.s.sembled people. One of the arches was supported by two young ladies, representing LIBERTY and PEACE. One presented him a wreath, adorned with flowers, and said, "_Venerable sire, condescend to receive this emblem of the hero's glory, as the token of a nation's grat.i.tude and love_." The other presented him the olive branch, saying, "_Good and faithful servant, peace and happiness await you_." He received these with complacency, took each young lady by the hand, and made an affectionate reply.

He then proceeded to Portsmouth, where he arrived about noon. He was conducted into this town by an escort on horseback, and a procession of carriages, (the whole extending two miles) composed of the civil, judicial and legislative authorities; officers of the United States and of New-Hamps.h.i.+re, &c. &c. The margins of the avenue leading to the centre of the town, was lined with children, with the inhabitants of both s.e.xes in the rear; who greeted him with their cordial welcomes and repeated acclamations. Salutes were fired, and the bells rang a joyous peal; and the streets through which the procession pa.s.sed, were crowned with arches, decorated with wreaths of evergreen and garlands of flowers. The procession moved through several streets to Franklin Hall: and here, when General Lafayette alighted, the chairman of the selectmen addressed him thus:--

"SIR,

"The selectmen of Portsmouth, in behalf of their fellow citizens, most respectfully and heartily bid you welcome.

"Enjoying, as we do, the happiness of a free government, we cannot but feel grateful to all, by whose exertions it was obtained. Those intrepid men among ourselves, who in the hour of danger stood forth in defence of their country's rights, have a lasting claim upon our regard. But in contending for the liberty of their country, they were striving to secure their own happiness, and the prosperity of their children. _They_ found a motive for exertion in their own interest; which, while it derogates nothing from the value of their services, places in a strong light, the pure zeal and contempt of private advantage, which led _you_ to our aid, from the sh.o.r.es of a foreign land. _Their_ love of liberty was necessarily the sentiment of patriotism; _yours_ was an ardent desire for the general welfare of mankind.

"After an absence of forty years from our country, most of which have been pa.s.sed in scenes of unexampled excitement and perplexity, it gives us peculiar pleasure to find you still the firm and consistent friend of liberal principles. We have watched the progress of your eventful life, with unaffected sympathy; and whether at the head of the National Guards, in the dungeons of Magdeburg and Olmutz, or in the Chamber of Deputies, we have found nothing to lessen our esteem for _the early friend of America_.

"Permit us then to receive you as our guest; and to pay you such honors as are in our power to bestow. They are the voluntary tribute of warm and grateful hearts. We wish our children to learn, that eminent virtue affords the highest claim to honorable distinction; and that among a free people, merit will not fail of its appropriate reward.

"We beg you to accept our sincere wishes for your health and happiness, and our prayers will be offered, that your example may animate the wise and good in every nation, to contend manfully and perseveringly for the freedom and happiness of the world."

To which the General made the following reply:--

"GENTLEMEN,

"It would have been to me an inexpressible gratification on this first visit to the eastern parts of the Union, after so long an absence, to have been able to present the several towns of New-Hamps.h.i.+re with my personal respect, and to have witnessed the great improvement of a State, to which I am bound by early sentiments of attachment and grat.i.tude.

"Obliged as I find myself, to take a southern course towards the seat of government, at Was.h.i.+ngton, I am happy to revisit at least the town of Portsmouth, where the remembrance of past favors, mingles with most grateful feelings for your present affectionate and flattering reception.

"I thank you, gentlemen, for your constant concern in my behalf, during the vicissitudes to which you are pleased to allude. The approbation of a free, virtuous and enlightened people, would be the highest reward for any one who knows how to value true glory; still more so, when it is bestowed on an adopted son.

"To the citizens of Portsmouth and their worthy selectmen, I offer my most respectful and affectionate acknowledgments."

Gov. Morril gave him the hearty welcome of the State, in the following address:--

"GENERAL,

"Forty years have rolled away since you left this asylum of liberty, for your native country. During this eventful period our cities have advanced, and villages have been reared; but our Langdon, our Cilley, our Poor, our Sullivan, and our Was.h.i.+ngton have pa.s.sed from the stage of human action, and are gone to the land of their fathers. Although they are gone, their sons survive, and the patriotism and love of liberty which animated their b.r.e.a.s.t.s and excited them to those glorious acts, during our revolution, in which you, sir, shone so conspicuously, are now cherished in the bosoms of their posterity;--and we rejoice to be numbered among them;--and in the name of the patriotic citizens of New-Hamps.h.i.+re generally, allow me to say, that it is with no ordinary emotions we receive and welcome you to our State.

"We receive you, sir, as the friend of our nation, of liberty, and the rights of man.

"We welcome you as the magnanimous hero, who in early life, from the most pure and disinterested motives, quitted your native country, and repaired to these Colonies, then the seat of war, (contending for Independence) to embark in the struggle for the preservation of those rights, and the achievement of those privileges, which are more precious to the patriot than life itself. And, sir, it is our ardent desire, that the grat.i.tude of Republics, but more especially of the Republic of the United States, and the smiles of Heaven, may rest upon you to the last period of your life."