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No important public acts were passed this session. From its commencement until the termination of the presidential contest, that was the all engrossing subject. The excitement produced on this occasion illy qualified the members for the deliberation necessary to the important business of legislation; and the period between the 9th of February and the 4th of March, sufficed only to pass the necessary appropriation laws.

Mr. Johnson again introduced his bill into the senate, for abolishing imprisonment for debt, when, after a short discussion it was negatived. The state, which he represented has, in a great degree, recovered from her embarrassments, and rendered the enactment of such a law unnecessary.

In the house of representatives, a motion to make an appropriation of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, to extend the great national road from Wheeling to Zanesville, a distance of eighty miles, in the state of Ohio, with a view ultimately to continue it through the states of Indiana and Illinois, to St. Louis, in the state of Missouri, again brought up the subject of internal improvements in all its bearings. It was ably supported by Mr. Clay, and others. The claims of the west to a share of the public revenue and patronage, for the purpose of facilitating their intercourse with each other, and with the east, were presented as of equal importance with those of the Atlantic states, for the protection and safe navigation of their coasts and harbors. After a lengthy discussion, the motion prevailed, and the appropriation was made.

CHAPTER XVII.

Lafayette's arrival and reception in the United States-Extent of his tourReception by congress-Pecuniary grants-Reasons for making them-His departure-Jealousies of the French government regarding his visit-Number and general character of the free colored people of the United StatesTheir residence in the slave-holding states dangerous to the white population-Conspiracy of the blacks at Charleston-Law of South Carolina respecting the ingress of free negroes-Seizure of part of the crew of the British brig Marmion-Proceedings thereon-Resolutions of the senate of South Carolina-American colonization society-Its object and proceedings-Purchase of Liberia, and establishment of a colony of free blacks-Present state of the colony-Its wants-Reasons why it should be patronized by the government-President Boyer's invitation to the free blacks of the United States to emigrate to Hayti-Its result.

Lafayette's first engagement in the service of the United States. Next to the presidential election, the visit of Lafayette to the United States engaged the public attention in the year 1824. This nobleman, born in the year 1757, married at the age of seventeen, and possessed of a fortune of forty thousand dollars a year, in 1776, at the age of nineteen, presented himself to the American commissioners, at Paris, and offered his services as a volunteer in the struggle then commencing between Great Britain and her North American colonies. The cause on the part of the latter then appeared desperate. It was viewed by European politicians as a feeble rebellion of distant provinces against their legitimate sovereign, which would soon be crushed, and involve all concerned, in the fate of rebels and traitors. The friends of Lafayette, with united voice, endeavored to dissuade him from the undertaking. His monarch, but little older than himself, who had then just ascended the throne, was unwilling to lose so promising a support, and made him the most flattering offers to remain. The French ministry, secretly favoring the American cause, but not prepared for an open avowal, for the sake of appearances, publicly prohibited his departure. To all his other embarrassments were added the persuasive entreaties of a young and affectionate wife. But the ardent ambition, and thirst for military fame, with which Lafayette was inspired, overcame all obstacles. Dr. Franklin and Mr. Dean were then at

Paris, endeavoring to induce the French government to favor the American cause. One important object with them was, to engage experienced French officers in the service of the colonies. Young Lafayette's proposition surprised them, and the wary policy of Dr. Franklin induced him at first to decline it, urging as an apology the want of means within the power of the commissioners to procure a suitable vessel for the marquis and his suit. To remove this obstacle, Lafayette proposed to procure and equip a vessel, and provide a considerable quantity of warlike stores at his own expense, and engage in the service without pay. The commissioners accepted his offers, and recommended him to congress. Early in the year 1777, at the age of twenty, he presented himself to that body, was received into service, and appointed a major general, but without a designation to any particular post. He served for a considerable time as a volunteer, under the immediate eye of General Washington, until the discriminating judgment of the commander in chief had become fully satisfied of his military talents, when, by his advice, congress intrusted him with an important separate command. Near the close of the year 1778, he returned to France, and by his representations and influence with the French court, obtained a more active and efficient aid to the American cause. The next year he returned to America, and was intrusted with the command of the division of the army opposed to Lord Cornwallis, in Virginia. At the battle of Brandywine, he was severely wounded in the leg, the effects of which are still visible. He bore a conspicuous part at the siege of Yorktown, and soon after its fortunate termination, returned to France.

His imprisonment in Germany. In the early stages of the French revolution, the marquis took an active part. Having imbibed his notions of political liberty, in the school of Washington, he was equally opposed to the despotism of unlimited monarchy, and the madness of Jacobinism. For France he wished a limited monarchy, bottomed on the principles of the British constitution. With little of the versatility characteristic of his countrymen, he pursued one undeviating course, which rendered him obnoxious to the reigning powers, as they successively obtained the ascendancy in France. With an unyielding consistency and integrity of character, he was alike the object of suspicion and jealousy with Frenchmen, and the powers combined against them. After five years imprisonment, most of which was entirely solitary, in the dungeons of Magdeburg

and Olmutz, he was liberated, at the solicitation of General Washington, and returned to La Grange, his family mansion in France.

Opposed in principle to the military despotism of Bonaparte, he was ever viewed by him with a jealous eye: on the restoration of the Bourbons, less civil liberty was accorded to the people, than consisted with the views of Lafayette, and he still continued an object of suspicion with the reigning powers. Feared, hated, and suspected by every successive administration, he lived a retired and agricultural life, except when called by the people to take a part in the deliberations of the legislative chambers, where he ever appeared the champion of rational liberty. He entertained, with an enthusiastic hospitality, every American who visited his retirement: from them he learned the stability of the government, and the rapid advances of the United States.

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His visit to the United States. In 1823, he made known his intention of visiting America. On being apprised of this, congress passed a resolution, expressing their grateful recollection of his services, and requesting the president to offer a public ship for his accommodation. He, however, preferred a private vessel, and took passage in the Cadmus, Capt. Allen, at Havre, and arrived at New York on the 15th of August, 1824, accompanied by his son and Mr. LevasHis departure from France was noticed by the government with a jealousy as extraordinary as it was unnecessary. No political objects were in contemplation of the general, his sole view being to pay a private friendly visit to the scenes of his early life. The civil and military authorities on the road, and at the place of his embarkation, were prohibited from showing him any respect, or to do any thing to facilitate his departure. Their police and espionage machinery was put in requisition, to embarrass him.

In visiting America, almost half a century from the period of his military career, and at the age of nearly seventy, the general could hope to find few of his former associates in arms. Most of them had paid the debt of nature. A second and a third generation had succeeded. He expected to pass silently and unnoticed among the tombs of his comrades, and as a stranger among their descendants, with now and then the melancholy satisfaction of taking an old fellow-soldier by the hand.

His reception. His pleasure was only equalled by his surprise, when he found his approach to the American

shores, hailed by twelve millions of joyous and happy citizens, ready to receive him with open arms, and disposed to impute their present felicity in a great degree to his exertions. History furnishes no record of an individual's receiving so universal and spontaneous a demonstration of respect. At the entrance of New York bay, he was received and conducted to the residence of Governor Tompkins, on Staten Island. On the next day, preparations were made for his reception in the city. Business was suspended, and at an early hour the whole population was in motion, to witness the landing of their respected guest. The ringing of bells, the roar of cannon, the waving of the national flag, and the parade of the military, proclaimed it a day of universal joy. Before twelve, the battery, the wharves, and every place commanding a view of the passage from Staten Island to the city, appeared one dense mass of human beings. The numbers collected, were estimated at least at fifty thousand. At ten o'clock in the morning, a steam ship, manned with two hundred Americans, and decorated with the flags of the various nations whose ships were in the harbor, put off for Staten Island, accompanied with six large steamboats crowded with passengers, and animated with bands of martial music. The committee of arrangements, the officers of the United States army and navy, the general officers of the New York militia, and the committee of the Cincinnati society, proceeded to the island, and received the general on board. The squadron, accompanied by the shipping in the harbor, then moved for the city. At two o'clock the general landed at the battery, and was received by a salute from the military, accompanied by the reiterated cheers of the immense concourse of citizens, assembled to bid him welcome. After resting a few minutes, he proceeded in an elegant barouche, escorted by the dragoons and troops of the city, through Broadway, to the city hall, where he was received by the municipal authorities, and conducted to the city hotel, fitted up for his reception. The mayor* took him by the hand, and bade him welcome, in the following appropriate and affectionate terms. "In the name of the municipal authority of the city, I bid you a sincere welcome to the shores of a country, of whose freedom and happiness you will ever be considered one of the most honored and beloved founders. Your cotemporaries in arms, of whom indeed but few remain, have not forgotten, and their posterity will

*Stephen Allen, Esq;

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