CHAPTER XI.

ARRIVAL OF GENERAL LA FAYETTE IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1824.-GRATEFUL ACTS OF CONGRESS TOWARDS HIM, &c.

IT had long been the desire of the people of the United States, that La Fayette, of whom every individual knew something, should again visit the country of his adoption. During his absence of forty years, most of those, it is true. who had suffered the hardships of '78 with him, had passed away. But their children and grand-children had been taught to associate his name with that of Washington; and there still remained a remnant of revolutionary veterans, whose strongest wish was to see their General before they died. When, therefore, his intention of visiting this country was known, a sensation of pleasure was felt, throughout the nation.

In January, 1824, Congress passed a resolution, authorising the President of the United States "to offer him a public ship, for his accommodation; and to assure him, in the name of the people of this great Republic, that they cherished for him a grateful and affectionate attachment."

The Legislature of Massachusetts, in June, 1824, passed a resolution, requesting the Governour to make such arrangements as would secure to this distinguished friend of our country, an honourable reception, on the part of that state; and authorising him to draw from the treasury a sum sufficient to meet the expenses. The society of Cincinnati, of which La Fayette is a member, voted as follows, on the same subject:

It being reported, that General La Fayette, an original member of the society of Cincinnati, intends visiting the United States in the course of the present year, voted, that a committee be appointed, to consider what measures it will be proper for this Society to

adopt, on the arrival of our distinguished brother; whose meritorious and disinterested services to our country, in the war of the revolution, cannot be too highly appreciated; and whose whole life has been devoted to the vindication of the rights of man."

Before La Fayette left France, letters were written him by the Mayors of New York and Boston, in behalf of the corporation of each city, expressive of the sensation which a knowledge of his intended visit had excited, and requesting the honour of receiving him at their respective cities.

La Fayette declined accepting the invitation of Government, to take his passage in a public ship. On this subject he writes to the Mayor of Boston :"But while I profoundly feel the honour intended by the offer of a national ship, I hope I shall incur no blame, by the determination I have taken, to embark, as soon as it is in my power, on board a private vessel."

It being uncertain in what part of the United States, the vessel which conveyed him would first arrive, several of the commercial cities made preparation to receive him in a manner which so great and joyful an occasion required.

As the time approached, on which it was supposed La Fayette would arrive, the whole nation was in a state of anxious and inquiring expectation. In those cities, particularly, where he might be expected to land, and each of which anxiously desired the honour of first entertaining him, the suspense produced strong emotions. At length the joyful intelligence spread with inconceivable rapidity throughout the country, "La Fayette has arrived."

He came in the packet Cadmus, Capt. Allen, from Havre, and arrived in the harbour of New York, accompanied by his son, and M. L. Vasseur, on the 15th of August. At the entrance of the harbour, the three gentlemen were received on board a steam

boat, and the day being Sunday, they were conducted to the house of Vice President Tompkins, on Staten Island. On the next day, Gen. La Fayette was received at the city of New York with a degree of splendour and enthusiasm unknown in the country on any former occasion. From New York, La Fayette passed through the country to Boston, constantly receiving the most enthusiastic congratulations of the people. Not only at every place where he stopped, but as he passed along the road, thousands came to catch a glimpse of him, and bid "Welcome La Fayette." Having visited most of the principal towns in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut, he returned again to New York. During this tour, it is impossible to convey in general terms an adequate idea of the excitement into which the country was thrown. Committees were constantly arriving from distant towns at the places where he stopped, to solicit the honour of receiving him, and to know on what day and at what hour his arrival might be expected. In some instances, gentlemen residing at a distance from his route, directed the news of his approach to be sent them by expresses. Meantime the General was so obliging as to allow himself to be transported with the utmost rapidity from place to place, often travelling most of the night, so as not to disappoint the anxious expectations of the people. From New York the General went to Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, &c., constantly receiving from the people the same cordial welcome, and witnessing the same demonstrations of joy wherever he went.

But the feelings of the nation demanded that something more should be done for General La Fayette, than could be expressed by acclamations alone. This love of liberty had been the means of depriving him of a great proportion of his fortune. When, during our revolution, the country was so exhausted as to be unable to clothe or feed her little army, La Fayette not only

gave all his pay to government, but advanced money which never was refunded: so that, in addition to the debt of gratitude, the nation owed him for advancement made during her necessities. It was the exercise of the same leading principle, (the love of liberty) which occasioned the confiscation of his estates in France, when the jacobin faction controlled the kingdom.

Under every consideration, the nation was bound to show La Fayette, and the world, that in the prosperity of his adopted country, his former services were remembered with too much gratitude to be passed over, without some permanent mark of national beneficence.

The President of the United States, therefore, in his message to Congress, at the opening of the last session, recommended in appropriate terms, the consideration of General La Fayette's eminent services to the country, and requested that the legislative body of the nation would devise some means of making him at least a partial remuneration. Agreeable to this recommendation, Congress appointed a committee to deliberate on the subject; and on the 20th of December," Mr. Hayne, from the committee appointed on so much of the President's message as relates to making provision for the services of General La Fayette, reported the following bill :

"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, in Congress assembled, That the sum of two hundred thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby granted to Major General La Fayette, in compensation for his important services and expenditures during the American Revolution; and that for this purpose a stock to that amount be issued in his favour, dated the 4th of July, 1824, bearing an annual interest of six per cent., payable quarter yearly, and redeemable on the 31st of December, 1834.

"SECT. 2. And be it further enacted, That one complete Township of land be, and the same is he reby

granted to the said Major General La Fayette; and that the President of the United States be authorized to cause the said township to be located on any of the public lands which remain unsold; and that patents be issued to General, La Fayette for the same."

On the 21st this bill was made the order of the day in the Senate, and the following debate on it, extracted from the journals of Congress, will tend to show with how much reason the bill was passed:

Senate-Tuesday, Dec. 21.

"The Senate proceeded, as in committee of the whole, to the consideration of the bill making provision for the services and expenditures of General La Fayette.

Mr. Hayne, (of S. C.) in reply to Messrs. Macon and Brown, who objected to the bill, remarked, that the observations made by the honourable gentlemen, rendered it his duty, though it was done with regret, as he had hoped the bill would pass without opposition, as chairman of the committee, to submit the principles on which the committee had proceeded in presenting the present bill. He trusted that he should be able to satisfy the scruples of the Hon. gentlemen, and that there would be no necessity of recommitting the bill.

With regard to the objections made by his friend on his right, (Mr. Macon,) they affected the making any compensation, under any circumstances whatever, to individuals, either for services rendered or sacrifices made. He understood he had said, it was immaterial whether an individual should have spent his substance in the service of his country-should have put his hand in his purse and paid the expenses of the war, still that for such services no compensation could be made.

He could show that this was the fact that it was precisely the case with regard to General La Fayette. He had expended his fortune in our service, and he should contend it was right, it was necessary-they were called on by duty to themselves, at least to re