deur and prosperity of those happy United States, who, at the same time they nobly secure the complete assertion of American independ. ence, reflect, on every part of the world, the light of a far superiour political civilization.

"What better pledge can be given, of a persevering, national love of liberty, when these blessings are evidently the result of a virtuous resistance to oppression, and institutions founded on the rights of man, and the republican principles of self-government?

"No, Mr. Speaker, posterity has not begun for me, since, in the sons of my companions and friends, I find the same publick feelings; and permit me to add, the same feelings in my behalf, which I have had the happiness to experience in their fathers.

"Sir, I have been allowed, forty years ago, before a committee of a congress of thirteen states, to express the fond wishes of an American heart; on this day, I have the honour and enjoy the delight, to congratulate the representatives of the Union, so vastly enlarged, on the realization of those wishes, even beyond every human expectation, and upon the almost infinite prospects we can with certainty anticipate; permit me, Mr. Speaker and gentlemen of the house of representatives, to join to the expression of those sentiments, a tribute of my lively gratitude, affectionate devotion, and profound respect."

To these honourable proceedings, a more substantial proof of the gratitude of the nation succeeded. The president, in his message, had recommended the subject to the consideration of Congress; the publick sentiment, every where expressed, enforced upon the representatives of the people the recommendation of the president. In compliance therewith, a committee of Congress promptly reported a bill, granting to Lafayette, in compensation for his important services and expenditures during the American revolution, the sum of two hundred thousand dollars, and one complete township of land, to be located on any of the publick lands which re main unsold.

In advocating this bill, Mr. Hayne of South Carolina, chairman of the committee of the Senate which reported it, stated the fact, that Lafayette, during the six years he had been engaged in the service of America, had expended one hundred and forty thousand dollars of his fortune. It is stated elsewhere, that he diminished his fortune in the service of this country, at least two hundred thousand dollars, which is doubtless nearer the truth. In the language of Mr. Hayne," he was in a state of prosperity, and in the enjoyment of a plentiful fortune in his own country, when he resolved to come to this. He purchased a ship, raised, equipped, armed and clothed a regiment at his own expense;

and when he landed on these coasts, he came freighted with the munitions of war, which he distributed gratuitously to our army. It is on record that he clothed and put shoes on the feet of the naked, suffering soldiers of America, and that during six years he sacrificed one hundred and forty thousand [200,000] dollars. He asked for no compensa. tion he made out no account-he received no pay-he spent his fortune for this country; and not only gave his services, but hazarded his life in its defence, shed his blood in its service, and returned home, broken in his fortune." To this catalogue of Lafayette's sacrifices and services might have been added, that the remnants of his estates were confiscated; his family persecuted, and he himself confined five years in loathsome dungeons, for his devotion to the cause of America, and to those principles upon which her existence as a free nation depends. The bill, therefore, which we have recited, and which, with the opposition of a few constitutionally scrupulous members, promptly passed both houses of Congress, was the acknowledgment and payment of a pecuniary debt. It was the embodying, but not the exhaustion, of those grateful feelings which had been enthusiastically expressed, and will be enduringly cherished, by the whole American people, towards the illustrious de fender of their country, and the benefactor of the human race.

Lafayette, while this bill was matured and passed, was at Annapolis, unconscious of what was going forward at Wash. ington. He had been invited there by the legislature, to receive publick congratulations in behalf of the people of Maryland. On returning to Washington, he was surprised and embarrassed by the munificent act of Congress. Neither claiming nor expecting such a remuneration, he hesitated about its acceptance. A proffer thus honourably tendered, in behalf of a whole people, could not well be declined, That it was opportune, both in character and season, is not to be denied. Possessed of Lagrange, and the mutilated fields of Chevaniac, as the sole property of his family, upon which he had exhausted his resources in improvements, Lafayette, when he came to America, was comparatively poor and in debt. Tracing the progress and causes of his pecuniary condition, it was a glorious penury, which could not be more appropriately and gloriously relieved than by the just munificence of the American people.

The act and resolutions of Congress, were presented to Lafayette by a joint committee, accompanied by an appropriate address. In his reply, Lafayette said:"The immense and unexpected gift, which, in addition to former and considerable bounties, it has pleased Congress to confer upon me, calls for the warmest acknowledgments of an old American soldier, an adopted son of the United States, two titles dearer to my heart than all the treasures of the world. However proud I am of every sort of obligation received from the people of the United States, and their representatives in Congress, the large extent of this benefaction might have created in my mind feelings of hesitation, not inconsistent, I hope, with those of the most grateful reverence. But the so very kind resolutions of both houses, delivered by you, gentlemen, in terms of equal kindness, preclude all other sentiments except those of the lively and profound gratitude of which, in respectfully accepting the munificent favour, I have the honour to beg you will be the organs."

Lafayette, having received numerous and pressing invita tions from legislative bodies, cities, villages and individuals, left Washington the 23d of Feb., on a tour through the southern and western states. He passed, nearly by the route he had travelled in 1777, through Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, to Charleston-greeted and welcomed every where, with all the warmth of southern patriotism and hospitality. The inhabitants of Lafayetteville, North Carolina, received Lafayette with the greatest enthusiasm, as the patron saint or father of their beautiful village. Af. ter conducting him to the residence of Duncan M'Rae, Esq. where splendid quarters had been prepared for him, the chairman of the committee exclaimed :-“ You are here in your own town, your own house, surrounded by your chil. dren. Dispose of all-every thing is yours." The founders of this town, situated on the western bank of the River Cape Fear, were the first to adopt the name of Lafayette, in gratitude for his services to their country, although there are now more than fifty bearing his name, or portions of it, and numbers named Lagrange, in the United States. A drawing of it was taken by M. Say, son of the celebrated political economist, who passed through it in 1814, and presented to Lafayette. From his recollection of this draw. ing, he recognized the town on his approach to it in 1825.