On arriving at Washington, we went to dine with the president; and after reposing for twenty-four hours, we set out for Baltimore, where we were invited as members of the Agricultural Society to the annual meeting of the farmers of Maryland. The object of this society is the distribution of rewards and encouragements to all, who in the course of the year have made improvements in agriculture, or the arts of domestic utility. The different products are exhibited, without the names of their owners, and examined by a committee, upon whose report the society awards the prizes. The show appeared to be rich in products of every description. A great number of horses, cows, and sheep, remarkable for their beauty of form, proved how careful the Maryland farmers are in improving their stock. Models of agricultural implements, linen, cotton, canvass and woollen cloths, wines and grain, so arranged, as to be open to public examination, attested the spirit of investigation and improvement which pervades the industrious class of this rich state. General Harper opened the meeting by a very instructive discourse upon the progress and actual condition of agriculture in Maryland, and General Lafayette was charged with the distribution of the premiums. After these were delivered, the farmers were arranged in two lines, and General Lafayette passed between them, shaking hands with every one. We then gaily seated ourselves at table, where numerous toasts were drank, “to the nation’s guest,” “the farmer of La Grange,” &c. To these tributes of respect, the general replied by the following toast: “The seed of American liberty transplanted to other shores, smothered hitherto, but not destroyed by European weeds; may it germinate and grow afresh, more pure and vigorous, and cover the soil of both hemispheres.”
Before leaving Baltimore we visited several farms in the vicinity, at each of which General Lafayette took accurate notes of various improvements, whose application he thought would prove useful on his farm at La Grange. He especially admired a fine steam boiler,[[1]] at General Harper’s farm, by which numerous flocks could be more abundantly and economically fed. Mr. Patterson presented him a young bull and two heifers of rare elegance of form, said to be of the English Devonshire breed. We also received from several other agriculturists, wild turkeys for the improvement of the European breed, pigs of singular size, figure, &c.; in short, every one wished to present some of his produce to the farmer of La Grange, who accepted them the more gratefully, because he saw in each of these presents means of rendering service to French agriculture.
On returning to Washington, we found the city much more animated than before our departure. The number of strangers and citizens from all parts of the Union, which usually assemble at the opening of congress, were collected this season in much greater crowds, attracted by the wish of being there at the same time with the nation’s guest, and to witness the inauguration of the recently elected president. The European ambassadors and ministers of the new states of South America, had returned to their posts, which they left during the fine season; Indian deputations had also arrived from the most distant forests, to make known the wants of their brethren to the American government. These deputations came to visit General Lafayette the morning after our return; they were introduced by Major Pitchlynn, their interpreter; at their head were two chiefs whom we had previously seen at Mr. Jefferson’s table during our visit to Monticello. I recognised them by their ears cut into long straps and garnished with long plates of lead. One of them, named Mushulatubbee, made an address to General Lafayette in the Indian language; after he had concluded, Pushalamata, the first of their chiefs, also addressed the general, congratulating him on his return to the land for which he had fought and bled in his youth, &c. This chief expired a few days afterwards: feeling the approach of death, he called his companions around him, requested them to dress him in his est ornaments and give him his arms, that he might die like a man. He expressed a desire that the Americans would bury him with the honours of war, and fire a salute over his grave, which was promised. He then conversed with his friends until he gently expired. He was very old and of the Choctaw tribe, as well as part of those who came to see General Lafayette; the rest were Chickasaws.
On his return to Washington, the general found messages from all the southern and western states, expressing the desire and hope of the people of those parts of the Union that he would visit them: the representatives of the different states who had come to sit in congress, daily came to see him, and spoke with enthusiasm of the preparations which their fellow citizens were already making to receive the nation’s guest.
He felt that it would be difficult, not to say impossible, to refuse invitations so feelingly and honourably expressed, and determined to accept them all; but on account of the advanced state of the season he could not re-commence his journey till the end of the winter; during part of which he would remain at Washington, where he could attend to the debates in congress. As these debates would not begin for some days, he determined to profit by the intervening time to visit all the members of General Washington’s family, residing in the vicinity of the capital. We first went to the house of one of his nieces, Mrs. Lewis, at Wood Lawn; this lady was brought up at Mount Vernon with Mr. George Lafayette, and time had not destroyed the fraternal friendship existing between them. She received us with great kindness, as did her husband and family. We remained four days at Wood Lawn, receiving the most delicate attentions, and departed charged with little presents, of great value to us, because they were almost all objects which had belonged to the hero of liberty, the immortal Washington.
As Wood Lawn is but a division of the ancient property of Mount Vernon, we had but a short walk to Judge Bushrod Washington’s. We then revisited Arlington, the residence of Mr. Custis, of whom I have heretofore had occasion to speak. His house, built according to reduced plans of the temple of Theseus, stands upon one of the most beautiful situations imaginable; from the portico the eye takes in, at one view, the majestic course of the Potomac, the commercial movements of Georgetown, the rising city of Washington, and far beyond the vast horizon, beneath which lie the fertile plains of Maryland. If Mr. Custis, instead of the great number of indolent slaves, who devour his produce, and leave his roads in a bad condition, would employ a dozen well paid free labourers, I am sure that he would soon triple his revenues, and have one of the most delightful properties, not only of the District of Columbia, but of all Virginia.
While General Lafayette was visiting his friends, congress commenced its session on the 6th of December, according to custom. The president’s message was received by both houses on the 7th at noon; and, on our return to Washington on the 8th, we read this political paper, always so important in the United States, but still more interesting this year, because it was the last great administrative act of an honest man; and its influence, perhaps, saved the republics of South America, I do not say from the intrigues, but at least from the attacks of Europe. Those who wish to learn how, in a legitimate government, the chief magistrate elected by the people renders an account of the sacred trust they have confided to him, should read Mr. Monroe’s message of the 6th December, 1824. They will there see with what candour this wise magistrate informs congress of all the acts of his administration, with what simplicity he speaks of his treaties with all the kings of Europe; with what frankness he exposes the wants, the resources, the situation of the state; but also with what courage and dignity he declares to the whole world that the republic, faithful to its engagements, will regard as a personal offence all attacks directed against its allies, and will always repel, with its whole power, the unjust principle of foreign interference in the affairs of the nation.
After the reading of the message committees were immediately appointed by both houses upon the various articles it contained. The committee charged with what related to the general, was requested to report with as little delay as possible. Other committees were appointed to arrange the ceremonial of the general’s public reception by congress; and, on the 8th of December the joint committee reported by Mr. Barbour to the house of representatives, that, in order to avoid difficulties, each house of congress should separately receive the nation’s guest. The senate then determined upon the manner in which General Lafayette should be received, and the committee was authorized to act as intermediary to the senate and him.
On the 9th Mr. Mitchell, in the name of the committees, proposed resolutions, which were unanimously adopted, that General Lafayette should be publicly gratulated by the house of representatives on account of his accepting the invitation of congress, and assured of the profound respect felt for his eminent services during the revolution, as well as of the pleasure caused by his return, after so long an absence, to the theatre of his exploits.
As soon as these resolutions were made known, the troops wished to parade, to give the reception of the nation’s guest by congress all the brilliance of military pomp; but General Lafayette, having learned their intention, requested them to relinquish it, as he considered it inconsistent, both with his character and situation, to appear before the national representatives surrounded by the pomp of arms; the troops, always delighted to do what was most agreeable to him, immediately laid aside their project. At half past twelve we went in carriages with the committee of the senate to the capitol; at ten o’clock precisely the doors of the senate were thrown open, and General Lafayette was led into the midst of the assembly by Mr. Barbour, president of the committee. On arriving at the centre of the hall, Mr. Barbour said, in a loud voice, “We introduce General Lafayette to the senate of the United States.” The senators standing uncovered received this annunciation with the most profound silence. The committee then conducted the general to a seat on the right of Mr. Gailliard, president of the senate; a motion to adjourn was made immediately after, that each senator might individually pay his respects to the general. This motion being carried, the senators successively left their seats, and approached him for that purpose. Thus terminated the business of the day.