Living under a government of our own choice, where birth and hereditary titles create no fictitious privileges where the avenues of office are opened to exalted merit-and where virtue and worth confer the only distinctions known to our law, the citizen is under a moral obligation to respect the authorities of his country.

*Permit us, Sir, to avail ourselves of the opportunity afforded by this interview, to assure you of a cordial reception, and while we testify the high sense we entertain of your private worth, to discharge the pleasing task of tendering to the Chief Magistrate of our country, the respect due to his exalted station.

The pleasure of a personal'acquaintance is much increased by a knowledge of the objects of your visit. In common with yourself and every virtuous citizen, we indulge an honest pride in contemplating the civil institutions of our country, and rejoice in every measure which has for its object the protection and security of the people. In proportion to the value we attach to the blessings of rational liberty, should be our exertions to render the enjoyment of them secure. Placed upon the frontiers of the United States, in situations assailable by the sudden irruptions of an invading foe, the dangers to which we may be exposed give additional value to any precautionary measures of defence.

We rejoice that the noise of war is lost in the busy arts of peace, that the citizen is left to the honest pursuit of industry and enterprize, under a confidence that his interest is identified with that of the public. But you will not believe us alarmed by idle fears, when we assure you that the recent events on this frontier have shown us, that whatever we hold dear may be jeopardized by the chance of war. The citizens of Vermont will not soon forget the memorable eleventh of September, eighteen hundred and fourteen, or fail to appreciate the worth of those who so valiantly defended their country's flag, and secured to themselves immortal glory. The anxious solicitude of this awful, but glorious day, has forcibly impressed upon our minds

مکارت

PRESIDENT'S TOUR.

the truth of the position, that peace is the time to prepare for war.

We are pleased to know that this subject has already engaged your attention. From a personal inspection of the various parts of our extended republic, you will be enabled the better to ascertain its vulnerable points, and advise to measures of future security. Nor is this subject an uninteresting one. The patriot, whose liberal soul is animated by the prospect of ameliorating the condition of his fellow men, here finds an object commensurate to his desires; and while he generously devotes himself to the welfare of his country, he is sustained by a consciousness that his exertions have promoted its glory. Nature also seems to have designated our beloved country as the scene of no ordinary exertions. She has scattered her gifts with a munificent hand, and points the way to high and ennobling pursuits. The vast extent of our territory, the grandeur of its scenery, its mountains, its rivers, and its inland seas, the abundance of its means, together with the progress of population and improvement, combine to render it an object of sublime contemplation.

The alacrity and zeal with which you have engaged in the military and naval defences of our country, is an additional pledge of your honourable motives and patriotic wishes.

That your labour may be crowned with abundant suc

cess, and that you may long live to reap the rich reward of a life well spent in the service of your country, is our most earnest wish.

DANIEL FARRAND,

For Committee of Arrangements.

Burlington, July 24, 1817.

THE PRESIDENT'S REPLY.

FELLOW CITIZENS ;

In entering the town of Burlington, I find myself in view of a scene, associated in every bosom with the

dearest interests and highest honour of the country. The eventful action on your lake and its invaded shores, can never be contemplated without the deepest emotion. It bound the union by stronger ties, if possible, than ever. It filled every breast with confidence in our arms, and aroused the spirit of the country. The prox imity of these scenes shall animate our children to emulate the honourable example of their fathers. They too shall realize, that in the hour of peril, their country shall never want defenders, resolute and brave as their ancestors, and firm as the mountains that gave them birth.

Truly, no nation has richer treasures of civil or religious liberty to defend. None stronger ties to united and to enlightened and to extended patriotism. That a just sense of these truths pervades the community, is evinced in the respect, which you tender to the office of the Chief Magistrate of the country in my person.

The important objects of my Tour become the more interesting, as I find the frontier more exposed. You may feel assured that the government will not withhold any practicable measures, for the security of your town; nor have I ever doubted that preparation for defence in time of peace, would ever prove the best economy in war.

If in pursuing these important objects, and administering the government upon principles consonant with the benign spirit of our constitution, my sincere and honest efforts should be crowned, as you wish, with abundant success; it will be a real gratification to myself, that you and your state will eminently particpate in the beneficent providential result.

JAMES MONROE.

The President arrived at Plattsburgh upon the 25th, where these signal victories were obtained upon the 11th September, 1814. The British general Brisbane had, a short time before, issued a Proclamation, calling upon the people to submit peaceably to the government

he should shortly exercise over them. Sir George Prevost had fixed upon an elegant private residence here, as his seat. But the proclaiming general was not then in Spain or Portugal, and the governour general was then nothing but an English Knight in Canada. A small body of regular troops, cordially united with the patriotic militia of New-York and Vermont, all under General MaCOMв, compelled an army, treble their numbers, to make a precipitate retreat to save themselves from total destruction. The 11th of September at Plattsburgh, and the 8th January at New-Orleans, the northern and southern extremes of the union, will be kept as anniversaries. The President was received here in a manner worthy of the people and of him. Prescribed limits has compelled me to exclude many elegant and impressive addresses to the President, from his fellow citizens, and many interesting particulars relative to the places in which he received them. In no place, through his extensive Tour, was the President received with more undissembled tokens of respect, than at Plattsburgh. A place that has been improved as a military rendezvous -that has had in its bosom the accomplished officers of the Army and Navy, and the veteran soldiers and gallant sailors of our country, has a consequence attached to it which scarce any other circumstances can impart. Its citizens acquire a manly deportment, and a dignified affability, which is sought for in vain amongst the effeminate votaries of modern fashion, and fashionable amusements.

Plattsburgh is situated upon the west side of Lake Champlain, at the mouth of the river Saranac. Until the last war, it was known only as a pleasant village;

its name is now associated with the proudest recollections. At the commencement of that war, it was the head quarters during a disastrous campaign-at the close of it, it had become the theatre of American glory. It is a fact, although a melancholy fact, that those places that have been the scenes of blood, death and victory, have been most celebrated by the ancient and modern epic poets. They are called "classic ground," probably for this reason. It remains for the future poet to immortalize the plains of Chippewa, Bridgewater, Plattsburgh, and New-Orleans, and the undaunted republican heroes, who there achieved victories which give them a rank with the first soldiers in the world.

Plattsburgh is the capital of Clinton county, N. Y. and is the seat of justice for that county. It contains a handsome church, a court house, and a prison. Its population is over 3,500.

The President remained at Plattsburgh some time, assiduously devoted to the great object of his Tour; advancing the interests of the people, and improving the national defence.

Upon leaving it, and prosecuting his route toward Ogdensburg, through the majestic forests, his attention was suddenly arrested by an elegant collation, fitted up in a superiour style, by the officers of the army and the citizens of the country. He partook of it, with a heart beating in unison with those of his patriotic countrymen, by whom he was surrounded; and acknowledged this unexpected and romantic civility, with an unaffected and dignified complacence.

The President, at this period of his Tour, finding it indispensably necessary to prosecute the remaining