them, satisfied me that they came from the heart. United firmly in the support of these great, these vital interests, we may fairly presume that all difficulty on minor questions will disappear.

In returning to the city of Washington, I rejoice to find the public building, intended for the accommodation of the Chief Magistrate, in a state to receive me, and to admit within it this friendly interview with you. JAMES MONROE.

The President was now in the bosom of his friends, and surrounded by a cabinet harmonizing with him in his extensive views for advancing the individual happiness, the permanent interest and the national glory of his countrymen.

He resumed the exercise of the high functions of his Presidential office, with a knowledge of an extensive and important section of his native country, which he could not have acquired so perfectly as he had done in any mode but by personal observation. It can hardly be expected of any man, in any station, that he will wholly divest himself of local prepossessions, and personal attachments. It ought not to be hoped. It would be doing violence to our nature, to accomplish it, if it were possible. The visionary notion of the cosmopolite, which embraces the whole family of man as equally dear to him—which places the same estimation upon the Arab of Africa, the Hindoo of Asia, and the Cossack of Europe, as he does upon his own countrymen is so pregnant with absurdity, that it would disgrace the intellect of the lunatic. But that the whole family of the American Republic should love each other as brethren, is not only desirable, but it is practicable. It was the great desideratum of the sainted WASH

INGTON-it was the ardent wish of the great JEFFERSON. The repeated declarations of JAMES MONROE, as well as his whole official conduct, from his minority to this period of his life, shows his wishes upon this subject.

Knowing,," (he says,) no difference between the just claims of one portion of our country and another, I consider it my duty to attend equally to the rights and interests of the whole. Incapable of discriminating between the rights and interests of the Eastern and Western sections of the Union; and having no friendships to serve, or resentments to gratify, at the expense of the public welfare, I shall steadily pursue the objects most likely to secure them.'

An entire union of sentiment, upon political subjects, is not to be expected among a people who think for themselves, read for themselves, and act for themselves. The sentiment, that "the people are their own worst enemies," is not correct, as it relates to the intelligent citizens of our Republic. It may be true, as it relates to the uneducated and oppressed peasantry of Europe; but here, thanks to the literary institutions of our country, we have no such peasantry. From the President, who fills the chair of state, to the humblest labourer, who earns his bread by the sweat of his brow, every one knows his rights, and will not, patiently, suffer oppression. Every citizen of the Republic possesses means of some information upon political subjects. Possessing this, he reasons for himself, and will not be dictated to, in regard to his opinions, by an imperious miser, or an aspiring demagogue. One consequence of this intelligence is political parties, and they never will cease to exist in this country, until the paralizing

effects of sottish ignorance shall have paved the road to despotic power. That erroneous opinions may be adopted, is without a question; but " errors of opinion will never become dangerous, as long as reason is left free to combat them."

The greatest danger arises from the apprehension that one section of the Republic may become hostile to another. It is against this, that the great men just mentioned, have raised their warning voices to their countrymen. The division of the Union, will be the destruction of the Republic. The bundled reeds can withstand the arm of the giant; separately, they may be broken by the child.

Fears that arise from this source are greatly allayed by t

the increasing prevalence of a NATIONAL feeling.Whatever may have been the effect of the second war for American Independence, upon different portions of the Republic, its termination did much to eradicate sectional prejudices. However diverse may be the pursuits or the interests of the different parts of the country, they may be made to produce mutual benefit. If that portion of the Union which lies East of the Alleghany, has a soil less productive than that upon the West, it is bounded upon an ocean, upon which many of her sons have found an home; and enables them to be carriers of the immense productions of that region of fertility. The three great pillars of national wealth and national power-Agriculture, Manufactures, and Commerce, may be prosecuted in different parts; the advantages will redound to the benefit of the whole, and augment the greatness of the Republic.

The recent Tour of the President, a brief account

of which is now brought to a conclusion, has drawn from him his sentiments upon the great and important principles upon which our republic is constituted.The numerous and elegant Addresses that were delivered to him upon his journey, may be considered as the deliberate opinion of the people in those parts of the country where they were presented. His Answers to them, although made upon the spur of the occasion, elicited from him the results of long experience, and called forth his opinions upon the great subjects upon which the vital interests of the Republic depend.

It is sincerely to be hoped, that geographical distinctions, and local prepossessions will shortly cease to exist in our beloved Republic as it regards opinions; that the Virginian, the Tennesseean, the Pennsylvanian and New-Englander, will all embrace each other, as brethren of the same family, and greet each other as fellow citizens of the only real Republic, at this time, upon earth ; that, as the highest privileged people on the globe, we may unite our efforts to render the privileges we enjoy secure; and that every American may exclaim, with an ancient patriot, when reflecting upon the blessings his country enjoyed, BE THEY PERPETUAL."

The President's first Tour, having occupied him thro' the months of June, July, August, and half of September, 1817-having traversed the country in a course which compelled him to travel three thousand miles, he found, upon his return, that the business in the Executive Department required the most intent application. With the readiness with which an experienced and practical statesman discharges his duty, he arranged

the affairs of the Cabinet-and upon the last week in November, in the vicinity of Washington, the Capital, he visited Fort Washington, recently advanced toward perfectisn, for the defence of a place, which, in flagrant violation of the laws of civilized warfare, was partially destroyed in the second war between America and Great Britain. The citizens of Alexandria, (Col.) welcomed the President into the District, and their City, by every demonstration of respect which the civil and military powers could display, and thus affectionately, and patriotically addressed him.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

SIR-The further prosecution of the important object of your late tour has brought you to our town. It is with pleasure that the mayor and common council of Alexandria, in behalf of themselves, and their fellow citizens, offer to you their cordial and respectful salutations upon your arrival among us. In you, sir, we behold not only the chief of the nation, but the executive magistrate of this district. Confiding in the purity of your intentions, and believing that the powers vested in you by the constitution, will be used with a due regard to the welfare of the people, whose dearest interests are entrusted to your paternal care, we avail ourselves of this occasion to express our sincere hope, that the auspicious circumstances which attended the commencement of your administration, may, with the blessings of our heavenly Father, under your direction, unite to promote the solid and permanent good of our beloved country. We feel every assurance that the peculiar interest and welfare of the district of Columbia will receive your attentive consideration, and that such measures will be recommended by you to congress, as are, in your opinion, best calculated to promote the prosperity of the district. With these sentiments we unite in our ardent wishes for your present and future

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