Carroll Free Press

Mr. Adams' Reception in Cincinnati.

We take from the Gazette of Thursday morning, the following account of the enthusiastic reception of Mr. Adams at Cincinnati:

THE WELCOME!

The booming of the cannon at half past twelve o'clock, yesterday, announced the arrival of John Quincy Adams at Mount Auburn, the beautiful village north of Cincinnati.

Quickly the word sped throughout our city, and as quickly our citizens gathered in front of the Henrie House where he was to be welcomed by the Mayor of the city. This area was filled early, and, as the gathered throng, which followed him from the corporation line, poured into it, the dense mass looked like a sea of human beings.

At half past one, Mr. Adams reached the Henrie House—and soon after appeared on the balcony, when the welkin rang with the shout of welcome!

The Mayor, Henry E Spencer, then addressed Mr. Adams. The effect was a happy one. A native of the sod, and familiar with the growth of the west. he referred—eloquently referred—to its past progress and its present advancement.

The Mayor's address was received most enthusiastically; when the applause subsided. Mr. Adams spoke in reply as follows, in a manner characteristic of all true greatness—with simplicity. directness, and earnestness. His heart was full. He felt what he said, and others felt for and with him. More especially was this the case, when he replied to the Mayor's allusion to his venerated father, in tones and language so touchingly eloquent. It produced a thrill in the mighty multitude, and in nothing was their sympathy so strongly expressed, as in the deep stillness which reigned while he thus spoke

Mr. Mayor and Fellow Citizens:

I have lived a long life, public and private, during three fourths of which I have been witness to the birth the rise, and the progress, of a people, over that which I first knew to be a wilderness, and which has already become what might now be termed an empire. I have known the territory which now constitutes the State of Ohio, as a wilderness, in possession of the savage and original proprietors of the country.

Fifty years have passed away since the tears streamed from my eyes at the loss of dear bosom friends, upon a field which now constitutes part of your flourishing State. I have seen, in the sequel of that transaction, the men of that savage race, by whom that savage act had been performed, subdued by the superior discipline, education, religion and military power of my country. I have, subsequent to that, seen the establishment, by the Revolutionary Congress of the United States, of the North West Territory.

And there with a joy which has never yet forsaken my bosom, I have seen inoculated the race who have declared unto their posterity, through all the lapse of time; that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist in that territory, I have seen that principle implanted in the elementary principles of your existence as a State. Under the provision of that principle of the ordinance for the government of the North West Territory, I have seen the State of Ohio spring into life. On the same day in which it was my fortune to enter the Senate of the United States as a Representative of one of the oldest original States of this Union, on the same day I took by the hand two members of the Senate of the United States from the State of Ohio. From that time forward, a space of 40 years, I have witnessed the growth of that State And in the vicissitudes of human life. and making allowance for the imperfections which belong to human nature, in the light of those principles which I hope may never be eradicated from the bosom of man. I have seen the people of the State of Ohio, not always right, but always intending to be right, and always advancing in prosperity. in happiness, in virtue, and everything that can give glory to a people. All this I have seen without indulging the hope of ever personally witnessing the progress, or her territory itself. It is so far distant from the place of my nativity—there was so little occasion to call me here—occupations numerous and oppressive made it so improbable that it would ever be in my power, that I had always believed I should be able only to admire at a distance, and not come to the enjoyment of personal observation.

In the course of the last summer, being on an excursion some distance from my own State, one of your immediate fellow citizens came to me with an invitation from a society formed in the bosom of your city, for the erection of a building. to be dedicated and devoted to the purpose of human improvement by the acquisition of knowledge in the firmament over our heads: the society of which he was a member having passed resolutions inviting me to come and take part with them. in laying the foundation of that building which I hoped would tend to the improvement of the condition of man on earth. On receiving that invitation. all difficulties and objections vanished from my mind. I could not possibly refuse. Every obstruction in the way vanished before a hope that I should be permitted to take part in a step which I believed would tend to the advancement of knowledge upon earth. and the glory of my country. I have come among you, fellow citizens, on that account, but in coming here, little did I expect to meet a multitude like this now before me. Little did I expect the mark of respect which your Mayor has done me the honor to show in your name. The purpose for which I came among you is not yet accomplished; but before the sun of to morrow shall go down in the West, I hope it will be, And for myself, permit me to say, if I should not live to see the light of another day. there would be none more glorious on which to die.

Allusion has been made, fellow-citizens, not only to the services, which with good intentions, it has been my fortune to bestow on you, as a portion of the country, but also to those which have been rendered to the same country by my father. In the act of the Legislature of the territory north west of the river Ohio, they formally and solemnly acknowledged the services which he had rendered to this Union and to them, by refusing the proposition of the British Commissioner for the negotiation of a peace. which would have bounded the territory of the United States upon the Ohio.

Fellow citizens, any testimony of regard from my countrymen, for any services ever rendered by myself. touches my heart in manner which never can be forgotten. But to that which refers to the services of my father, any thing which regards myself is, in the comparison, as dust in the balance. I know it is true—from the lips of my father I heard it more than once. that the greatest enjoyment of his life, was the acknowledgment by Ohio of the services he had rendered on that occasion. With regard to my services, I trust, fellow citizens, that they are not yet entirely concluded. I still entertain a hope, from the disposition which my fellow citizens of the Congressional district to which I belong, have shown to place me as their sentinel upon the watch tower of the Constitution, that it may yet be in my power to render some slight service to them and to you. But whatever that may be—whether or not my services may hereafter be of any importance to them or you—the remembrance of your kindness to me, this day. will remain with me till the last drop of blood shall cease to circulate in my heart

And with this, I trust you will permit me to add my prayer to Almighty God, for his blessing upon you and your posterity so long as time shall last.

Warm was the greeting of the people when Mr. Adams concluded. Hearty and enthusiastic his reception! One deafening shout spoke out their joy, and the honesty of their welcome!

The day was fine and the welcome to the venerable patriot was a glorious one, marked by the deepest enthusiasm, and unattended by any untoward event, calculated to mar the happiness of the occasion.