Whereas, we have recently seen with mingled feelings of regret and indignation, an old, faithful and well-tried public servant, the greater portion of whose life has been spent in the councils of his country, proscribed by the blind, infuriate zeal of faction-therefore,

Resolved, That the Hon. Hugh L. White be invited to meet his East Tennessee friends in Knoxville, at such time as may suit his convenience, and partake with them of a barbecue, to be prepared for the occasion.

Resolved, That the president of the convention express to Judge White the kind feelings and grateful recollections of the members of this convention, and tender to him the invitation to the contemplated festival. Resolved, That a committee of thirty be appointed by the president, to superintend the necessary arrangements for the proposed barbecue.

The preamble and resolutions were adopted, but Judge White's health was too feeble on his return home to accept the flattering and kind, invitation and receive the gratulations of his many warm friends. But he placed the highest estimate upon their attentions.

CHAPTER XVII.

WASHINGTON DINNER: SPEECHES OF JUDGE WHITE AND OTHERS.

A FEW days after Judge White's resignation a dinner was given him in Washington City, as a last mark of affectionate respect from those with whom he had been so long privately and politically associated. To give an adequate idea of this deeply interesting scene, a sketch of some of the speeches made on the occasion by distinguished men, as well as of that of Judge White himself is here inserted. Mr. A. R. Humes, at the expense of some time and much trouble, collected copies of these proceedings and transmitted them to the "Knoxville Times" for publication. Below is an extract from his. communication on this occasion.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18th, 1840.

The public dinner, given yesterday in honor of Judge White, was attended by many of the most illustrious and distinguished men of whom our nation can boast. It was one of the grandest exhibitions of varied talent ever witnessed on a like occasion. The several impromptu speeches abounded in sallies of wit, the keenest satire, and the richest classical allusions.

About one hundred and fifty were present, principally members of Congress.

At 8 o'clock, the company was ushered into the splendid hall at Brown's hotel, and when Messrs. Clay and Preston entered with their distinguished guest, the "National Band" struck up the inspiring air of "Hail Columbia."

It was indeed a scene of melancholy and imposing grandeur. By the patriotic Tennesseean, it would have been witnessed with the most contradictory emotions. To see the father of his State dishonored in his old age, by the blind infuriate zeal of party! To see the man who had achieved for Tennessee' a just and honorable fame!-"the noblest Roman of them all"-a willing victim upon the altar-preferring banishment from office, to the desertion of principle-he would have most deeply felt that the true glory of his State was indeed eclipsed for the moment.

The Hon. William C. Preston presided; at his right and left were seated Hugh L. White and Henry Clay. One might easily have believed that he lived in times equalled only by the best days of the republic of Rome for here were senators of more than Roman virtue. There stood the aged Cato with the crown of martyrdom on his head-banished from the councils of his country, yet firm to his faith, and inflexible in truth.

Messrs. Davis of Massachusetts, Biddle of Pennsylvania, Gen. Walter Jones, Col. George Washington of Maryland, and Mr. Corwin of Ohio, acted as vice-presidents on the occasion.

It was indeed a brilliant scene. The rich chandeliers threw a blaze of light over the extensive room, which was tastefully decorated with evergreens, and wine gushed forth from the bottle, and mirth from the heart.

But there was yet higher banquetting.

Mr. Preston, the president, said:

"I rise to perform a very agreeable duty. We are here to do honor to a man whose private worth has commended him to our affections, and whose public services challenge our approbation and gratitude. The vicissitudes of public life liave removed him from a high station, which he has long filled in such a way as to honor it, as much as it had honored him. He ascended to it through various gradations of public service, both in his own State, and in, this government-at each step displaying an assemblage of high and useful qualities-of virtues and of talents, which showed him capable of a still more extended sphere.

His life has been a pattern to statesmen of an honest and unflinching adherence to principle. He came here to Washington, the loved and honored favorite of a great and dominant party, who had the power, and the inclination to gratify all that his ambition might have aspired to; but when their policy no longer conformed to his judgment, he surrendered at once the smiles of power for the duties of patriotism.

The purity of his motives is vindicated by the fact, that he left the strong for the weaker side. The vigor of his patriotism is shown, by his willingness to incur for the sake of his country, the displeasure of a friend in the moment of his power, to whom, in every variety of his fortune, through a long life he had adhered with a romantic fidelity. He quitted the palace for his principles, he gave up the court for his country. He did not believe that a palace sanctifies what without its walls was reprehensible. He was of sterner stuff than to 'crook the pregnant hinges of the knee,' where thrift might follow fawning.' With a noble self-sacrifice he pursued the steady tenor of his principles wherever they led him, and has permitted me to present his 'name to you. I doubt not it will so stand in after times:

"HUGH L. WHITE. -The man and the statesman, without fear and without reproach."

These remarks were delivered in the most finished style of oratory, and when Mr. Preston pronounced the above sentiment, its reception was hailed with loud and continued "huzzas." But when the venerable form of that veteran statesman, to whom it was addressed, was seen rising from his seat, the welkin rung with "yet a louder, and a louder strain.”

Mr. White rose and said:

"GENTLEMEN: The most eloquent response I could make to the sentiments contained in your toast, would be to remain entirely silent. No language of which I am master, can convey an adequate idea of the emotions produced by the expression of such sentiments, and the manner in which they have been received by this large and respectable assembly. At a time when I am banished from the service of my country, without any hope that I can be longer useful to any man, to find myself surrounded by so many men, whose friendship and countenance, any man in any age or country, in possession of the most extensive power, would justly feel proud of, overwhelms me. Thanks, from my heart, I return you, and it is probably the only return I can ever make, for your kindness and attention.

"Were I to go alone from the service of the public, I could find but little to regret. My country would be more ably served by some one who has seen fewer years. [Cries of 'never! never!'] Now in my sixtyseventh year, the last thirty-eight almost wholly spent in some public employment, little more could be expected of me; but, for the sake of reaching me, my late colleague must be made a victim likewise. [Cries of 'shame! shame!'] He had served his State but one session in the Senate, and I think all now present, who are acquainted with him, will agree with me in opinion that no man who has entered that body in our day, made more friends in the same length of time. ['No! none.'] A man of the strictest integrity, with a mind highly endowed and well cultivated, aided by manners pleasing to all with whom he associated, of untiring industry, and in the vigor of life; had he been spared, his State and the country at large, had much to hope from his labors. For rayself, I am proud that my State can, in my person, produce yet one man willing to be made a sacrifice rather than sacrifice his principles." [Nine cheers!]

Mr. White continued "One thing may yet be permitted to me, and that is to beseech my State that when, hereafter, that "monster, party spirit," shall call upon her to furnish a victim for the altar, she may spare her younger sons, and let loose her blood-hounds upon some man already worn out in her service, who may be found willing to be offered up as a sacrifice, rather than stamp as hypocritical his former professions."

He next alluded to his separation from the late Administration, and said "When my countrymen asked the use of my name, as a candidate

for the Presidency, and I gave my consent, my destruction was decreed, and how was it to be effected? In no way but by driving me from the Administration; and how was this to be accomplished? I would not and did not abandon any one political principle, I had ever professed. The separation, therefore, could only be brought about by the Administration changing its practice in relation to every great subject, except that of removing the Indians. It did so, wheeled to the right about, and I kept on, directly in its former course."

[Mr. White was here interrupted by loud bursts of applause and confirmations of his statement.]

He continued "That branch of the public service in which I labored most, related to the Indian affairs. In that I, and the late Administra tion, had stuck together to the last, and the Indians are mostly removed from Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan." And he asked, with boldness and emphasis-"Who dare charge me with failing to give my best support both to the late and present Administration, on that great and interesting subject? Upon this subject, I willingly leave my character, to be settled by the testimony of my colleagues, upon the committee." [A voice from a senator-'I am a witness.']

"I am thankful to my State, that she permitted me to remain here, until her Indians were removed, and our lands brought into market, so that the State is now receiving into her treasury the proceeds of their sales." [It is well known that Mr. White has long been the able chairman of the committee on Indian affairs.]

"There is yet a most important part of the great plan to be accomplished, and that is establishing a plan for their government, by which they can be made secure among themselves, and the neighboring whites rendered safe from any of their depredations, and one upon which they can be civilized and christianized.

"This latter object the committee have endeavored to accomplish. They have for several sessions, reported a bill, and had it passed in the Senate. They at first had the aid and sanction of the Administration for the measure. Now, however, it has got off the Jackson track, (laughter) and is discountenancing the measure, and what the President wishes done, the Lord only knows. (Loud laughter.). I do not know, and he has not deemed it necessary, in his labored message, to give us a useful hint upon the subject.

"A high responsibility rests upon the executive, and to my old associates I say, if this subject be not faithfully attended to, and delicately, as well as ably managed, we will, I fear, ere long witness the blaze of war, from one end of our southern frontier to the other.

"Before the year closes a Chief Magistrate is to be elected for four years, succeeding the 4th March, 1841. Since the respective parties have agreed