IN 1824, IN PREPARATION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEGINNING OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, PRESIDENT JAMES MONROE EXTENDED CONGRESS'S INVITATION TO LAFAYETTE TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES.

THE GENERAL'S VISIT TOOK THE NATION BY STORM FOR 13 MONTHS, FROM AUGUST 1824 TO SEPTEMBER 1825.

LAFAYETTE TOURED ALL 24 STATES OF THE COUNTRY IN WASHINGTON CITY.

EVERYWHERE HE WENT, HE WAS GREETED BY LARGE AND ENTHUSIASTIC CROWDS.

HIS ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK CITY WAS REPORTED, BY SOME ACCOUNTS, TO HAVE DRAWN OVER 45,000 PEOPLE.

WHO WAS THIS MAN?

WHY WOULD HE SO ADMIRED AND REVERED?

WHY WAS LAFAYETTE'S TOUR 200 YEARS AGO SO IMPORTANT THEN?

AND WHAT RESONANCE DOES IT HOLD TODAY?

AS WE PREPARE TO CELEBRATE THE 250TH BIRTHDAY OF THE COUNTRY, I AM JULIEN ICHER.

I AM THE PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF THE LAFAYETTE TRAIL, WITH SUPPORT FROM THE WILLIAM G POMEROY FOUNDATION.

I TRAVELED THE ROUTE OF LAFAYETTE'S TOUR TO DOCUMENT THE PEOPLE AND PLACES HE VISITED, AND TO EXPLORE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS HISTORICAL TOUR, THEN AND NOW.

SUPPORT FOR LAFAYETTE: A HERO'S RETURN IS PROVIDED BY THE WILLIAM G. POMEROY FOUNDATION, PROVIDING GRANTS FOR HISTORIC MARKERS AND PLAQUES NATIONWIDE.

MORE INFORMATION AT WGPFOUNDATION.ORG.

LAFAYETTE WAS BORN IN CHAVANIAC, FRANCE, ON SEPTEMBER THE 6TH, 1757, TO A PRESTIGIOUS FRENCH RURAL ARISTOCRATIC FAMILY.

ORPHANED IN HIS EARLY TEENS, HE HAD ALREADY INHERITED AN IMMENSE FORTUNE BY THE TIME OF HIS PREARRANGED MARRIAGE IN 1774 TO ADRIENNE DE NOAILLES, THAT UNION GAINED HIM THE INFLUENTIAL SUPPORT OF HIS NEW FATHER IN LAW, THE DUKE OF AYEN.

YOUNG LAFAYETTE BECAME A COURTIER OF KING LOUIS THE 16TH.

HOWEVER, THE YOUNG MAN FELT TRAPPED BY THE EXPECTATIONS OF HIS CLASS.

LAFAYETTE ENTERTAINED DREAMS OF TRAVELING THE WORLD IN SEARCH OF FAME.

THE ONGOING REBELLION IN NORTH AMERICA AGAINST THE BRITISH RULE IGNITED LAFAYETTE'S INTEREST IN THE IDEA OF FREEDOM.

IT MIRRORED HIS DESIRES TO CHART HIS OWN COURSE TO PURSUE ADVENTURE AND GLORY.

IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, LAFAYETTE FOUND THE REPUBLICAN IDEALS OF LIBERTY AND SELF-DETERMINATION THAT HE WOULD SPEND HIS WHOLE LIFE DEFENDING.

AND SO IN 1777, AGAINST THE WISHES OF THE FRENCH KING, LAFAYETTE, ONLY 19 YEARS OLD, SAILED INTO THE COLONY OF SOUTH CAROLINA ON BOARD THE VICTOIRE, A SHIP THAT HE FITTED OUT AT HIS OWN EXPENSE.

AT FIRST HE WAS DENIED A COMMAND.

NONETHELESS, LAFAYETTE WAS DETERMINED TO PROVE HIS METTLE.

HE SPENT SIX WEEKS ON GEORGE WASHINGTON'S STAFF AT THE BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE.

OF BRANDYWINE IN SEPTEMBER OF 1777, HE LED A RETREAT UNDER FIRE AND WAS SHOT IN THE LEG.

HIS ACTIONS THAT THEY HELPED TO SAVE THE EMBATTLED CONTINENTAL ARMY.

LAFAYETTE SPENT THAT WINTER IN VALLEY FORGE WITH GEORGE WASHINGTON.

LAFAYETTE'S DEVOTION TO THE IDEALS OF THE DECLARATION AND HIS RESPECT FOR THE CITIZEN SOLDIER IMPRESSED THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF.

OVER TIME, THE CHILDLESS GENERAL AND THE ORPHANED ARISTOCRAT DEVELOPED DEEP DEVOTION TO ONE ANOTHER.

LAFAYETTE WOULD NAME HIS ONLY SON, GEORGE WASHINGTON LAFAYETTE.

IN 1779, LAFAYETTE RETURNED TO PARIS, WHERE HE WAS INFLUENTIAL IN GETTING THE FRENCH KING TO SUPPORT THE AMERICAN COLONIES WITH ADDITIONAL TROOPS.

HE RETURNED TO AMERICA AND WAS GIVEN COMMAND OF AN ARMY IN VIRGINIA, WHERE HE LED A HIT AND RUN ASSAULT OF THE BRITISH, WHO WERE LED BY BENEDICT ARNOLD.

EVENTUALLY, THE AMERICAN ARMY HARASSED THE BRITISH THROUGH VIRGINIA, FORCING CORNWALLIS TO SETTLE IN YORKTOWN.

THERE, BLOCKADED BY THE FRENCH FLEET, THE BRITISH SURRENDERED.

AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE WAS WON, BUT LAFAYETTE'S RETURN 40 YEARS LATER, LAFAYETTE'S FAREWELL TOUR, IS NOT JUST A HERO'S RETURN.

SO LAFAYETTE'S TOUR IN 1824-25.

IT'S 13 MONTHS IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S VISITING 24 STATES.

25 NOW, IF YOU COUNT WEST VIRGINIA, IT IS A HISTORICAL EPISODE THAT HAS TOUCHED COUNTLESS COMMUNITIES.

IT WAS A HARD JOURNEY, COVERING 6000 RUGGED MILES.

AT ONE POINT, A WHEEL CAME LOOSE ON HIS CARRIAGE, THROWING HIM AND HIS PAPERS INTO THE MUD.

LATER, THE STEAMER HE WAS TRAVELING ON SUNK IN THE OHIO RIVER, BUT THE RETIRED GENERAL AND STATESMAN PERSEVERED, PROVING HE COULD MEET THE CHALLENGE OF DIFFICULT TRAVEL AND DIFFICULT TIMES.

YOU THINK THE COUNTRY IS DIVIDED RIGHT NOW?

WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT, BUT I GOT TO TELL YOU, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ELECTION OF 1824, IT DOES LOOK AND SOUND LIKE A DÉJA VU.

THE NEWSPAPERS AT THE TIME TALK ABOUT DEEP DIPLOMACY AND SELFISH HORROR.

INDIGNATION.

THE PEOPLE TO BE SOLD, DECEIVED.

BETRAYED.

I MEAN, THIS IS NOT EXACTLY THE MOST CIVIC ELECTION.

SO THIS ELECTION OPPOSED ANDREW JACKSON, WILLIAM CRAWFORD, HENRY CLAY AND JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

AND IT'S ONE OF THE MOST DIVISIVE ELECTIONS IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

EACH CANDIDATE RELIED ON A REGIONAL BASE TO GET ELECTED.

NEW ENGLAND OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

THE SOUTH WAS BEHIND JACKSON.

HENRY CLAY CARRIED MOST OF THE WESTERN STATES, AND WILLIAM CRAWFORD GOT THE MID-ATLANTIC.

ONLY ANDREW JACKSON, HOWEVER, WAS ABLE TO REACH OUT BEYOND HIS REGIONAL BASE TO BE COMPETITIVE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

SO ANDREW JACKSON CAME IN FIRST IN THE POPULAR VOTE TALLY.

HE ALSO CAME IN FIRST IN THE ELECTORAL VOTES.

HE ACTUALLY COLLECTED 99 ELECTORAL VOTES.

BUT AT THE TIME IN 1824, 25, YOU WOULD NEED 131 VOTES OUT OF THE 261 AVAILABLE TO GET ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

SO BECAUSE THERE'S NO CLEAR LEADER IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE WITH ABSOLUTE MAJORITY, THE ELECTION IS DECIDED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON FEBRUARY 9TH, 1825 IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WITH LAFAYETTE IN THE AUDIENCE.

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES GAVE THE ELECTION TO ADAMS, LEADING TO MUCH BITTERNESS, CONSTERNATION AND MISTRUST.

LAFAYETTE, AT 67, WAS ONE OF THE LAST REVOLUTIONARY WAR HEROES STILL ALIVE IN 1824.

LAFAYETTE TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF AS HE WAS A TRAVELING THE COUNTRY FOR HIS FINAL VISIT TO THE US, TO REALLY UNIFY THE NATION AND TO HEAL THE DIVISIONS THAT WERE RUNNING DEEP ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THROUGHOUT HIS TOUR, HIS PRESENCE WAS A REMINDER OF THE SACRIFICES IN THE CAUSE OF LIBERTY AND A CALL TO CITIZENS TO REMAIN TRUE TO THE PRINCIPLES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

LAFAYETTE WAS AN ARDENT ABOLITIONIST.

AT THE VERY END OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, LAFAYETTE SAW IN THE ISSUE OF SLAVERY, UNFINISHED BUSINESS, AND THE BEGINNING OF HIS TOUR.

IN SEPTEMBER 1824.

LAFAYETTE VISITED THE AFRICAN FREE SCHOOL ON MULBERRY STREET IN NEW YORK CITY.

THE SCHOOL WAS FOR CHILDREN OF SLAVES AND FREE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

HIS PRESENCE THERE WAS A FORCEFUL EXPRESSION OF HIS SUPPORT FOR ABOLITION, THE RIGHT FOR ALL TO LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS SO DECLARED IN 1776.

ON RETURNING TO NEW YORK AT THE END OF HIS TOUR, LAFAYETTE STOPPED AT NIAGARA FALLS.

NOT ONLY DID HE TAKE IN THE AWESOME POWER AND BEAUTY OF THE FALLS.

HIS VISIT THERE WAS SYMBOLIC OF HIS SUPPORT FOR UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS.

HE WROTE LETTERS TO GEORGE WASHINGTON ASKING, AND I'M GOING TO READ A QUOTE.

HE SAID, PERMIT ME TO PROPOSE A PLAN TO YOU WHICH MIGHT BECOME GREATLY BENEFICIAL TO THE BLACK PART OF MANKIND.

SUCH AN EXAMPLE AS YOURS MIGHT RENDER IT A GENERAL PRACTICE.

AND BASICALLY, THE IDEA WAS THAT LAFAYETTE REALLY BELIEVED THAT THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES WERE SUPERIOR.

THEY WERE LEADING THE WAY AROUND THE WORLD, AND THAT IF PROGRESS WERE TO BE MADE HERE, WE COULD THEN DISTRIBUTE IT AROUND THE WORLD.

THIS IS A QUOTE THAT LAFAYETTE, IT'S A LETTER THAT HE WROTE TO THOMAS JEFFERSON IN 1822 JUST TO SHOW YOU WHAT HIS STANCE WAS ABOUT SLAVERY IN 1822.

HE SAID, LET ME CONFESS, MY DEAR FRIEND.

I HAVE NOT BEEN CONVINCED.

AND THE LESS AS I THINK MORE OF THAT WAS IN JUNE 1ST, 1822.

THE FIRST AND FOREMOST, I THINK THAT LAFAYETTE IS A PERSON OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE TO AMERICANS, FOR THE ROLE THAT HE PLAYED, IN HELPING US ACHIEVE DEMOCRACY, RIGHT.

AND ALSO IN INFLUENCING, AND TRYING TO INFLUENCE THE EARLY FOUNDING FATHERS ON ABOLITION.

AND WHEN YOU TELL THE STORY OF THE EFFORTS OF PEOPLE LIKE LAFAYETTE OR THE EFFORTS OF PEOPLE LIKE JOHN MORRISON, WHO HELPED PEOPLE GET TO CANADA, THEY'RE ALL INTERCONNECTED INTO A LARGER STORY ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS AMERICANS AND OUR JOURNEY TOWARDS FREEDOM FOR EVERYONE.

AND THAT NOT BEING CLEAN OR EASY, THAT YOU NEEDED VOICES LIKE LAFAYETTE AND YOU NEEDED ACTION LIKE JOHN MORRISON'S AND HARRIET TUBMAN.

AND YOU NEEDED PEOPLE TO TAKE POSITIONS, AND ALL THAT'S PART OF THE STORY THAT WE TELL HERE.

THIS IS A PLACE WHERE EVERY VOTE FREDERICK DOUGLASS IS HERE AT LAFAYETTE WAS HERE, YOU KNOW, HARRIET TUBMAN WAS HERE, RIGHT?

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THE PERFECT PLACE TO TALK ABOUT ABOLITION.

>> YEAH.

THIS WAS THE LOCATION OF THE ORIGINAL SUSPENSION BRIDGE.

AND THAT BRIDGE WAS BUILT, AND USHERED FREEDOM SEEKERS LIKE HARRIET TUBMAN OVER TO CANADA.

THIS WAS THE NARROWEST AREA OF THE GORGE.

IT WAS THE FIRST BRIDGE THAT CONNECTED TWO COUNTRIES ON THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, CONNECTED OUR TWO COUNTRIES, THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, RIGHT HERE AT THE NIAGARA RIVER.

SO THAT BRIDGE WAS IMPORTANT FOR COMMERCE.

BUT THAT BRIDGE ULTIMATELY BECAME THAT PATHWAY TO FREEDOM FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE ESCAPING SLAVERY IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH.

ON JUNE 4TH, 1825, GENERAL LAFAYETTE, A REVOLUTIONARY WAR HERO, CAME TO BUFFALO.

HE SPENT THE NIGHT HERE.

HISTORIC NEWSPAPERS LIKE THE JUNE 17TH, 1825 ISSUE OF THE NEW YORK STATESMAN CONFIRMED THAT LAFAYETTE WAS RECEIVED AT A BUILDING KNOWN AS THE EAGLE TAVERN.

THIS IS THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF COURT AND MAIN, AND THIS IS THE SITE OF THE EAGLE TAVERN.

SO IT'S NOW THE LIBERTY BUILDING.

AT THE EAGLE TAVERN, CITY LEADERS OFFERED LAFAYETTE THE WORDS OF WELCOME.

THEY THANKED HIM FOR HIS SERVICE DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, AND THEY USED THE RECENT GROWTH OF BUFFALO WAS EXPERIENCING AS EVIDENCE OF THE SUPERIOR NATURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PRINCIPLES OF THE UNITED STATES.

ANOTHER MEETING ALSO TOOK PLACE AT THE EAGLE TAVERN BETWEEN LAFAYETTE AND THE SENECA LEADER, RED JACKET.

THE TWO MEN HAD MET IN 1784 AT FORT STANWIX FOR THE NEGOTIATION LEADING TO THE TREATY OF PEACE BETWEEN THE AMERICAN UNION AND THE SIX NATIONS OF THE IROQUOIS CONFEDERACY.

LAFAYETTE WAS GLAD TO MEET WITH RED JACKET, EVEN THOUGH HE HAD FOUGHT WITH THE BRITISH DURING THE REVOLUTION.

LAFAYETTE ADMIRED RED JACKETS FIGHT FOR HIS PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION, A PRINCIPLE THE FRENCHMAN SHARED WITH THE SENECA LEADER.

RED JACKET WAS AN ELOQUENT ORATOR FOR THE SENECA NATION.

HE WAS A GREAT LEADER.

PROTECTED OUR SOVEREIGNTY AS MUCH AS HE COULD.

THIS IS OUR HOMELAND, YOU KNOW.

AND HE FOUGHT AS MUCH AS HE COULD.

AND HE YOU KNOW, HE WAS AN ELOQUENT SPEAKER, SPOKEN, YOU KNOW, SPOKE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON AND AND OTHER DIGNITARIES.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, HE WAS A HE WAS A STRONG LEADER FOR THE SENECA NATION.

THE MEETING BETWEEN LAFAYETTE AND RED JACKET AT THE EAGLE TAVERN WAS HIGHLY INDICATIVE OF THE UNPARALLELED LEVEL OF TRUST THAT LAFAYETTE ENJOYED WITH NATIVE AMERICAN LEADERS.

TRUST THAT HE HAD RAPIDLY BUILT AFTER HE FIRST ARRIVED TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN 1777.

IN MARCH OF 1778, LAFAYETTE THEN PARTICIPATED IN THE INDIAN CONFERENCE IN THE MOHAWK VALLEY, WHERE UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS WERE TRYING TO GAIN MORE SUPPORT FROM THE NATION OF THE IROQUOIS CONFEDERACY, IN ADDITION TO THOSE OF THE TUSCARORA AND ONEIDA NATIONS.

THAT WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST TIME THAT LAFAYETTE WAS CALLED KAYEWLA, THE GREAT WHITE WARRIOR.

IN 1784, AT FORT STANWIX, LAFAYETTE AGAIN WAS CALLED KAYEWLA BY THE NATIVE AMERICANS.

EVEN JAMES MADISON THAT WAS SENT THERE TO NEGOTIATE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE AMERICAN UNION, WAS FORCED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECOGNIZE THAT LAFAYETTE WAS CONVERSING WITH THE NATIVE AMERICAN LEADERS FROM A POSITION OF TRUST THAT HE AND THE OTHER FOUNDING FATHERS COULD NEVER REACH.

WHEN LAFAYETTE CAME TO BUFFALO ON JUNE THE 4TH, 1825, HE MET WITH, RED JACKET AND CAPTAIN POLLARD, RED JACKET, SPECIFICALLY, THEY HAD MET IN 1784.

RIGHT.

WAS IT FRIENDSHIP WAS A RESPECT THAT CAME THROUGH IN 1825.

WHAT WAS THEIR CONNECTION?

I WOULD SAY IT WAS RESPECT.

RED JACKET HAD ASKED, LAFAYETTE IF HE WAS AT, THE FORT STANWIX TREATY IN 1784, AND, LAFAYETTE DID, ASK, RED JACKET WHAT HAPPENED TO THE YOUNG CHIEF THAT THAT GAVE THE ELOQUENT SPEECH OF, BURYING THEIR HATCHET, YOU KNOW, AND, RED JACKET'S RESPONSE WAS, HE IS I, YOU KNOW, SO THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, JUST KNOWING THAT THEY WERE AT THE SAME PLACES AT THE SAME TIME IN HISTORY, BUT NOT REALLY KNOWING EACH OTHER, BUT RESPECTING WHERE THEY STOOD.

WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD LAFAYETTE, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF >> LEARNING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT HE'S DONE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE AMERICANS DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, YOU KNOW, AND READING ABOUT WHEN HE CAME HERE, HE WAS LIKE A ROCK STAR.

SO THAT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING THING.

YOU KNOW, WHEN HE DID THAT FINAL TOUR, IT WAS JUST LIKE HE WAS A ROCK STAR EVERYWHERE HE WENT.

INDEED, TRAVELING FROM FREDONIA, NEW YORK, TO BUFFALO, LAFAYETTE'S PERSONAL SECRETARY WROTE, WE WERE SLEEPING IN THE CARRIAGE, NOTWITHSTANDING THE VIOLENT JOLTING OCCASIONED BY THE TRUNKS OF TREES FORMING THE ROAD OVER WHICH WE WERE RAPIDLY PASSING, ON A SUDDEN THE STARTLING EXPLOSION OF A PIECE OF ARTILLERY AWOKE US.

WE WERE SOLICITED TO ALIGHT, AND WE FOUND OURSELVES IN THE MIDDLE OF AN AVENUE FORMED ON ONE SIDE BY MEN AND BOYS, AND ON THE OTHER BY YOUNG GIRLS AND WOMEN HOLDING THEIR INFANTS IN THEIR ARMS.

AT THE SIGHT OF LAFAYETTE, THE AIR RESOUNDED WITH JOYFUL CRIES.

ALL ARMS WERE STRETCHED OUT TOWARDS HIM.

THE MOTHERS PRESENTED THEIR INFANTS TO HIM AND BEGGED HIS BENEDICTION ON THEM.

STRUCK BY SO TOUCHING A RECEPTION, THE GENERAL WAS UNABLE FOR SOME TIME TO SUBDUE HIS EMOTIONS.

AT LAST HE ADVANCED SLOWLY THROUGH THE CROWD AT EVERY STEP, SHAKING AFFECTIONATELY THE HANDS THAT WERE STRETCHED TO HIM AND REPLAYING WITH TENDERNESS THE SWEET SALUTATION OF THE CHILDREN WHO ACCOMPANIED HIS PROGRESS WITH CRIES OF WELCOME, LAFAYETTE!

THE ORIGINAL PLAN HAD LAFAYETTE TRAVELING THROUGH NEW YORK ON THE COMPLETED SECTIONS OF THE ERIE CANAL IN ORDER TO ARRIVE IN BOSTON IN TIME FOR THE LAYING OF THE CORNERSTONE OF THE BUNKER HILL MONUMENT ON JUNE THE 17TH, 1825.

HOWEVER, WHEN HE WAS IN BUFFALO, LAFAYETTE RECEIVED AN INVITATION TO VISIT AN OLD FRIEND, JAMES REESE, IN GENEVA, NEW YORK.

SO UPON ARRIVING IN ROCHESTER BY PACKET BOAT ON THE CANAL, LAFAYETTE AND HIS PARTY BOARDED A CARRIAGE, STOPPING FIRST AT CANANDAIGUA TO SPEND THE NIGHT FROM CANANDAIGUA, LAFAYETTE WAS ESCORTED TO GENEVA.

THERE, AS WITH EVERY STOP, LAFAYETTE WAS GREETED WITH A LARGE CROWD WHERE ABOUT 200 DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS DINED WITH LAFAYETTE AT THE NEW FRANKLIN HOUSE.

LATER THAT AFTERNOON, THE LAFAYETTE GROUP WAS LED TO WATERLOO BY A MILITARY ESCORT, WHERE, IN THE MIDST OF POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE, AN EXPLOSION OF A SWIVEL CANNON KILLED A SOLDIER.

LAFAYETTE WAS NOT INFORMED UNTIL LATER THAT DAY, AND THE FESTIVITIES IN WATERLOO WENT ON AS SCHEDULED.

FROM THERE, LAFAYETTE TRAVELED TO SENECA FALLS, THEN TO AUBURN, WHERE A DINNER WITH 200 GUESTS WAS THROWN IN HIS HONOR.

TRAVELING ALL NIGHT, LAFAYETTE'S PARTY STOPPED AT SKANEATELES AND MARCELLUS BEFORE ARRIVING IN SYRACUSE.

THERE, A LAVISH DINNER IN HIS HONOR WAS PLANNED, BUT BECAUSE OF ALL THE STOPS AND CEREMONIES OF THE DAY, LAFAYETTE DID NOT ARRIVE UNTIL 6 A.M.

THE NEXT MORNING, JUNE THE 9TH.

EXHAUSTED BUT IN GOOD SPIRITS, LAFAYETTE SAID THAT THE DINNER PLANNED FOR HIM WOULD MAKE A GOOD BREAKFAST, AND SO THEY ATE.

SYRACUSE, LIKE MANY COMMUNITIES ACROSS UPSTATE NEW YORK, WAS DEEPLY TRANSFORMED BY THE ARRIVAL OF THE ERIE CANAL.

THE CANAL ALLOWED COMMUNITIES LIKE SYRACUSE TO PURSUE SPECIALIZATION, LIKE THE SALT HERE, TO ADVANCE THEIR URBAN NATURE.

SYRACUSE BECAME THE CENTER OF GRAVITY BETWEEN BUFFALO AND ALBANY, A CENTRAL LOCATION WHERE ALL THE NEWLY UNLEASHED FORCES FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE MET, FROM LOCAL ISOLATION TO NATIONAL PROSPERITY, THE STORY OF SYRACUSE ECHOES THAT OF THE COUNTRY ITSELF.

LAFAYETTE VISITED NEW YORK STATE IN 1824, BUT HE MOSTLY WENT TO NEW YORK CITY AND SOME COMMUNITIES UP AND DOWN THE HUDSON RIVER.

YOU'D HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER YEAR FOR HIM TO RETURN TO NEW YORK STATE.

IT WAS IN JUNE OF 1825, WHEN LAFAYETTE CAME BACK FROM HIS TRIPS TO THE SOUTH AND THE WEST.

HE ENTERED NEW YORK STATE AGAIN IN CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, AND FROM THERE PROCEEDED ACROSS THE STATE, NEW YORK, ALL THE WAY TO ALBANY.

AND IN THAT SECTION LAFAYETTE GOT ON AND OFF THE ERIE CANAL SEVERAL TIMES.

FOUR TO BE PRECISE.

SO LET'S JUST COUNT TOGETHER.

THE FIRST TIME WAS IN BLACKROCK.

HE GOT ON THE CANAL THERE, TO GO TO 201 THAT THE SECOND TIME WAS IN LOCKPORT, AND THEN HE WENT TO ROCHESTER.

HE GOT ON THE CANAL AGAIN A THIRD TIME IN SYRACUSE, RIGHT HERE TO GO TO ROME.

AND THE FOURTH AND FINAL TIME IN UTICA TO GO TO SCHENECTADY.

SO OVERALL, LAFAYETTE TRAVELED CLOSE TO 200 OF THE SOON TO BE COMPLETED 363 MILE LONG ERIE CANAL.

LAFAYETTE'S VISIT TO SYRACUSE REALLY CONFIRMED THE GROWING NATURE OF THE CITY AS A TRANSPORTATION HUB.

LAFAYETTE'S DECISION TO TRAVEL ON THE ERIE CANAL WAS NOT IMPROVISED.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT WAS CALCULATED AND IT WAS CALCULATED A LONG TIME IN ADVANCE.

IN MY RESEARCH, I FOUND A DOCUMENT FROM THE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK IN 1825 DO WITH CLINTON SHARING WITH THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE AN INVITATION THAT HE HAD SENT TO LAFAYETTE, AND HE SHARED WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE LAFAYETTE'S RESPONSE.

AND IN HIS RESPONSE, LAFAYETTE MAKES CLEAR THAT HE WANTS TO RETURN TO NEW YORK STATE, AND HE WANTS TO TRAVEL ON THE ERIE CANAL.

THE QUESTION IS, WHY DID LAFAYETTE HAVE TO BE SO SPECIFIC?

WHY DID HE HAVE TO MENTION THE ERIE CANAL SPECIFICALLY IN HIS RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNOR?

THE CANAL HAD BEEN HEAVILY CRITICIZED FOR THE WEAK CONSTITUTIONAL GROUNDS ON WHICH IT RELIED, BUT LAFAYETTE WAS CONVINCED THAT THE ERIE CANAL WAS IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST, AND HE DECIDED TO THROW IN ALL OF HIS POLITICAL WEIGHT AS THE NATION'S GUEST TO SUPPORT THE CANAL.

AND ONE OF THE WAYS THIS WAS DONE WAS BY COMBINING THE AURA AND PERSONA OF LAFAYETTE, THE NATION'S GUESTS, WITH THAT OF DEWITT CLINTON, THE PRIMARY ARCHITECT OF THE ERIE CANAL.

CLINTON WAS THE FORMER MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY.

HE WAS A FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, AN ELECTION OF 1812, EVENTUALLY LOSING TO JAMES MADISON, AND HE WAS THE CURRENT GOVERNOR IN 1825 WHEN LAFAYETTE WAS BACK IN NEW YORK.

CLINTON WAS AN ARDENT SUPPORTER OF THE ERIE CANAL.

HE BELIEVED THE CANAL WAS IN NEW YORK CITY'S INTERESTS, BUT IT WAS ALSO IN DOWNSTATE AND UPSTATE INTERESTS, IN NEW YORK STATE IN GENERAL, AND IN THE INTERESTS OF THE STATE, AND ALSO IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST.

NEWSPAPERS THAT WERE SUPPORTING CLINTON IN THE STATE DID NOT HESITATE TO COMPARE HIM WITH THOMAS JEFFERSON AND HIS DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

WHILE THE OPPOSITION NEWSPAPERS WERE DENOUNCING CLINTON AS AN OFFICE SEEKER AND A FOOL, REFERRING TO HIS ERIE CANAL AS CLINTON'S FOLLY OR THE BIG DITCH.

CLINTON BELIEVED THAT THE CANAL WOULD HELP FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF WESTERN NEW YORK, THAT IT WOULD HELP TO CREATE THE AMERICAN MANUFACTURING CAPACITY THAT WAS SO NEEDED AFTER THE WAR OF 1812, THAT IT WOULD HELP TO INCREASE THE POPULATION OF THE STATE AND HELP TRANSFORM NEW YORK CITY INTO THE AMERICAN PORT OF THE EAST COAST.

IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE POPULATION CHANGE BETWEEN 1790 AND 1830, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT NEW YORK STATE GOES FROM BEING A ON A POSITION OF EQUAL GROUND WITH THE OTHER ATLANTIC STATES TO ONE OF DOMINANCE IN THE ENTIRE NATION IN 1830.

AND YES, YOU CAN BET THAT THE ERIE CANAL HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THAT.

THERE'S A VARIETY OF PARAMETERS TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS NEW MANUFACTURING INDEPENDENCE WAS DECLARED HERE IN NEW YORK STATE.

IN MY OPINION, THERE ARE TWO FACTORS THAT ARE OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE.

NUMBER ONE, THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE STATE.

NEW YORK HAD ACCESS TO ON ONE END OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, AND ON THE OTHER END, THE WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES REGION.

LAKE ONTARIO AND LAKE ERIE.

BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT GEOGRAPHY, NEW YORK STATE ALSO HAD THE TOPOGRAPHY TO MAKE A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO ENDS POSSIBLE.

HOWEVER, POSSIBLE DID NOT MEAN AUTOMATIC.

CLINTON HAD TO FIGHT A LOT FOR THE CANAL TO BECOME A REALITY.

CLINTON WAS IMMEDIATELY ATTACKED AS BEING LOOKING FOR VOTES WHEN HE FIRST SUGGESTED THAT THE CANAL SHOULD GO ALL THE WAY TO BUFFALO.

BUT A FEW YEARS LATER, WHEN LAFAYETTE TRAVELED ON THE CANAL IN THAT PART OF NEW YORK, THE FRENCHMAN WAS ABLE TO SHUT DOWN A POLITICAL ATTACK AND WAS ABLE TO TRANSFORM A PERSONAL ATTACK AGAINST CLINTON INTO A MOMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY, THEREBY FULFILLING HIS HISTORIC FUNCTION AS A STABILIZING PRESENCE, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME CARRYING ON THE LEGACY OF NATIONAL UNITY CHAMPIONED BY GEORGE WASHINGTON HIMSELF BEFORE HIM.

A FEW MONTHS LATER, IN OCTOBER OF 1825, WHEN IT IS FINALLY TIME TO DEDICATE THE ERIE CANAL, DEWITT CLINTON WILL TRAVEL ON THE CANAL, AND HE WILL DO SO USING THE VERY SAME BOAT, THE SENECA CHIEF THAT LAFAYETTE USED TO GO FROM BLACK ROCK TO TONOWANDA A FEW MONTHS PRIOR, ALL BUT CONTINUING THIS SYMBOLIC ENDORSEMENT OF THE ERIE CANAL BY THE FRENCHMAN.

YOU OFTEN HEAR ME SAY THAT THE COUNTRY SURVIVED THE DIVISIVENESS OF THE 1824 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, THAT THE INSTITUTIONS HAVE BEEN TESTED, BUT THEY SURVIVED, AND THAT AS A RESULT, THE COUNTRY EXPRESSED RENEWED CONFIDENCE IN THEIR RESILIENCE.

WELL, I BELIEVE THAT THE SAME CAN BE SAID ABOUT THE ERIE CANAL.

THE CANAL WENT FROM PRODUCING DIVISION TO GENERATING PROSPERITY.

AND THAT, TO ME, IS WHEN LAFAYETTE COMES IN.

HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE CASE THAT THE CANAL WAS AN EXPRESSION OF SUPERIOR REPUBLICAN PRINCIPLES AND THAT THIS PROSPERITY WAS AN AMERICAN PROSPERITY.

LAFAYETTE CONTINUED EAST THROUGH NEW YORK ON HIS WAY TOWARDS BOSTON THE SCHENECTADY GAZETTE ON JUNE THE 15TH, 1825 REPORTED THAT UPON HIS ARRIVAL IN SCHENECTADY, QUOTE, “THE CANAL BRIDGES, IN BOTH THE BANKS OF THE CANAL, FROM FLATS TO CITY HALL, WERE COMPLETELY LINED WITH GENTLEMEN AND LADIES, OLD AND YOUNG, EACH WAITING WITH BREATHLESS IMPATIENCE TO CATCH A GLIMPSE AT THE GENERAL, AND EACH ANXIOUS TO SWELL THEIR VOICES WITH THE UNIVERSAL SHOUT OF, “WELCOME, LAFAYETTE!” LAFAYETTE ARRIVED AS HE PROMISED IN BOSTON ON JUNE THE 15TH, 1825.

TWO DAYS LATER, ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST MAJOR BATTLE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, LAFAYETTE, HERO OF THE REVOLUTION, THE NATIONS GUEST, HELPED LAY THE CORNERSTONE TO THE BUNKER HILL MONUMENT.

DANIEL WEBSTER GAVE THE ADDRESS AS MORE THAN 100,000 ATTENDED THE CEREMONY.

ALMOST 50 YEARS EARLIER, IT WAS THE WORDS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE THAT INSPIRED THE YOUNG LAFAYETTE TO JOIN THE AMERICAN FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE.

LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS ARE THE PRINCIPLES THAT HE ADVOCATED THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE, AND UPON WHICH HIS LEGACY IS BUILT.

NO LEG OF HIS TOUR REFLECTED LAFAYETTES DEVOTION TO HIS PRINCIPLES, TO HIS BELIEF IN THE IMPORTANCE OF FREEDOM, SOVEREIGNTY, AND COMMERCE, MORE THAN THE TIME HE SPENT IN NEW YORK.

HIS OPPOSITION TO SLAVERY, HIS RESPECT FOR SELF-DETERMINATION, LAFAYETTES FAREWELL TOUR OF AMERICA HELPED A DIVIDED COUNTRY UNITE.

IT HELPED ITS PEOPLE CELEBRATE THE YOUNG COUNTRYS SUCCESS AND ITS PROMISE.

TODAY MORE THAN EVER, AS THE COUNTRY IS PLAGUED WITH POLITICAL DIVISIONS, LAFAYETTES OPTIMISM ABOUT POLITICAL LIFE CAN HELP REGENERATE THE CAN HELP REGENERATE THE NATIONS FAITH IN OUR REPUBLICAN PRINCIPLES - WHAT A FREE PEOPLE, TOGETHER, CAN ACCOMPLISH.