Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-06-03

THE GRAvD PROCESSION


corpora'ion---,he diffcrent societies-the
voi0n.eer aitil'ery and infantry corps, with
the seamen, assembled to pay The last ,ri.
butte Of gratitude $50 long deferred) to the
inola,,d victims of the revolution.
The day was ushered in by The firing Of
the minute guns, and The melancholy toll
of he muitled bell, and before eigh, O'Clock,
the house .,ops and windows of the streets
IN the lire of march, were crouded with
the aged aud the youth. This great oc.
casion arrested the public attention be-
yond all powers Of description-ihe hand
OF industry VAS suspended--and The yari.
Gus avocalions of the capital were concen-
traed 10 single duty.
About ten O'Clock the necessary order
of arrangement cf the different bodies be-
ing effected--the whole proceeded on the
route assigned by the Wallabou, Commit.
iee--wlien it progressed in the solemn
march but il is impossible to do Justice
IN an attempt 10 describe The scene exhi.
bited on the approach of the procession to
the place of embarkation. Innumerable
multitudes thronged The shores, the
wharves and the shipping--waiiing with
pleasing anticipation the arrival of the sa
cred remains of the patriots. They arri.
ved---and in fifteen minutes were safely
embarked. The vessels of the procession
.eIe appropriately dressed, manned, and
highly decorated, exhibiting at once long
train OF bssges d boats from New Jersey
and New York. Indeed, the whole wafer
scene was superb and formed an obie0 The
most solemn and interesting imaginable.
Having arrived al Brooklyn, free from
aCcldent-the procession took short res
'ita--afier which IL was again formed in
he order of march. There, however, was
displayed lively mark of female patriot
SIN and aaeclion, as well as an ingenious
pourtray of fancy, in the circumstance, of
arranging beautiful groupe of ladies in
The train of the Genius of Liberty. These
fair daughters OF Columbia gave the tear
of sensbility 10 the memory of The brave
- and Xhib ed the undissem blcd testimo-
NAL of virtuous hearts.
Arrived al the tomb the Grand Mar
snail having arranged the Collins and The
great body OF the procession being formed
IN front OF the orator--the scene that fol-
lowed was solemn and aW fuI. The CIR.
cumsIances which led to the erection of the
tomb--the impression of the past services
OF the maTtyrs--the concourse Of speSla.
tors-the devout ferVency with which the
introductory prayer was delivered on open.
| ing the funeral solemnities---the glowing,
impressive end animated voice of the ora
tor touched The soul Of his hearers--,hev
could not avoid in the involuntary pause
TO suppress The rising lear--ihe death
like stiffness ofthe surrounding hills, COW
/ cred with thirty thousand mourners, con-
spired TO render il one of the most sublime
and interesting speelac!es ever exhibited
IN the new world. From the number of
! witnesses assembled, il appeared TO be a
solemn appeal TO heaven and earth al once,
as token of gratitude to the memory of
The departed victims of barbaritv and per.
seculion.
l he solemn scene was closed on the safe
return OF the procession 10 the Park, where
II was dsmissed without Tee alloy Of SIM
| gle accident, In this hasly sketch we will
De excused if our descriptive powers fall
far short of the magnitude of the subie6i.
Yet II was pleasing TO observe, thar all
! ranks appeared TO feel the weight of an
expression tina, was reiterated among the
people" WELL, THEY BLEED VoR THEIR
couNTRY--TREY DESERVE IT ALL |"
Tomorrow we shall give an account Of
The procession in regular detail.
Puthc .5iUerHser.
When we are paying he trlbue ofres.
pea TO The names Of departed heroes, it
may not be improper 10 enquire who, at
The organization Of the federal compact,
were The friends of an impoverished and
furnishing, but virluous ard gallant soldi-
| cry At the close of cruel and sangui
! airy coDfl,ct for our independence, The IA.
ton was compelled to pay, in Promises,
those patriots who had braveIy Tough, and
| conquered the mercenaFies of Britain.
The poor soldier, without food, without
raiment, and without money, but with the
tromSory note, or certificate of the govern.
ment, that certain sum remained due
him, was cast upon the world TO provide
for himself, and perhaps young and suf-
fering family. In this situation, what was
he 10 dol For him there was no choice
but starvation, or to sell his certificate 10 a
selfish and unptincipled specuIator.
The guide, with John Randolph at their
head, have charged Mr.. Madison with /e-
deyaism, let us therefore examine what
was his condu6 in the first congress, un-
der The Cederaf ,conafffpfion On THE t,ysnr.