Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-03-01

Alexandria expressed their admiration of his
virtues, and beheld his departure from their
vicinity, with sentiments mingled with regret
Z AT Philadelphia he was received with peculiar
splendcr and at Trenton he was welcomed
by the sex whose smiles can hutter the mos,
aqstere, in a. manner, which must have touched
every fibre Of his heart. Tho ceremony of his
! Inauguration at New York, performed in an
open gallery before a concourse of thousands
of spectators, deeply impressed with the So
e1emnity of the occasion, with the dignihed
presence. of the savior oe his country, with
pleasing recollections fthe past, and anxious
!. anticipatiops of the future, may be- considered
]. as the most interesting scene,. which history
s has ever attempted to recount. When he fer
7 yently repeated the oath of Office, and bowed
to seal iton tie volume Of his religion, every
( bosom swelled with the sublmest. emotions !;
I and when proclaimed by the chancellor Of
New York, the president Of the y. States, a
general exclamation Of uenthsiastic Joy re-
! soundeG through the. air.
But these testimonials Of a peoples love,
only Strengthened the patriotism ofthis extra.
ordinary man nor could they elate or corr
.rupt heart, which had SO deeply imbibed the
purest sentiments of piety and virtue. Ills
ADMINISTRATION was attended with every adyan-
tage which had been prcdictedby the most
sanguine friends of the constitution. Public
credit was established, commerce expanded
sher sail to every quarter of the globe wealth.
was rapidly accumulated by the industrious
Fana enternrisiRg citizen, and peace poured
her .lnestimabse treasures Of happiness and
i morality into tranquil bosom of America.
But the events OF wise and peaceful adj
1niniatratcn aaord nc eloquent topics OF nar-
ration ); and the Earring discord Of legislative
discussions is abhorent, to the temper ofthe
! muse. tits perhaps fortunate for the United
States, that It's history while. Washington
was president, a1Iords no brilliant. scenes on
which fahcy can. expatigtey for pc ricas of ma
tional glory ere generally ,4eriodssof natioaal
calamity. The progress ofreal prosperity is
silent ; and the unexampled impsoven ent.and
increase the United States, during lis. ADJ
nslrns.ration, prove tha. he was equally calcu-
lated for the. cabinet, as the ield that he was
the Numa as vel! as the Romu!us If his coun-
try.
After the expiration ofthe term of two e.
.ections, lie again sought that privacy and re-
tiremeht for which he had constantly sighed,
in the fullest exercise of his power, in the
moment OF his highest popularity. But
his patriotic feelings still glowed with unceas-
ing ardor, and his valedictory admonitions TO
his fellow ciaizcGs are the suggestions of q
-lrlpG, .Wtose researches were ever guided by
the.hght of trHsh and the. dictates of a heart,
whose wRInest palsations were devoted to the
happiness Of MS country. In the shade of
Mount Vernon.s;t WIS his intention, and bis
wish. to have concluded the remainder of his
days. removed fron.the concerns and yanities
OF lite and nothing but the urgent snlicitati- I
OILS Of his friends, could have induced him to
accept the chief command 'ef the army. that
was raised liz apprehension Of foreign war.
But this honor be did not. live long to enojy.
On.he 18th Of December 1899, he was visit
ed tie angel Of death, &,Nith the same COM
posure and serenety he had testified through
life, he obey the summons which called him
to the presence of his maker.
Fellow citizens, you remember the general
CONSERVATION that seized on every heart,
when the tidings Of this, melancholy event
were announced and confirmed. You had
,lostthe man who constituted your safety and
your pride who had achieved the emancipa-
Hon OF your country: who had confirmed the
stablEtyof ycur government by his councils
ana who had given such an illustpious exam
pie of dignity ardstemperance to his success
sors III Office. a domestic misfortune could
net have been more sensibly felt. The whole
nation was in, mourning; meetings were call,
ed in every town, and orations elo4uently de-
scripiiye Of the virtues of their lamented be-
snefactor, though perhaps too much embitter-
ed by party feclinss,were delivered before nu--
,.merous resembles, BY the citizens of Alex
andria, as his merit was the most Justly APP
preciated, his loss was the most deeply felt,
The traces Of their grief though softened by
time, still yisib!y remain ; the birth day. Of
the hero is annually commemorated, anu per-
h,Yc b;c cpirit OF thic hover near the