Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1815-02-28
AN GRAFTON.

Again we have assesabicsis s g no 10;
hahor Is the memory of Was!slng'on.
once mare we celebrate the nativity
sc The man whom We delight e vt-
nxrate. :.,,,; inrxt aoget her e no.trsss'
ia ons hearts gratitude Tor his seI'si-
xes and lave for his virtues. The
hailowed celebration Of this day, Is
6 i yrsud and singular Testimonial 81
his pre- enliueut greatness. Utter
heroes have seen clouds Of incense
rising Is their henor from armies
!. whom they I'D 70 CONF 81. er ma
fioas Who bent tue knee il Trembling
10 ti,eir puwsr. ButWith them tss
pagsaatsy passed away. Enthnsi-
as,u crows coIl ON the tosab an &
tl.s eood and The great have looked
Ia no more tbaa an honorable men
zion 10 the records ef ilistoFy. II IS
q reserved for America 10 exhibit a
spectacle, unprecedented in the his
terry fthc verdi. of whole nation
uniting TO celebrate the birth day Of
manoyer whom the grave has long
c!osed--a man too whe leftno proud
dynasty bellind hiuh who transmit
ted 20 power to his descendants, no
influence to his successors but such
as they might derive from the imita
ton of his bright example. The
spectacle which this rational jubilee
presents, is grand, imposing. magni-
1iesnt. No Roman Apotheosis where
priests poiating to the eagle soaring
from tue funeral pile grossly abused
the ereduIiissf mankind; or Baby
IenisA deiication ealing in drunken
.orviics and midnight debaHches. Ii
Is tho Spontaneous etfnsion Of the.
gratitude OF freemen---it is an in
cense not distilled from tears and
wounds. but gathered from the first
fguits OF anation's love, and present
cd as FROM children to the pareat of
their eouuirv. That offering we
make to ,lay--aud while depressed
with the majesty Of The subject and
Jistrustiss my ability tedo It justice.
] still feel grateful for the selection
which has permitted me to mingle
any tribute with those whiek this
asy are ofRtrcd up throughout Unit.
ed America. feel too the parest
emotion, when on the soiemn re-
iaieing which marks this day, ]
lind the hope that there is ret such
a. astinctiye reverence for bis pre-
e. = 10 this land, as will induce us
ia soiiow the course which he point,
ed out--the path which leads 70 that
land Of promise which he saw like
Moses from the moustain OF feigah
bsfarc ne left us, but ever which he
saa ipsyendiag clouds and gather
Ing storms.
Ti,He, vhSse eaustie touch sepe-
rates whatever ofsielusien there may
be in the pssthn~ous reputation Of
great mea, seems Yearly to delight ia
rendering that Of Washington more
clear and pure. Happy during life
ia he leye and eaniiileneo OF his
conatry,aen, in death he is still more
fortunate il having his memory em-
.balsned in the Asssetions ct the ma
ton. Suffer me, released from this
restraints OLA regular division ofthe
su,.ieet. to present some general
: considerations which arise.
The VAR which Terminated in the
Independence of America exhibited
some Characteristics perfectly Dosel:
analisa yaung and Vigorous, but APP
parcntls without resources was seen
ccn,en.;ng against giant in power,
not because of any grinding oppres-
sion, not because they were made
hewers of ) cod and drawers of va
teragoe illeir lords, but for an abb
straet priseiple---tiiat taxation &re
presentation we're GO existing rights
Tile very comprehension Of this prin-s
siple I,y tue mass Of q people, i'm
plies 4 degree of freedoms and know
ledge seldom found in aay nation.
Drriug tue greater part OF the 18th
eeDtary the philosophers Of Europe
hid struggled to srrsa,i abroad such
knowledge ofshc principles Of go-
vernment, as would most cunduee 10.
the general happiaessl Of society.
~ a. rt, 80