Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-02-28
GRAFTON
Or MR. GUSTS, OF ARLlNsToN

WASHINGTON SOCIETY Or. ALEXANDKlA
Onthe .aamversary, of the 22d FEB. 1920.
lam volunteer on This occasion In place
of a Younger, and better man, ofer my
humble services, TO aid 10 the celebration OF
a day, which must not 60 down. :.
speak 10 you from the heart, and sure II
aver the heart of man was warm ana AMI
mated by grateful and glorious theme, us
when with deteous affection he spe AXIS OIL
him. who has been the kind parent ana pro-
fector ofbis youth, tits when with patriotic
pride and exuItation he speaks oil MN, VINO
hath been the great parent and beaeiactor OIL
his country. Ny address is not Intended Tor
grey boards only.-To those who Knew ana
loved him, may recall the remembrance oil
his worth and Characterization few remain
of those who were his fellow laborers In lne
great work OF the Revolution
. In the list of departed worthless, we baVe
70 mourn our late venerable President, whose
memory will be cherished by this society &
bis country, in the happy recolleclons oil MS
worth. as soldier of liberty, patriot, ana
friend. But tits to the rising generatlon-
10 those who have come on the stage OF life
since our Washington MAS no more--to the
scions who have sprung up to take the place
of the mighty oak which has fallen 10
these more especially would | endeayor 10
poursray the lie and character OF one. VINO
united so many of the rare and exc client qua
lities estimabie IN man, who possessed 50
MANY of the high and dignihed virtues, who
performed so many OF the most worthy ana
ilIustrious actions, that take hlm Tor all N !,
all. we ne'er shall look upon his like again.
II was while we were IN the humoled con-
dition oil colonial vassalage, while RUE rom
the hand OF nature, we had scarce mefseu
into political being, that star shone III cur
land. whose brilliant rising gave ample pro-
mise OF lis meridian splendor Monlen'ous
eyens call forth the character ana energies
of men, Ii was on that disastrous DAY wnen
European courage and discipline were loileo
By the 3tratagems OF an nlodeh zoe, .ue
youthful Washington, Ike the eagiel, nrs'
fried nj, wings. Mid the scene OF havoc, ru-
/. in and massacre, he appeared like the war
like genius of his country, towering above
the battles rage and obeying the call OIL oes-
tiny. When the expiring Braddofk enquir-
ed the fate Of the day, aud was told that ne
whose counselbe had with scorn rejected,
sill rallied I'D the desperate hight ana oy
Keeping the enemy at bay, allowed the snat-
tered remains of the army 10 escape, Inc re-
oentant General did ample justice 10 the
vou.hful warriors worth, saying HAD we
but have listened TO his advice, we had not
have come to this ~
About the year l772, Colonel Washington
being engaged in exploring soi's' oil tDs coun-
try bordering on the Ohio an aged inalan'
fhe same who had commanded on the mo,
nonoahela. iolrnied upwards oil two hundred
miles 70 see him. When introduced. the
usual ciyilities between savage and clyIliz-
sS man sucb as the offered hand, the pipe
of were rendered TO the guest. l he
Indian drew back. and when asked the rea-
son for conduct So unusual ana sTanSe'
With that native dignity which ever belongs
IN man in his wild aud independent state,
with the lofty air assumed by CaraCtacus,
when before The tribunal Of Claudius cesar,
AZ Rome-tbe forest warrior spoke !
am chief! among men have no superior, Dul
him whom the Great Spirit fayors, / am
hound IN homage and respect know MN
we'll. for twas on the day, when we joined
hattie in The wilderness, that decTeed MS
death. I called to my young meo, Ye fools !!
40 you not see that tall and daring warrior =
while he lives, victory will BOT be ours-,-see
that he lives not another moment.--Each
weapon was levellea, each aim was true,
but a Superior Power turned ASIDE our
deaths--at length conviction came 10 my
mind. | cried desist; ne bears charlhed
life % he is iuvuInerabe to mortal harms
am now old. and soon shall be called to the
great council FIRE of ny fathers, in the land
Of shades !; but ere | depart, warning pow
OF bids me speak in the voice OF prophecy
,Tis the light OF inspiration which hath pene-
trated the darkness of my soul. Listen - -,
The Great Spirit protects that man he Will
he the chief of nations, and ages yet unborn
will hail him as the founder OF mighty EN-,
pire The ancient warrior ceased, his heart
& lishtened OF its burden, he bends to the
lonely track, and seeks his distant home.
Anew years more. and that Revolution
which reared fabric of rational liberty ON
,be ruins Of colonial power, dawned on the
world The complaints of much aggreved
children. against the oppressive acts OF an
unnatural parent, became loud and high Tor
redress they might be compared TO those
rumbling sounds, which precede the greas
commissions of nature, Till the fame can De
no longer smothered, and Llberty's volcano
burst forth on the Heights of Charleston
And now. Americans, when you hll the cup,
10 drink 10 the memory of Prescott, OF War
ran, aud OF all those who bIAveiy fought and
who aobly died on that ever memorable day !,
be not the veteran tame Of Pslsnuna forgotten !;
let il rise to the brim. Unfeellng indeed must
have bsen that heart. unkind that hand,