Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-01-20
tespts have since bssn made in Con.

gress to redeem the fi'ghted ia,th o.
the nation, bot they have all proved 10
avsrling. The man who was emphati'
calIy first in war, fret in peace, ant
first 10 the hearts Of his country men
has been sleeping with his fathers fol
almost q quarter ofa century. and hii
mortal remains have yet been uDhonor
ed by that people who, with justice,
call him the father OF their country.
1t 10 difficult to determine, whether
this neglect be moro impoIitic or un-
grateful. Every wise nation has paid
honsrs to tho memory Of the men, who
have been the savioors Of their coun.
try. sculpture and painting have wed
with each other, 10 transmitting their
images and tho memory OF their deeds,
to the renotsst generations. By these
means the holy lire of Sirtuous emula.
ton has been klndled in the bosons of
the youth of succeeding ages.
Our country has prodoced Genera,
whose prudence End perseverance,,
whose courage and military skill, con-
quered our independence. against fear
full odds, from the most powerful nation
Oh earth: and what's still more wonder.
full. was never intoxicated by the illu.
sions Of military glory. Our country
has given birth to q statesman, who
was chiefly Instrumental in converting
the chaos Of the old confederation, into
the most perfect fabric of human Wis
dom--the federal constitution; and
whose conduct, as President Of the u
nited States, was characterized by
such wisdomiand virtue, that, after the
strictest examination, it is now admit
ted to DO tho most proper guide, to di-
rect Us in the path which leads TO the
nations prosperity and glory. In short,
our country has produced Washing.
ton: he has been dead for four & TWEEN.
ty years, and we have erected NO monu-
ment on which to record his virtues,
and our gratitude.
Mr.. b. said, that Congress. by neg.
lecting for so long period, to accom-
plish the object OF the resolutions, bad
been subjected to the imputation of
psr6dy, as we'll as ingratitude. We
made a solemn promise to the widow.
ed partner Of Washington, and to the
people of the United States, bya ls.
gislative act, that we would erect q
IN onument to his memory. That dis
lady has long slumbered
with him in the grave, and this pledge
has never yet been rsdee med. Altho'
biz aisemains. have, at our request,
m HI c6pssnt, become tho proper
HI ks nk yet they still lie neg
dSld have been credibIy
6taa attempt has been
made toe ishsm away tromhis coun-
try, which had almost proved success
ful.
Do we, Mr.. Speaker, consider it
matter of necessity,in all othes respects,
to preserve the public faith inviolate ?
and shall we prove faithless only in
what eonsernsths memory Of Wash.
i4glAa The danger OF the precedent.
he ID Agsa.. 40 Alter sfsaataaSn- thin
House, against the adoption of mea.
ures, will, in this case, be unavailing.
Tho long list Of ages, which preceded
be ,bisth of Washington, had never
tesented human character 80 perfect;
& there 10 but a bare possibility, that
s Generations will produce his 9.
Hoped the resolution would pass
= fDf Georgia, arose, and said,
BE question was taken on the
= Hui would ask leave 10 occupy
y pt The House for few mo.
3he gave expression 10 what
= ere the just sentiments and
a I'm American on the subject it
q Vii I'LL. The resolution directs a
q III this House TO report, by bill,
ID Ue, on the prOpriety OF erectiog
mVuusjen or msusOleum, to the memo
3 oil Wkhrgton. He had listened with
lttenliot 10 the ingenious and unimpas-
stoned address Of The mover of The resolu
ion, IN vbich be had endeavoreJ to prove
hat il vas duty OF justice. and vi graft
ude, minis nation, 10 give such an ex-
preston of what il feels itself 10 owe 10
he meIDry Of its iIus,rious benefactor
but he ds:ened from that honorable gen
tIenanJn the opinion he had expressed,
and j; 'hs The purpose Of his present ad-
dress tHilidicaie to that gentleman, and
10 the fpuse, The dissent be had now ex.
pressed in doing this he would empty
his mini of tho 60 nf inn MIC he hold IN This
subject The gentleman bad very truly
said, tbf j, bad long been the practice OF
nalionsb express their veneration for the
memoryot illusirious men, by erecting
splendiA monuments over their ashes
But, hetould ask, in what spirit, and at
what paod. Gid that practice originate ?
Ii was 4Ore the lights Of reason bad pc.
netra edbe darkness OF .ocl. ". & the de.