Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-15
From the National htelEgeneer.


The following is sketch Of the appropriate
and impressive address ofMr. Secretary RUSH,
delivered 10 the assemblage Of citizens at the
City Hall on Tuesday last. Other gentlemen,
heretofore mentioned, addressed the meeting
also, but as their remarks were mostly on par
ticular questions, they were Of more desultory
character, aud therefore a report of them was
not attempted.
Mr.. RUsH said that the resolutions having
been moved and seconded, he rose not 10 discuss
them, but only TO express his concurrence in
them. The occasion appeared 10 him not to call
Tor discussion, but rather TO be one for inter
changing and expressing feelings that might be
supposed to pervade every bosom. The pur-
pose of the meeting, was, he said, most inter
esting, most remarkable, most solemn. 1t had
been but single week since all were assembled
10 commemorate the great annual festival of the
country, rendered more remarkable this year
from being its tiftieth return. At that time, all
indeed, knew, that the great Author Of the De-
claratlon OF independence, and he who had SO
fully participated in that great act-he who by
common consent was pronounced its profound,
its luminous, its most able defender-that these
two great contemporary patriots-ong hailed
as the two great patr!archs Of the land-all
knew that their days had already been length
ened TO period beyond that usually allotted to
human life. But who could have supposed,
what Imagination could have conceived, that
that festival day was henceforth to be consecra.
ted afresh in our eyes, by the fact of these two
renowned contemporaries simultaneously sur
rendering up upon it their mortal existence;
surrendering it up at the very moment when
millions OF their countrymen were informing
ling with their celebrations fervent and CRATE
full homage to their shining worth, their Revo-
lutionary glories. 1t was indeed most remark
able. There was nothing with W hich TO com.
pare it, no combination of future circumstances
would ever be likely to produce its parallel II
was an event to touch the hearts Of whole
People. History would embalm it. 1t was des-
tined 10 draw forth the most emulous, most
elevated, strains Of the patriotic muse, 1t
was envlroned with moral beauty. 1t presented
aspects affecting and awful 1t was but recent
iy that they had been told, within the walls
where they were now assembled-so recently
that the echo Of the words seemed still upon
the ear-they had been told, and the narrative
was full of interest, that the venerated sage of
Monticello, conscious that his dissolution was
at hand, as well as the birth day Of his country,
brea:hed out a wish, an anxious, natural, wish,
to live until that day. and on that day to die
The wish was heard-it was consummated.
Here seemed enough for history, enough for its
fairest page; enough for individual glory So
we all felt; so the nation was preparing TO feel.
coincidence SO extraordinary struck upon the
hearts of US all, and our sense of grief was for
the instant assuaged in the last solemn triumph
which we had seen the hand of Heaven deal out
to this great Patriot. His spirit had fingered
on until his own favori,e day; then, taken its
flight. But what have we not since heard?
What intelligence is it that has since burst upon
u.s. What tidings have we from the retreats
of Quincy-from the illuslrious contempora-
ry?. Does a double mourning strike at the
same instant upon the land-on the very Ju-
bilee? Yes, on that ever memorable day, the
sage Of Quincy feels that his term of life, too,
is approaching. Its declining fame, grows
dim-it hickers--it is nearly extinct. Sud-
denly he awakes, almost as from the sleep
of death. He starts at the sound Of distant
rejoicings; the bells Of the temple of God
the shouts Of his countrymen--the roar Of
artillery. He inquiries into the cause. Learn
ing it he exclaims, tbs GREAT AND GLORIOUS
DAY"-and never speaks again. 1t is the last
patriotic ejaculation of his soul, which takes its
flight as the brilliant sun of that day descends.
! Let US repeat, said Mr.. R. nothing like this has