Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-07-17
Prom the National htellgsncsr Of July 5.
FOURTH OF JULY AT WASHING TON
Breaking Ground upon me Canal

Friday last, the Fourth OF July, the
Anniversary OF the Declaration of the
Independence nj the United states, was
a proud day for the District of Colum'
ba-for the States interested IN an open
navigation from the Chesapeake to the
Lakes, aud to the waters OF the Missls
slppi-for the friends of internal im-
provenent every where.
On that daV, which, by concurrent
votes Of the President and Directors of
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Compa
nv, and the Corporations of Washington,
Georgetown, and Alexandria, had been
fixed upon for breaking ground upon
the line of the Canal, THIS interesting
ceremony took place, in the order pre-
scribed by the Committee of Arrange
ments, as heretofore published. which
was most successfully carried into effect
BY Gen. rHoBNToN and Col SfULL,
Marshals of the Day, aud the Aids whom
they appointed
About eight O'clock, the Procession
was formed on Bridge street, and NOV
ed on, to the excellent Music oi the fall
band Of the Marine Corps, Ia High
Street Wharf. where they embarked in
perfect order, as previously arranged.
and the boats Immediately set forward
amidst the cheers of the crowds which
hncd the wharves.
On landing from the boats. and reach
ing the ground tone or two hundred
yards East of the present Canal; the
Procession moved around it so as to
leave hollow space, in the midst of a
mass OF People, in the centre OF which
was the spot marked out by Judge
VmGHr. the Engineer of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Canal Company, Tor the
commencement; of the work. A mo-
ment's pause here occurred, while the
spade destined to commence the work
was selected by the Committee of Ar.
range ments. and the spot for breaking
grouod was precisely denoted
At that moment the sun shone out
from behind a cloud, and, amidst ST.
lenre so intense as to chasten the ami
matios of hope and to hallow the en-
thusiasm Of JOY. the Mayor of George
town handed to Gen. MERcER the Pre-
sident of the Chesapeak and OHIO Ca
nal Company, the eonsecrated Instru
ment, which having received. he step
ped forward from the resting column,
and addressed as follows the listening
multitude:
Fellow Citizens: There are moments
in the progress of time, which are the
counters of whole ages. There are e.
vents. the monuments of which, survi-
wing every other memorial of human
existence, eternies the nation to whose
history they belong, after all other YES
tiges Of its glory have disappeared from
the globe. At such moment have we
nov arrived Such monument we are
now to found
Turning towards the President of the
United States. who stood near him, Mr.
NJ proceeded:
Me- Pre- sident: On day haIlowed by
the fondest recollections. beneath this
cheering (mav we not humbly trust, au
spiCious) SKI, surrounded by the many
thousand spectators who look on US with
JOYOUS anticipation; in the presence oil
the repre- sentatives of the most polished
AdllODS III Tue Otu 6uu I'VE" w pituss bti
q spot. where. little more than century
ago, the painted savage held his nightly
orgies; at the request of the three cities
of the District of Columbia, present
90 the Chief Magistrate ofthe most pow
erful republic on earth, for the most no
BILE purpose that was ever conceived by
man. this humble instrument Of rur al
labor, symbol of the favorite occupa.
ton Of our countrymen. May the use,
to which It is about to be devoted, prove
the precursor. to our beloved country,
of improved agriculture, of multiplied
and diversified arts of EXTENDED COM
merce and navigation. Combining its
social and moral influences with the
principles of that happy Constitution,
under which YOU have been called to
preside over the American People. may
it become safe guard of their Liberty
and dependence, and bond of per-
petual Union!
To the ardent wishes of this vast as
sembly. unite my fervent prayer to
that infinite and awful Being without
whose favor all huna power is but vaR
i:y. that He will crown your labor with
His blessings and our work with immor-
falty