Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-07-08

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so as TO suspend the labor of the hoa.men, and
charm 10 silence every voice. Noseless, but
in crowds, the people moved forward on the
bank Of he Canal, keeping even pace with the
long line Of boats, willis, airs, now animated,
now piain,ive, from the Marine Band, placed In
the forward boat, ligh,.ned the toll Of the walk.
As the boats reared the ground destined ior
the commencement OF the Canal, the Procession
discovered, posted on the bank, two companies
Of RiHemen, commanded by Capt. Thomas
Capt II aller, scarcely 20 be distinguished IN
their uniform Of green, from the trees in which
they stood empowered, who paid 10 the Presi-
dent Of the United States, both going and re-
turning, the military honors due TO his station.
The multitude now visibly increased Ibou>
sands hung upon the overlooking hill 10 the
north, and many climbed the outrageous trees
bordering the River and The Canal, Perfect "r-
der every where pre-, allied
On landing from the boats ana reaching the
ground Zone or TWO hundred yards East oil 'ht
liue Of the present CanaD The Procession moved
around il so as 10 leave a hollow space, M the
mids Of mass Of people, in the centre OF which
was the spot marked out by Judge Wright,
the Engineer OF the Chesapeake and Ohio "a
nah Company, for the commencement oil the
Work A moments pause here occurred, while
The spade, destined to commence tie work, was
selected bv the Committee of Arrangements,
ard the spot for breaking ground was precisely
denoted.
At tina. moment the sun shone out from be-
hind cloud, and amidst silence so inien 81 as
10 chasten the animation OF hope, and to halo"
the enlhu ,asm of Joy, the Mayor OF George
town handed 10 Gen MERCER, the President OF
the Chesapeake and Okio Canal Company, the
consecrated instrument, which having received,
lie stepped forward from the resting column,
and addressed IS follows the listening multi
tude:
Feilo,c Citizens: There are moments, in the
progress of time, which are the counters ri
whole ages There are events, the monuments
Of which, surviving every other me moral Of
human tx silence, eternize the nation 10 whose
history they belong, after all ether ,estiges OF
its glory have disappeared from the globe. Al
such a moment have we now arrived. Such
moment we are now TO founc.
Turning towards the President OF the United
States, who stood near him, Mr. NJ proceeded:
Mr.. President: On a day hallowed by the
fondest recoiections, beneath this cheering
(may we mol humbly trust, sus2Ioious) sky,
surrounded by the many thousand spectators,
who look on us with joyous anticipation; in
the presence 81 the representatives OF ,he most
polished nations OF the old and new worlds, on
spo,. where, li,rle more than century ago.
the panied savage held his Hightly orgies; at
tie request Of the three cities OF the District OF
Columbia, present 10 the Chief Magistrate Of
the most powerful republic on earth, for the
most noble purpose that was ever conceived
bb8Sr syh5o II he svoTie occapat on Il our
coun,rymrn May the use TO which i, is abou,
10 &c devoted, prove The precursor, to our be-
loved country, of improved agriculture, Of
multiplied anG diversified arts, Of extended
commerce and navigation. Combining ITS SO
cial AMI moral influences with the principles
Of that happy Constitution uader which you
have been called TO preside over the American
People, may /, become safe guard OF their
liberty AM independence, and bond OF pr.
petual Union!
To the ardent wishes Of this vast assembly,
unite my fervtnt prayer 10 that infinite and
awful Being, without whose favor I'll human
power is but vanity, ,ha He will crown your
labor with His blessing, and our work with i'm
mo, taity.
As soon as he had ended, The President Of
the United States, to won Gen. Mercer had
pre- sen,e ed the SPADE, s'epled forward, s. with
an ,nima,ion nf manner & counle nance, which
showed that his whole aeait was In the thlng,
thus addressed he assembly Of his fellow citi-
zens:
Friends and fslloo Citizens:
IL is nearly full century since Berkeley.
Bishop Of Cloynr. turning towards This fair
land, which we now inhabii, the eyes of a pro-
pn.t, closed few lines Of poetical inspiration
with this memorable prediction
"Time's nobest empire is the last"
A prediction which, to those Of US whose
lot has been Cast by Divine Providence in thesr
regions, contains not only precious promise
blu, solemn in JUNCTION Of duty, since, upon our
energies, and upon those Of our po>.'ri'y, its
ru6Ime MT will deLrnd. For, with reference 10
what principle could it he, that Berkeley pro-
claims this, the last, TO be the noblest empire
of ,imr? IL wss, as he himself declares, on the
transportation of'earning andthe .arts to Amer
lea. Of learning and The ars, the foar first
ac,s-rhe tmpires of old world and Of for>
mer ages-,he Assyrian, the Persian, the Gre.
oian, :he Roman empires. were empires of con-
quest, doninions OF man over man. The I'm
pire which his grca, mind, piercing INTO the