Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-03-01
Twcmty-scco,atl Coaagrcss.--.scss. i i.
IN sENArE.-Sninrtan. Ech. II.

Twcmey-scCOIRd CO7sgrc.s.--!SCss. I. .
IN SENArE.-Saio,uay, Fe5. H.
wAsuiNGroNs REMAINS.
MIR. Clay, from the Joint Committee the sub
jcct OF the Centennial Celebration of the Birth Day
of WASHINGTON, made report accompanied by
tho following joint resolution.
Mr.. Clay said that as the organ of the Commit
tee, IT was proper for him TO say few words in pre-
senting the result of their deliberations the sub
jcct To them rclcrrcd--Thc situation was no, of his
own seeking; but, finding his name the Commit
tee, he did not feel himself mt liberty decline scrv-
ing upon it. He had become the head of the com
nittee, IN consequence of the circumstance that the
gentleman named first, the committee. had de
cncd the service. So much for himself With
respect 10 the object of the resolution it would be
rccollected that far back as the wear 1879 an an
pication was made, in the most solemn manner To
the family OF General Washington, for his remains
to be inferred in the Capitol. An answer was re-
turned by the widow of the deceased, by which the
remains were placed under the disposition of Con
grcss Hero the matter has rested until this day.
That Congress Is pledged to carry into effect this
design, there was no doubt, and this was deemed by
me committee an appropriate time for the purpose.
Ihe committee cannot doubt that the family at
Mount Vernon will readily consent to the removal
proposed IN the resolution. In reference the place
of the intcrmcnt, he would state that those who were
charged with ihc erection of the Capitol, had pre-
pared, with view 10 the ultimate iIlilmcnt of the
design proposed by tho Congress of 1919 n tomb
beneath the Rounda which was ready for the re-
ception OF the remains. These were all The cxpIa-
nations called for 10y the occasions and he would con
ciude, with the expression of the hope that as little
tIno was allowed for the necessary urranvcDnent
preparatory to the execution of the measrc the re-
solution would pass through its several s,apcs bv
unanimous consent, This day.
Mr. Forsyth was compelled he said by a sense of
duty and by the rcvered respect which he entertain
ed for the memory of the ustr;ous man who was
the subject of the resolution, 10 vote against thc
measure proposed If there is ono subject i'm re-
gard to which the wishes of the dying should be re-
with l..
position of their remains. He had before him the
VIII of General Washington wherein his wishes
IN regard to the place aud manner of his intcrncn
were most clearly and distinctly expressed. Here
Mr. Forsyth read from the viii of General Wash
ington the passage wherein hc directs lhn, his body
shall be inferred without parade or funeral ccrcuno
ny, and that as the old vault was out of rcnnr -
new ono should be built in spot indicated hy him,
where ms remains should rest together with those OF
his rclaiivcs.l
Mr. Webster said If he gave TO the clause in the
VIII the same Interpretation which the gentleman
from Georgia gave to it, he should arrive at the ,nInc
conclusions. But the clause only expressed the
wish that his remains should be buried without
pomp or parade, but did not prohibit their removal
There was Il standing and unrcdccncd pledge on
the part of Congress- that they would honor and
preserve his remains in the manner proposed i'm the
resolutions; and the present appeared TO be an an
proprRte time Tor redccming that pledge. Standing
az the distance OF century from the birth of that
iusirlous individual, and viewing the effects of hi;
distinguished career upon the happiness of mun-
KIND, we now propose TO express our grateful sense
Of his public services. AS the two Houses had
agreed to socmnlzc the approaching anniversary of
ms birth, the Committee had recommended His
course as the most appropriate and discreet manner
IN which the day could be celebrated
Mr.. Clay here called for the reading of the lett.
from Mrs Martha Washington in reply 10 the op-
plicaton from Congress in l799 for the remains of
her husband; and after it was read,
Mr.. SpragIo made some remarks I'm Ciyor Of t,c
resolution, which we could not distinctly hear.
Mi. ia%oWell was extremely sorry, he said, to OPP
pose the resolution. II was obviously the result of
an impulse Of feeling and he did not think that nnv
resort should, i'll such body as Ibis be had To feel
ing, as motive TO action. lie would cndeavor
briefly, 20 explain his views, without reference to
those motives, by which hc was sure that the dcc
sion OF the question would be governed He con-
Cured with the gentleman from Georeia i'm the opi
Mon, that if the wishes of the dead were entitled 10
respect on any s1hjCct-tcy were so i'm relation ,o
the disposition of their remains. The question is
then, ono OF simple tact.-In constituting the win of
the great man whose remains arc proposed TO he re-
moved, we need not pcrpey ourselves with the in
curry, whether make ont of il any contin cont
remainder, or executory devise, but merely endea-
vor To ascertain what his feelings i'm rcoard to
the subject of his interment. We must spposo hin,
to have possessed the feelings of nm ordinary nnn
and we must give to his directions the same CON
sructions which we would give 70 the orders of nm
ordinary man. He surely did not inLbit his conn
trynen from removing his rcnains but in reference
10 thcr future disposltio1 he expresses the wish
ulat thcy should rest i'm the place which Inc Indicates
"Ihe old vault is in decay 1t is not fit to receive INV
corse. VIII that new vault he built, and will
that my mortal remains he therein deposited tore
ther with those Of my famy-that as we lived to-
gethcr together we may bc III tho dust and together.
ascend, at the last summons" These were his yyis
es, and lac relied with confidence upon tho rcsnoct
of lis comtrymcn and friends, for their ti,lGL,o,,
to the letter. The old Congress which oyistcJ
prior the Union, dccrced to General Waslinoton
an equestrian stntucriat plcdgc also stands ,,1rr
deemed I'm the ycor 1901, that resolution was
brought up, and Congress refused to rive II cfi;c,
Tor thc ayowcd reason that Washingtons station i'm
INC world was not to be elevated by paltry tricks
w the ages Of barburism and Ignorance, when no
mug cou,d DC drought to tic human heart except
epoctnclcs we're rcsorcd TO- But since the men.
tion of The art Of writing which speaks TO the nm
dersiandng, tlis fam' Of llu.trioIs nieu yprenIs
over Tue earth aud becomes known to the whole