The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-05-22

her iSf0nt Or the Monument 10 fhe W0fh-
er Of Washington.
Ia the name ofthe Monumental Com
mittee, present You, General, tI,s plate
which is intended To dislinguigh that
stone Just adjusted by the Master ofthe
Lodge as the corner stone Of this pile. :
J am happy, sir, that he who has defen-
ded his counlry's rights when perilled
in the cause of freedom, her citieswhen
the naughty foe confident of success
pressed eagerly to seize their Beaniy and
Booty, has bled for her, rsked life, for
tune aad Ilcnor in her cause, is here to
add to the honors ofthis occasion Who
50 meet to make pilgrimage to this
shrine of hallowed relics q Who SO fit
To seal the stone which crowns the cor
ner Of IA Monument To the Mother OF
Washington as hc who now occupies
that exalted station first filled 10y the son
of that Mother. Let the occasion, Cen
eral, and its circumstances excuse this,
while We return 10 rc.naTk more Innle-
datcly on tho ohjecta Of our present re-
gard. lf we look 10 the page of history
or survey the. earth we see monuments
have in every age and every crime mark
cd those spots Distinguished, by the hap
pening of some great evenf,.or risen as
memorials Of the once active virtues of
departed worth. Frail man is ever apt
10 forget the past and seek new hope of
pleasure in tho future. lle seldom
learns from the expcrience of others
the means Of attaining what he aims at,
and too often stumbles over new un-
broken tract, unmindful Of the brightest
objects by which he might trace his road
to those distinctions after which natura!
desire so ardently tolls. Hence en-
lightened poslerity canonize the fame
Of their ancestors by. emblcms the most
unfading their minds can devise or their
power execute.
Such is our constitution that the stron-
gest appeal to our better feelings is
through the medium of our grosser fac
ulties. Thus Monuments are lasting in-
centiyes to those who view them, to imi-
tate the virtues they commemorate, aad
attain, by their life aud spirit, Glory aud
Honor. Nations. share in the common
sympathies of nature, and participate in
allthe honors heaped upon their mighty
dead
In locking upon this Monument (rais-
ed chiefly by the municence of a patri-
o,ic Individually the citizens OF these
States will remember that they are
broihers.--They will remember that
here lie the ashes of tho Mother of the
Father of his Country.'-Thcy will
acknowledge, too, this just trihutc 20
the merits ofhsr, Who eariy deprived pf
the support of her consort, encouraged
and fostered. by precept and example,
the dawning virtues Of her illustrous sou
and nuriured into maturity those noble
faculties which were the ornament and
glory of her waning years. They will
acknowledge tho hallowed character of
this romantic spot, ever to be remem-
beredas the place chosen for her priv
ato devoiions--the spot to which she
often led her offspring, and pointing to
the order and beauty of the works of
Nature here SO eminently displayed,
she guided their youthful minds TO con-
template the power and benevolenco Of
the Great Author of their being. Here
sho taught the attributes Of God-that
10 him, as their Creator, all praise be-
longed-'hat to glorify. him was the OBJ
ject of their creation, aud to this every
energy should be devoted. Here she
asked, as dying request, that her NOR
tai remains might rest.-iialiowed be
this wish--sacred this spot--lasting as
time this Monument. Let US cherish
the remembrance Of this hour. Let us
carry with US hence, engraved on our
hearts, the memory Of her who is here
inferred. Her fortitude--her piety--
her every grace of life--her sweet peace
IN death--tbrough her sure hope of "a
blessed Immortality.
To which The President replied as fol-
lows:
SIR: To you, and to your colleagues
Of the Monumental Committee, return
my acknowledgements for the kind sem
tIments you have expressed towards me
and for the flattering terms in which
they have been conveyed. j cannot bnt
feel that am indebted to your partial
ity, and not To any services Of my own,
for the warm hearted reception you
have given me. On this occasion, as
we'll as many others, in the course OF
life now drawing towards ITS close, !
have found the confidence and attach
ment Of my counirymen ms far beyond
my merits as my expectations.
We are assembled, fellow citizens,
10 witness and to assist in an interesting
ceremony. More than a century has
passed away, since she, TO whom this
tribute ofrespect is about To be paid,
.ataraJ ,,oo, sbn oct.xa ,a,aa ,f liza