Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-05-11

annpFNSo f the Chairman Of the Monune',
- 81 Co,,n,itiee 10 the President Of the On,ted
49,. -, m, Inning of the Corner Stone 81 the
aTonwuenf to tie 4Noihsr Of Washington
- ms of the Monumental Committee, l
nresept YOU, General, the plate wmch Is ,".en.eu
~ distinguish that stone just ADJUSTED oy tne
Al ,s,er IF the Lodge as the corner stone OF ths
- am bapDy. sir, that he who has defended
Ills countrys rights when perilled in the cause OF
f,rsdom: her cities when the naughty Toe, conn
dsnt of success, pressed eagerly to seiZe tneir
Reautv and Booty, has bed for her., risKed iiie,
fortnne and honor in her cause, is here To adh to
the honors of this occasion. Who so meet 10
make pilgrimage to this shrine OF ha'io"eu re-
licsa Who so fit to seal the stone which crowns
tbe corner OF a Monument to the Mother OF
Washington, as he whu now occupies that exa't
ed station first filled by the son OF that Mothef!
Let the occasion. General, aud ITS circumstances
excuse this, while we turn to remark more i'h"'ec
diately on the object OF our present REGARD. IL
we look to the page Of History. or survey the
Earth, we see Monuments lave IN every age anu
eyery cline marked those spots distinguished ny
the happening of some great event. or rise" as
memorials Of the once active virtues OF departed
worth. Frai man is ever apt to forget Tue past
and seek new hope Of pleasure in the future. lie
"
means of attaining what he aims at, and too often
stumbles over new, unbroken tract, unmIndtu'
of the brightest objects by which he might trace
his road 10 those distinctions after which natural
desire 40 arden,y Tolls. Hence, enlightened
nosterity tanonize The fame of their ancestors by
embems the most unfadng their minds can de-
wise or their powers execute.
Such is our constitution, that the strongest ap'
peals to our better feelings Is through the medium
of our yrosser faculties Thus Monuments are
lasting incentives to those who view them, to lml
tate the virtues t,ey commemorate, anu attain oy
their life and spirit, Glory and Honor. Nations
share in the common sympathies OF nature, anu
participate in all the honors heaped upon their
mighty dead. In looking upon this Monument
| raised chiefly by the munlficence of patriotic
Individually the citizens of these States VIII re-
member that they are brothers. They Will re-.
m,mber that here lie the ashes Of the Mother OF
the g Father Of his Counry." They will &C.
knowledge too, this Just tribute to the merits OF
| her, who, early deprived Of the support OF her
consort, encouraged and fos,ered, by precept and
| example. the dawniug virtues Of her illustrious
SON, and nurtured into maturity those noble Ia
cuIties which were the ornament and glory OF her
waning years. They will acknowledge the hal
lowed character of this romantic spot, ever TO De
remembered as the place chosen ior her private
Jeyotions-the spot 10 which she often lea her
off.nriru. and. pointing to the order and beauty
| of the works of Nature, here so emlnently us
played. she guided their youthful minds TO con-
,enpla,e the power and benovelence OF the great
Author Of their being. Here she taught the at
tr;but.s of God-that to him, as their Creator,
all praise belonged-that to goriiy him was the
object Of their creation, and to this end their eve
nv energy should be devoted. Here she asked,
as a diving request, that her mortal remains might
rest Haowed be this wish-sdcred TINS spot
lasting as Time this Monument. Let US che-
r;sb the remembrance of this hour. Let US car
nv with US hence, engraved on our hearts, he
memor, of her who is here inferred. her toru'
tude-her pirtv-her every grace OF lile-her
sweet peace in Dea,h-throush her sure hope OF
| blessed immortality.
To which the President replied as foflows:
SIR: To you, and to your colleagues OF the
Monumental Committee, return my acknow.
ledgments for the kind sentiments you have ex-
messed towards me, and for the 1atterlns terms
in which they have been conveyed. | cannot
but feel that am indebted to your partiality,
and not to any services Of my own, tor the warm
hearted reception you have given me. On this
occasion as well as on many Others. in the course
! oT life now drawing towards its close, | have
fsuuJ the confidence aud attachment of my ooun-
trvmen as far beyond my merits as my expec'
tatinDs.
We are assembled, fellow citizens, TO witness
and 10 assist IN an interesting ceremony. More
than a century has passed away since she, to
whom this tribute Of respect is about to be paid,
entered upon the active scenes OF ilfe-A cen
tury fertile in wonderful events. and in distin-
puished men who have participated IN them
Or these events, our country has furnished her
full share; and of these distinguished men, she
has produced Washington. II he was first
in war. first IN peace, and first IN the hearts OF
his countrymen,' we may say, without the I'M
putat n e national VANITY, that, 1t not the tlrst,
he was IN the very front rank Of those too few
indeed, upon whose career mankind can look
back without regret, and whose memory and ex-
ample will furnish themes Of eulogy tor the PatrI,
OF, wherever free institutions are honored and
maintained. HIS was no false glory, deriving
its iustre from the glare Of splendid and desruc-
tive actions. commencing IN professions OF at
tachment to his country, and terminating IN the
subyersion Of her freedom Far different is the
radiance which surrounds his name and fame
1t shines mildly and equally, and guides the