The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-05-04
From me NeY York Times q Nay !.

Tho doors Of the Middle Dutch Church. the corner oi
Nassau aud Cedar streets. were thrown open OF ball
past eleven o'clock, A, NJ, AID the body aud galleries
VI The cdhce speedily crowded with persons anx-
Gus 10 participate ia the ceremonial.
We noticed the platform before the pulpit several
! distinguished citizens seated around Mr. Adams. the
venerable orator Of the day General Scots coinmshd-
ing form was conspicuous among then
An appropriate prayer oil, red up and the follow
ing ode composed by Mr. Bryant fr the oceaaior, sung
previous TO the delivery Of the address.
ODE.
Great were the hearts and strong the minds
or those who framed. IN high debate,
The immortal league ~ love that binds
| Our fair broad empire state with state.
And ever hallowed be the hour,
When. as The suspicious task was done.
i A nations gift, the sword Of power,
Was given 10 Glory's unspoled son.
/ That noble race is gone the suns
/ Nifty years have risen and set;
! The holy links those mighty ones
Had forged and knit, are brighter yet.
i Wide--as our own free race Increase
i Wide shall il stretch the elastic chain,
And bud ia everlasting peace,
| State after state, mighty tram
i The Grafton Of Mr. Adams replete with besnti-
1 FIJI lmsgery-enarged and statesman-like views
touches Of exquisite pahos, aud bursts Of ervd eo-
| quence-each 10 Turn predominant. We doubt u the
venerable Ex President. in the pamy days OF vigorous
1 manhood. excelled this effort OF his old age
The scholar the patriot the sage. spoke TO US alter
nstey. aud, from the classic exordun TO the solemn
and scrptnra close have seldom listened 10 more
| subduing. soul claiming composition
il delightful To hear the statesman OF iour-score
years, describing with The graphic fidelity Of an eye
witness and intimate, the scenes and The characters
OF the revolutionary eratellng Of the trials, doubts
and sacrifices Of the great Apostle and Champion Of
LibeIiy-plciuring 10 the minds eye OF Younger ge-
neration, the moral elements which constituted his
4 greatness and calling upon them 10 emulate the go-
rlous mode-ahe al the same time, the orator ava
kened memories IN The breasts Of his own
age. that made their hearts melt within them.
Mr. Adams commenced by suson TO the revolu-
tionsry struggle-iha alembc Of suffering from which
our hfst attempts at self government were evolved
aud then proceeded To describe the process by which
the original heterogeneous plan purified and made
perfect
lie spoke Of the frs. confederation as one n which
each State seeking its individual ends. careless Of
the common wea-as hopeless confusion Of clashing
interests-as system which had not for It's basis the
one united interest Of the whole people
He then referred 10 The second articles of conlede-
ration, based the principle Of representation Inne-
datey from the people, instead OF entirely from dele
gates Of several State legislatures. He pointed out
the in which the Symmetrical fabric OF our Con-
slitnon from the chaos Of the old system. and
how beautifully assmilated 10 the principles laid down
the declaration Of Independence, which preceded Its
formation more than eight years.
He sad the distinction between that Constitution and
the system il superseded was, that the founded
IN sordld love Of power the other in moral right.
Having described the manner in which fair and
equal na,ioaai representation was at last happily at
tanned, Mr. Adams proceeded 10 the immediate subject
Of the day He spike Of the doubt and ffiJence with
which Washington assumed the presiding power over
The people he had been instrumental IN e.ancipaing
Some touching passages from the diary Of that Illus
rious man, pened Jist before he set out from Mount
Vernon Tor the North, we're here appropriately intro
duced But the triumph uf the orator over the feel.
gs Of his hearers, his description of The progress
o The Father u his Country IRON The banks 81 the Po
ionac ,her Inc orator spoke OF the honors paid TO
the hero the several towns through Which he passed
of The blessings showered upon his head from every
lp. as he moved the midst OF numpna procession
through the iadof demonstrations of respect aud
love with which the veterans he had led 10 victory greet
ed their honorcd chef-uf banjs Of matrons who went
forth TO meet ard welcome hi,n-of crowns Of laurel
dropped upon his brow he passed under the trnmhs
arches erected his palhand OF troops OF n"'dens
who walked before him sIrewing flowers, aud with a
song like that Of Miriam welcomed the Deserer
The venerable cx-Presiden contested the present
! population aud prospects Of New York with those
thar d,y Tnen," said he, "yonr city numbered
scarcely thirty Thousand nov, she counts her people
by nd.eds OF thousands. Then. your whnle State
embraced fewer inhabitants than your city now con-
She this day count her citizens ny The nIl-
lion"
In describing the character of Washington, he said
its two cardinal elements 81 spirit OF command,
and spirit Of peace qualities in which had no rival
in profsne history "s #..
SpeakIng Of the constitutions Mr.. Adams said its VI
,aty was IN its virtuo-n the moral perfection Of its
principles aud he argned that long an assirn-
ating principle Of virtue remained prepondetah M the
American character, the constitution could not all
In referring the than flhlmcnt OF the most
exalted hopes OF Washington, in the steadas,ness with
which the people had cung TO the constitutions aud the
unexs,nrIed ceIeriiy and vgor with which they had
sprung into mighty nation, under It's conservative m
fuence he sad, that the sc,ncentenal ceetra-
ion Of the day. when the full hundred years should be
completed he trusted they would still be found faithful
10 their institutions, aud stl moving onward IN their
wonderful career,
Ia his auson to the formation Of our Government
the orator made Of striking figure II occurred
in The early part OF his address lie compared the hrst
imperfect plan Of independent government m nus
country 10 the rude scafoldrg hy means OF which the
roshed edice with its beautiful proportions, was up
reared and perfected. "
In tho conclusion of his address. he compared the
American people the chIeren Of Israel IN the poms
ed land standing around the ark OF the covenant and
put,iny the blessing Mount Gerzi and the curse
upon Mount Ehai . g.. ... -
The Constitution, he said. is your ark OF the Cove
nanl virtue and union your Mount Gerlznn wee aid
discussion your Mount Eoal, and all the blessings or
every curse enumerated by The Jewish Lawgser VIII 90
your portion You support overthrow the free instl-
/ tutions Of your country. IL
AT the termination Of the address. the sacred edlhce
shook with the heavy applause Of the audience and his
friends crowded around the orator. pressing upon him
| their congratulations.
/ "a From the Express.