Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-02-11

huckskin belt which is secured by silver buckle and
clasp whereon are engraven the letters G. and the
figures 1857 These are all of the planesi workman
shin but substantial, and in keeping with the man anu
with the times which they belonged.
The history of this sword is perfectly authentic anu
leaves no shadow of doubt as to its identity
The last will and testament of Gen. Washington,
bearing date the 9th day of February, l.y9' con
,ans among great variety Of beqnes,s the following
clause: ITO each Of my nephews, William Augustine
Washington, George Lewis, George Siepior ASH
ingon, Bushrod Washington, and Samuel Washing,
ton, give Of the swords or cuieaux oil which
may die possesscd and they are TO choose IN Inc or
der they named. These words are accompanied
with Injunction, not TO unsheath them Tor the pur-
pose Of shedding blood, except il be for sell defence
in defence of their country and It's rights; ana IN
the latter CASE 10 keep them unsheathed ma prefer
falling with them in their hands, 10 the REIMBURSEMENT
thereof.
In the distribution of the swords, hereby devised,
among the five naphews therein enumerated, the one
nov presented fell 10 The share Of Samuel Washing
ton, the devisee last named in the clause oil The VIII,
which have just read.
This gentleman, who died few years since, in The
county of Kanawha, and who the father OF Sa-
muel L. Washington, the donor, knew well. have
often this sword in his possession, and received
from himself the following account of the manner IN
which it became his property, in The division made
among the devisees.
He said that he knew it to have been the side arms OF
General Washington, during the Revolutionary war
that used occasions of parade and review but the
constant serree seord Of the great chefhat he had
himself General Washington wear this identical
sword he presumed for the last time, when in 1894, he
reviewed the Virginia and Maryland forces, then con-
centrated OF Cumberland, under command Of General
Lee aud destined to cooperate with the Pennsylvania
and New Jersey troops, then assembled at Bedford, in
suppresslDg what has been called " the whskey IN.
surrection.
General Washington was at that time President of
the U. 81 and, such commandment Chief OF
the Army. 1t IS known that it was his intention TO
lead The army in person, that OCCASION had he found
il necessary, and he TO Bedford and Cumberland,
prepared for that The condition Of things did not
require it, and he returned his civil duties at Pha
delpha.
Mr.. Samuel Washington held the commission of
Captain al that time HIMSELF and served in that cam
paign many Of the incidents OF which he has related
TO
He anxious TO obtain this particular sword,
and preferred il to all The Others among which was
the ornamented and costly present from the Great
Frederick
At the time of the division among the nephews,
without ntmang what his preference was, he loosely
remarked, 'that inasmuch as he the only one oil
them who had participated in military service, they
ought to permit him TO take choice This suggestion
met in the same spirit in which it was made, and
the choice being awarded him, he chose this, the plain
est and ntrnsically the least valuable Of any, simply
because it "the battle sword"
am also in possession of the most satisfactory evil
dence, furnished by Colonel George Washington of
Georgetown, the nearest male relative of Gen. Wash
inpton living, 10 the identity of this sword
Ills information derived from his father, William
Augustine Washington, the devisee first named in the
clause of the will which have read, from his uncle,
the late Judge Bushrod Washington, of the Supreme
Court, and Major Lawrence Lewis, the acting executor
Of Gen. Washngtons WILL all of whom concurred in
the statement that the true service sn0rd that
lected by Capt Samuel Washington.
IL remained in this gentlcmuns possession until his
death, esteemed by him the most precious memento of
his ilusrious kinsman. Ii then became the property
of his son, who, animated by that patriotism which so
characterized the Father Of his Country" has con-
scented that such relic ought TO be appropriated by
an individual citizen, and has instructed me- his repre-
sentative, oer it TO the nation, 10 be preserved in
its public repositories the property of all;
it's office has been, TO achieve and defend the CON-
mon liberty OF all.
He hns like manner, requested me to present this
TO the Congress of the United States, deeming II
no, unworthy OF public acceptance.
This once the property of the philosopher and
patriot Benjamin franklin.
BY codrc to his last will and testament we find it
thus disposed of:
"My fine crnbtree walking stick, with gold head,
curiousy wrought in the form OF the Cap of Liberty,
give to my friend, and the friend of mankind, Gen.
Washington. If were sceptre, he has merited it,
and would become it,"
General Washington in his will, deyises this cane
as follows:
''ItctU o my DlOlHeI SDarles w dsHIH1tOH give
and bequealh the gold headed cane left me by Dr.
Franklin, in his will"
Captain Samuel Washington the only of
Charles Washington, the devisee; from whom he de
rived, by inheritance, this interesting memorial, and
having transmitted il 10 his son, Samuel T. Washing
ton, the latter thus seeks to bestow il worthily by
sociating it with the battle sword, gift to his coun
| rymen.
cordially concur with MIR. Washington, in the OPT
Mon that they each merit public preservation, and ]
obey, with pleasure, his wishes, in here presenting
them, in his name, 10 the nation.
Let the sword of the Hero and the staff of the Phi
losopher go together Let them have place among the
proudest trophies, and most honored memorials OF our
national achievements.
Upon that STAFF leaned the sage, Of whom it has
been sa'd ale snatched The lightning from Heaven,
and the sceptre from tyran;s."
| A mighty welded this sword, in a right
eous cnuse, unto the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF empire.
In the hand Of Washington, this was "he sword OF the
Lord and of Gideon"
1t was drawn, except in defence of the public
liberty. II was never sheathed until glorious and
triumphant returned it 10 the scabbard without
stain of cruelty dishonor upon its blade 1t was
never surrendered except to that country which bes'
lowed it,.
loud and long continued plaudits followed The de-
livery OF this address-in which members and auditors
participated
The Sergeant-at arms advanced to the seat of the
honorable gentleman, and received into his custody the
interesting relics.
! Mr.. ADAMS then rose TO submit resolution in re-
lation thereto; and he said
MIR. SpEAKER:-In presenting this resolution to the
House, it may, perhaps, be expected, that should
accompany with some remarks, suitable TO the oc.
casion-and yet, Sir, never to address this
House under deeper conviction of the want OF
words TO express the emotions that feel. 1t is pre-
cisely because occasions like this, adapted to pro.
duce universal sympathy-that little be said by
any one, but what, in The language OF the heait-'n
tones not loud but deep-every ono present has lite
rally said 10 himself My respected friend from Viz
ginla by whom this Offering of patriotic sentiment
has been presented to the Representative Assembly
of the nation, to me- has already said all that
De said, suitable TO this occasion In parting from
him, AS, after a few short days, must all do II
win, my part be SORROW that, in all probability,
shall see his face and hear his voice no more
Bat, his words of this day, have been planted in my
memory, and, will there remain, I'LL tine last pulsa
! ton of my heart. The sword of Washington The
staff of Franklin :! Oh, Sir, what associations are
linked in adamant with those names. Washington