Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1843-02-16
T From he .Naliondl lfeligemcer, Feb. g.
PRESENTATION of THE SWORD OF
yVASF4TNGsTflN

The scene presented in the House Of Repre-.
sentalives yesterday was one Of those brief mo-
menis Of refreshing, which, few and far between,
occur 10 the weary, waY.worn, heart-sick ira
weller across the sandy Zahara, where be Genes
upon cluster of palms, and beneath their graie-
ful shade inesa yelling sping worthy 10 be cali
ed the Diamond Of the. Desertf /: was an
hour when The remembrance OF better days rush
ed with power upon The heart, and bore il away,
Tor the time, from surrounding death, and trans
ported i, as 10 vision, to happier cline II
was moral mirage, in which, while gazing in
thought pponlwhat 6 that old man eIequent''
well denomnated four Golden Age" one for
Get that there are such things as eemagogues,
and can De such things, neither able nor pure
WASHINGTON, our own WAsHINGToN, might be
imsgineds for moment, to have IS burst his 4ce-
rements," and 10 be present ir the Legislative
Halls OF the land he loved and both the man
who offered, ard the man who received, the
cherished memorials Of The dead Patriot seemed
10 have felt, while they spoke, the Inspiration or
a gfea'er presence than that which was visible
about them. A faneiful observer might have
believed thai inc mere touch Of WAsHMGToNs
Swsfd had a sort Of moral s.sctticftF a5cnt il,
and that he who did but handle the STAFF on
which FRANKLIN had soSpften leaned, caught by
The contact something Of his elevating wisdom.
Mr.. Summers as we well know, is esteemed
a. bone as lawyer Of high standing, and man
ofBrea. strength and purity Of character, but his
warmesi frienes could not have desired thai his
paTilug speech lifsh were his last) asa member
ca Congress shnnld-ha been more worthy Of
he place and Of the man. He treated subject
on which il Is % easy task to speak vithou,
lfHeness i1 manner At once simple apprnpri-
ale, and digniied, saying Just enough and IL
more, and saying: i with > mafullh or feel
ing too sincere 70 be- counterseHed. His brief
account Of the relics he presented was clear and
succlnct andIyei had enough Of particularly 10
givetil The highest interest," As he proceeded,
tAe crowded ball and galleries were mute ali the
grave; and white every eye gazed, and many an
eye overtlowed, every ear listened with lie ca
geresl attention to.ihe close.
Inc response of Mr. ADlMs was every way
such As might have been expected from him; hut
nose WHO only read il, must lase more than half
the impression will which il was received. THE
associations Of the OCCASION were such as could
cot fail 10 reach mind like his, and awaken
within i these deep and powerful feelings which,
when nnarcused, slumker beneath an asnect
and manner which give % token OF their pre-
sence. His inlonaions were deep and imoas-
sioned-his voice ialtered- The eloqueEt blood
rushee ia torrents 10 bis countenaEse-and his
Whole figure. atlitadei and gesture. were those Or
- - A'asNlE orator Strongly moved
ne whole Transaction was 10 high degree
cfediiable l0 cur country, ana ils record st o,,r
afchites will mark al least one brighl day 10 The
co1Iemporaneous history 81 Congress.
rs soon Is ihe speeches were epded, andsih
resolution moved BIZ Mr. Adams had been adop-
aed Mr.. Taliaferro, himself a Vifginian, fand
,zs may add with truth . fnc specimen Of The :
Vlfg,nia eenllemsn,l acting as The !. Father Of
me House, which the date of his commission
entities him 20 do. moved that both ihe address of
MF Summers apd the Tesp0Dse Of Mr.. Adams be \
Inserted AZ length on the JoufnaI; which having /
been eIdered, Mr.. McKenaan, Pennsylvania. I'll
closed The scene in adisnifed and most appro-
priAIe manner BY moving, 10 honor or he occa-l
SION, that the House adjourn
And now occurred spectacle true 10 Nature.
The decotnm q the House had kepl every man
a bis seal ghiEe The addresses wefe0n delivery
y re fotes bgiQg taken bul, 10 sooner had .