Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-02-28
OF ASHINTON'
SWORD AND FRANKLlN'S STAFF.

ton and the staff of Franklin to the Congress of the
United States.
The individual to whom was committed the dis.
tingushed honor of presenting these interesting
relics Of past history to the Congress of the Nation,
p was the Hon. G.. w. SUMMERS, member of the
House from Virginia. MIR. Summers gave a brief |,
history of the sword and cane and the manner they
had been disposed of by the last will and testament |
Of their former lustrious owners The sword was |
that by Washington, first as a colonel in the
Colonial service of Virginia, in the campaign
against the French and Indians, and afterwards du-
ring the whole period of the war of Independence,
a. Commander in-chef of the American army
BY the will of General Washington, this sword be-
came the property of his nephew Samuel Wash
ington; and upon the death of Samuel Washington
the sword came into the possession of his son Sam
uel T. Washington, who is now a resident Of Vlr-
gnia, and who recently placed it in the hands of
the Hon. Mr. Summers, to be presented to Con-
gress.
The cane which was once the property of Frank
Tin, was wiled by that philosopher to Washington.
Washington willed it to his brother, Charles Wash
ington and from the hands of this last named indi-
vidual, it passed through another generation, and
into the hands of Samuel T. Washington.
The concluding eloquent remarks of Mr.. Sum
mers, on presenting these memorials to Congress,
were as follows:
{" Let the sword of the hero and the staff of the
philosopher go together. Let them have place
among the proudest trophies and most honored me-
MORALS of our national achievements.
Upon that staff once leaned the ge, of whom it
has been said, "He snatched the lightning from
Heaven, and the sceptre from tyrants.
A mighty arm once welded this sword in right
sous cause, unto the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of en-
pire. In the hand of Washington, this was 60 the
sword of the Lord and of Gideon" 1t never
drawn, except in defence of the public liberty. 1t
was never sheathed until a glorious and triumphant
success returned it to the scabbard, without stain
of cruelty or dishonor upon its blade. 1t
surrendered except TO that country which bestow
ed it,"
1Long and loud continued plaudits fol-
lowed the delivery Of this address,
The Sergeant-ai-A Arms advanced to the
seat of the honorable gentleman, and re-
ceived into his custody the intelligent rel
ics.
Mr. ADAMS then rose and submitted resolution
prefacing it with address, which the followingis
on extract:
"TnE SWORD OF WAsHINGros! THE STAFF OF
franklin! Oh, sir, what associations are linked
IN adamant with those names. Washington the
warrior of human freedom. Washington! whose
sword my friend has said never drawn but in
the cause OF bis country, and never sheathed when
needed IN his country's cause!-Franklln! the phi
losopher of the thunderbot, the printing press, and
the plow- share.
What names are these in the scanty catalogue of
the bcnefactors of manknd--Wa shington and
Frankn What other men, whose lives be-
Dong to the 18th century of Christendom, have left
deeper impression of themselves upon the age in
which they lived, and upon all attertimesl Wash
ngton, the warrior and the legislator! In war
tending by the wager battle, fer the independence
of his country, and for the freedom of the human
race-ever manitesting, amidst the horrors OF war,
by precept and example, his reverence for the laws
of peace, and for the tenderest sympathles OF hui
manly. In peace, soothing the terocious spirit of
dscord among his own countrymen into harmony,
and giving to that very sword now presented to his
country a charm more potent than that attributed
in ancient times to the Tyre of Orpheus. Franklin,
the mechanic of his fortune, teaching, in early
YOUTH under the shackles of Indulgence, the way to
wealth; and in the shade of obscurlty, the path to
greatness: in the maturity of manhood dsarmng
the thunder of its terrors, the lightning of its fatal
blast; and wrestling from the tyrants hand the still
affective sceptre OF oppression; while descen-
ding into the vale of years, traverslng the Atlantic
Ocean; bravlng, in the dead of winter, the battle
and the breeze; bearing in his hand the charter Of
independence, which he had contributed to form;
aud rendering. from the self created nation to the
mlghtest monarchs of Europe, the olive branch OF
peace, the mercurian wand OF commerce, and the
amulet of protection and safety to the man OF peace
ON the painless ocean, from the memorable cruelty
and merciless rapacity OF war; and, finally, In the
last stage of life, with ourscore winters his head
under the torture of incurable disease, returning
60 his native land, closing his days the Chief
Magistrate of his adopted Commonwealth after
contributing by his counses, under the Presidency
of Washington, and recording his name, under the
sanction OF devout praye-, invoked by him 10 God,
20 that constitution, under the authority of which
we are here assembled, as the Representatives of
the North American people, to receive, IN their
name and for them, these venerable relics of the
wise the vaent and the good founders of our great
confederated Republic the sacred symbols of our
golden age.
May they be deposited among the archives of our
Government; and may every American, who shall
hereafter behold them, calculate a mingled offering
of praise TO that Supreme ruler of the universe, by
whose tender mercies our Union has been hitherto
preserved through all the vcissitudes and revolu-
tOns of this turbulent world, and OF prayer tor the
continuance of these blessings, by the dispense
%sas of his providence to our beloved country from
age to age till time shall be no more (Great APP
Plause.)
Mr. Speaker, submit tn. following joint reso-
luton:
Resolrcd bv the Senate and House Of Represen-
.atres of the United States in Congress assembled,
That the thanks of this Congress be presented to
Samuel T. Washington of kanawha county, Vlr
ginia for the present OF the sword used by his illus
trious relative. George Washington, in the militia
~ career of his early youth, in the years war;
and throughout the of our national independ- |
ence: and of the staff bequeahed by the patriot, |
statesman, and sage, Benjamin Franklin, to the |
same leader of the armies OF treedomn the revolu-
aiouary war, George Washington.
That these precious relics are hereby acceptedin |
the uamc of the nation; that they deposited for |
safe keeping in the Department of State Of the Uni
ted States and that copy of this resolution signed
BY the President of the Senate and Speaker of the
House Of Representatives, be transmitted to the |