Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1843-03-11
GRAFTON
Dehpersd IN The aad fttbvuary, ls4g, at tattsen
IgAistarn. In
sos. W. Mstnkn. Esd

des.w. wstKEH, ESQ.
we have mat tokether IN this ~oeraaidn /
hoi'pr OF the Immortal treftory Of osrr ii1us
ifiotis coi1hiryfpaf, General George Washing
fslh IT ~ plesHing It'll heart VI every Ane
fiean fatFist 10 wtthass flfrss manifestation
II vettsfatioH for his sacred name. Our coin
ny car never lie IN much danu~y ~ long n
her titlksna keep bsfsts ihatn the example q
tis lie and ehafaetHr@~Ahd 70 long NJ lhe'
afe studied and admired, nav we tebe for ii
prosperity.
trust Tint the time ~ FIR distsnt whsu thf
people Of thf United sfHias al,alj rssse II
cherish ~ their tnstdHrira all the glorious as
spciHiibi,s u this day, and 10 celebrate with rye.
~ appropriate Demonstration " 10y and prnti.
tads, tho anniversary Of The 22d day Of Feb.
ftarys The farne Of Washington prpas with
the increase Of tbs human race. and VI ~perfseti il
the harmony of bis character With all TINT il
good and great human nature, thst ba fame
TO the moral, 10 what the cirrumambisn sjr IN
10 The physical asfldi tie common property
Of fHan nh md. =
He who undertakes 10 taafk fgr ettiepy any
particular fassagea III the history Of Wash.
iftRion Ia puzzled and topfaurded in The afs
tempt; no brilliant IL every chapter with fhs
~sp|sndor Of his achievements. the u1aeritt5e
ot his services, and greafbeas IF bts gtfl t1es.
that to er,timefats them al, may be titeped IN
one, who 1T night walks forth 10 humber ali
those stars which brightly shine in the lin
minated Vault of heaven. Finding that i,s bas
npdeitaken hopeless task, he iufnsavay from
The eaze, lost in wonder and admiration at the
majesty, glory and grandeur Of the scene.
have recently read bis biography with
] mars fIatt rt,,-ut 81 t-x.tMaI = n ~ Sit
every important act If bis ltfe~-af,d 1T no
former period nj my existence haze | ever
been so profoundly impressed with tho
strength Of his Judgment, be ereat capacity
tsf military combinations, lfs iust aDprerta.
ion Of character, HE unsbfinkiug fbrfItu 's.
The artof Of hts pattietistn, the purity Of his
rh"ftves, md above all, The iucsIep1abis value
Ut lta services 10 his country. Never wss b
are'f mind 50 well supported by great virtues
-~t' WINS this Hittou of wisdom md virtue
which p'acsd him fT above al. the fafueus
tf'en nj ancient Of modern times.
II - mt my intention 10 fatigue the audi.
efee with fl detailed narrative Of Gen. Wash
tngfoH'E greai ~aetlots, but will merely sIIu1e
To n few OF ibo#a prominent events Of bis life,
which most fully d~eFelops The leading fsa.
lures of his character. But few authentic an
efdofea have eetne down to t# If bic ~iuvepil.
daFE i dees not appear hoWsser That they
were distinguished by any rematkabIe pFe,i-
ful'hrii'es Of mind o1 manners. II Ia stated
by his biographer That he Has fond Of athletic
exercisea md nrtive sports. ard biz youthful
mind Ind = defided turn for military fnsttsrsg
and while a. sehool he would form hs cor,ps /.
Mons into companies Of mimic seldiers, and
spend the intervals Of study in drilling these
Young amateur" Of the military aft around the
play grounds Of . country school house..
Al the age Of II he had attracted The nit sn- |
lion nj many gentlemen Of responsibility and
influence by Tho atnisbili'y Of his department,
and the rBat1tness of his character. He wa
no doubt miIfh indebted 10 hin estimable mo-
thcr fer those v~ir'aous principles, that lofty
seh*e Of honor, and strong religious feeling
which married. his conduct IN evert aetiop Of
tis life A. The ape Of n~ifefeeu he bad ar.
CURED so much reputation that fhe f1eeiala.
tire Of Vir9ipfa appointed him 10 the Office hf
~hdinfanf General wish fte rank Of Major. The
frontiers If tho ro7opv being then ftreafsned
by m invasion ofthe French and Indians. this |
Was an offre Of responsibility and honor and
one which tunrh older tnen would GLADLY have
In the words Of the historian .hts
brepensi'ies had not subslded, they
intfeae~d with tie yeara. IN Virginia
were many Officers besides bic brother who
had aeryed in the recent warn. Under their
milton he studded tactics. learnt the manual
ard becnroe cxpert IN The use Of the
sword. He read the principal books on the
AFT and joined practice 10 the theory
as far AZ circumstances wauld permit At
the age Of fwenty-twn he was promoted IT, the
rank Of Colonel and Commander in Chief of
he Vitrinio militia. The threatened war
with The Indians ard French had commenced.
Turing which war Colonel Washington dietiu.
hineelf at the battle ot the Creaf
4 short time after this battle he
with great fclat in ihe celebrated and
campaign Of Gen. Eraadock, where
he displayed great courage ard presence Of
mind and gave proof ri military talents which
At m distant day to throw such Il halo
glory around his own name and that Of his
'ountrV. A ~circEnstance trangpired at this
inc which struck me "a an Interesting inrf-
lent in his life. His services in Braddock's
we're Justly appreciated by Cover
Tor Jtnwiddie. and in q letter to 'hc ministry
university he handsomely noticed the Conduct
If Colonel Washington and recommended
to the favor ofhis Kipg-bui, in The Ian
mare If the historian, "No royal favor 10
Washington ever crsssedthe Atlantic"
At the are Of twenfy-siz he resigned his
command in the militia, and was elected to
he Virginia house Of burgesses, married and
doWn in biz favorife pursuit of cult
'ating the soil. From the age Of twenty-six
that Of thirty-fTe his time was spent most
Y at his beloved Mount Vernsn in that no.
Hest If all occupations, agriculture, which
cams TO have had great charms for General
Washington throughout his whole life. It
vas about this period, 1867, when the diff
'uitiea between Great Britain and her colo
commenced. Gen. Washington took an
.arlv stand against the uniustiiabie conduct Of
he mother country. h1ludiug to the stamp
in a letter # the tImes. he spoke Of il az
n unconstitutional method Of taxation, and =
IiFefuI aftaek on the liberties 81 the colenisf-.'
ts A merober Of the Virginia house OF bur-
.esses he took a prominent part in the oppo-
ition to the t~yranical measures Of The British
1~avernment. He was chosen one Of The de-
agates from Virginia to attend the first Cor
.rese Of the United Colonies which assembled !
t PHILADELPHIA en- the 51h Of September. I77I i,
At The second meeting Of Congress. he was
chosen Commander in Chief Of
he continental army. s.
Now the great drama has opened-a tyrant
the immense power Of a great en-
ire, has resolved TO suodue the spirit Of lib
rtv in America, and has sent his armies and
avies to conquer and ~enslave that noble band
/ patriots, who have embarked their lives,
heir fortunes and their sacred honor IN the
oily cause Of Freedom. ,
No epoch in the history Of he human race
al compare in interest with the American
revolution, whether We consider the nature
f the tieswhich was about to be sundered, the
ausa II issue the immense Aisnaritr IN lie .