The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-02-08
FRENCH sPoLiATloNs.

was then referred TO the COMMITTEE on Naval Al
fairs.
FRENCH sPoLiAToNs.
Mr. JONES, Of Maryland in pursuance of notice,
moved reconsideration of the vote by which the
House laid upon the table the resolution submitted
few days since by MIR Gushing, 10 take out OF Com
mittee of the Whole on the state of the Union, the
bill making satisfaction for French spoations on
American commerce prior TO July 80, 1901
Mr.. CUSHING called for the yeas and nays
Mr. WELLER moved TO lay the motion OF Mr.
JONES upon the table.
Mr. CUSHING, upon this motion, called for the yeas
and nays, which ordered, and, being taken lhe
question decided in the afirmative-yeas lO5,
nays 1902
So the motion to reconsider was laid upon the
table.
PRESENTATION OF THE SWORD OF WASHINGTON
AND THE WALKING STICK OF FRANKLIN.
The galleries Of the House were crowded this
morning, aud tuere was full attendance OF the
members, for the purpose Of witnessing the presenta-
ton TO Congress of these two valuable relics OF other
and less auspicops days AS soon as MIR. SUMMERS
for this purpose, cries OF 'Sit down. and
"order," were heard in every direction, when, TO-
geiher with the voice of the Speaker, requesting
gentlemen TO take their seats, and the interest elected
by the OCCASION soon ulled the House into breath
Mr.. SUMMERS rose and addressed the House as
follows:
Mr. SPEAKER | rise for the purpose of discharg-
ing an Office not connected with the ordinary bust
ness Of Legislative Assembly yet, in asking per-
mission to interrupt for moment the regular order
of parliamentary proceedings cannot doubt that
the proposition which have to submit will prove
gratifying as it may be unusual.
Mr.. SamuelT. Washington, citizen of keDawha
county, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and one
of my constituents, has honored me with the com
IN ssion of presenting, in his name, and his behalf
to the Congress Of the United States, and through
that body to the people of the United States, two
most interesting and valuable relics, connected with
the past history OF our country and with men whose
achievements both in the field and in the cabinet,
best illustrate and adorn our annals.
One is the sword worn by George Washington
first as Colonel in the colonial service of Virginia
in Forbes campaign against the French and Indians
and afterwards during the whole period of the war
of Independence, as commander-n-chef of the Ame-
rican army.
Ii is a plain cutleau or hanger, with green hilt
and silver guard. On the upper ward Of the scab-
bard is engrayen 81 Bailey Fish Kill" 1t is ac-
companied by buckskn belt, which is secured by
silver buckle and clasp, wheIeon engraven the
letters G.. w. and the figures 1857. These are all
of the plaines workmanship, but substantial and in
keeping with the man and with the times TO which
they belonged.
Ire history of this sword is perfectly authentic
and leaves shadow Of doubt as to its identity.
The last will and testament OF General Washing
ton bearing date the 9th day Of February, l79y
contains among great variety Of requests, the fol-
lowing clause: " To each of my nephews, William
Augustine Washington, George Lewis, George Step
lor Washington, Bushrod Washington, and Samuel
Washington, give one of the swords cutleaux
of which may die possessed and they are to choose
in the order they named. These swords ac-
companied with an injunction, not to unsheath them
for the purpose Of shedding blood except it be for
selfdefence, in defence of their country and lis
rights and in the latter case, to keep them unsheath
ed and prefer falling with them in their hands, to tie
REIMBURSEMENT thereof"
In the distribution of the swords, hereby devised,
among the five nephews therein enumerated, the
presented, fell to the share OF Samuel Wash
ilgton the devsee last named in the clause of the
WILL which have just read,
This gentleman, who died a few years since, in the
county Of kenawha, and who was the father Of Sam
uel Il. Washington, the donor, knew we'll. have
often seen this sword in his possession, and received
from himself the following account of the manner in
which II became his property, in the division made
among the devisecs.
He said that he knew il to have been the sde-arms
of General Washington, during the Revolutionary
war-not that used on occasions Of parade and re-
view but the constant Srrice acord OF the great chief
that he had himself seen General Washington
wear this identical sword, he presumed Tor the last
time when, in 1894, he reviewed the Virginia and
Maryland forces, then concentrated at Cumberland,
under command of General Lee, and destined 10 CO.
operate with the Pennsy wanna and New Jersey
troops, then assembled al Bedford, in suppressing
what has been called "the whiskey Instruction"
General Washington was at that time President of
the United States, and, as such, was COMMANDMENTS
chief of the Army Ii is known that il was his in
ienon to lead the army in person, that occasion,
had he found it necessary, and he went TO Bedford
and Cumberland, prepared for that event The con-
ton of things did not require it, and he returned TO
his civil duties at Philadelphia.
MIR Samuel Washington held the commission Of a
Captain at that time himself, and served in that cam
pagn, many of the incidents of which he has related
to me,
lie was anxious to obtain this particular sword,
and preferred 1t 10 all the others, among which was
the ornamented and costly resent from the Gr at
Frederick
At the time Of the division among the nephews,
without ntimating what his preference was, he jo-
cosey remarked, "that, inasmuch as he was the on
ly Of them who had participated in military ser
wee, they ought 10 permit him to take choice
This suggestion met in the same spirit in which
1t was made, and the choice being awarded him, he
chose this the panest and ntrnscaly the least val
uabe Of any, simply because 1t was "the battle
sword"
am also in possession of the most satisfactory EVIL
dence, furnished by Col. George Washington, of
Georgetown, the nearest male relative Of General
Washington living, as TO the Identity oi this
sword His information derived from has father,
William Augustine Washington, the dovsee 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 General Washington's will,
all of whom concurred in the statement that the true
serrioe mord was that selected by Capt Samuel
Washington
ltremalned in this gentlemans possession until his
death, esteemed by him the most precious memento
of his ustrious kinsman. II then became the prop
erty Of his son, who, animated by that patriotism
which characterized the " Father Of his Country,
has consented that such a relic ought not to be ap
propriated by ind yidual citizen and has instruct
cd me- his representative to offer 1T to tie nation, to
be preserved in its public repositories the common
property Of all; since its Office has BEEN to achieve
and defend the common liberty Of all.
lie has, in like manner, requested me to present
this cane to the Congress of the United States deem
ing it not unworthy Of public acceptance