Litchfield enquirer., 1843-03-02

| merated, the one now presented fell to the
share of Samuel Washington, the devIsee
last named in the clause OF the Will Wnlch
have jus. read.
This gentleman who died a few years
| sinch in the county of Kanawha, and who
was the father of Samuel Il. Washington,
the donor, l knew we'll. have often seen
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 devlsees:
He said that he knew it 10 have been the
side arm of General Washington during the
Revolutionary war ; not that used on ocea-
siOns of parade and review. but the constant
service s,oord of the great chief; that ne had
himself seen General Washington wear this
identical sword, he presumed, for the last
time, when, in 1894, he reviewed the Virgin.
ia and MARYLAND forces, then concentrated
at Cumberland under command OF General
Lee, and destined to cooperate with the Penn
sylvania and New-Jersey troops, then assem-
bled at Bedford, in suppresslng what mas
been called the Whiskey Gnsurrection."
General Washington was then President
of the United States, and as such was COM
mander-in.chief of the army. 1t is known
that it was his intention 10 lead the army IN
person upon that occasion had he found 1t
necessary, and he went to Bedford and Cum
berland prepared for that event. The con-
dition Of things did not require it, and he re-
turned to his civil duties at Philadelphia.
Mr.. Samuel Washington held the commits
sion of captain at that time himself, and
served in that campaign, many OF the Incl
| dents of which he has related to me.
| He was anxious to obtain this particular
sword, and preferred it to all others. among
which was the costly present from the great
Frederick
At the time of the division among the neph-
ews, without intimating what his preference
was, be loosely remarked, "that inasmuch
as he was the only one of them who had par
ticipated in military service, they ought to
permit him to take choice" This suggestion
was met in the same spirit in which it was
made, and the selection being awarded him,
he chose this, the plainest, and, intrinsically.
the least valuable of any, simply because it
was the Battle Sword"
am also in possession of the most salts
factory evidence, furnished by Colonel Geo.
Washington, of Georgetown, the nearest
male relative now living Of General Wash
ington, as to the identity of this sword. His
information, as to its history, was derived
from his father, William Augustine Washing
ton, the devisec first named in the clause of
the will which have read from his uncle,
\
Supreme Court and Major Lawrence Lew
is. the acting executor of General Washing.
toms will all Of whom concurred in the
statement that the true service S,oOrd was the
selected by Capt. Samuel Washington.
II remained in this gentleman's possession
until his death, esteemed by him the most
precious memento of his illustrious kinds
man. 1t then became the property of his
son, who, animated by that patriotism which
so characterized the Father of his Country
has consented that such a relic ought not to
he appropriated by an individual citizen,
and has instructed me, lis representative, tn
v.,s: :: :. &c inc nation iu &C preserved IN its
public repositories as the common property
of all, since its office has been to achieve
and secure the common liberty of all.
He has, in like manner requested me to
present this Cane to the Congress of the
United Ststes, deeming it not unworthy of
public acceptance. This was once the prop
erty of the philosopher and patriot Benja-
min Franklin.
BY codici to his last will and testament,
we find it Ehus ds iPss Gf stick with
gold head. curiously wrought in the form of
the Cap of Liberty, give to my friend, and
the friend of mankind. Gen. Washington
If it were sceptre, he has merited it, and
would become it,"
General Washington, in his will, devises
this cane as follows:
"lTEM-TO my brother Charles Washing
ton, give and bequeath the gold-headed
cane left me by Dr. Franklin in his will"
Capt. Samuel Washington, was the only
son of Charles Washington, the dcvisee from
whom he derived, by inheritance, this in.
teresting memorial and having transmitted
it to his son, Samuel Il. Washington, the lat
ter thus seeks to bestow il worthilv, by asso-
cialing it with the battle sword in gift to
his countrymen.
in the opinion that they each merit public
preservation and obey, with pleasure, his
wishes in here presenting them, in his name,
| to the Nation.
Let the sword ofthe Hero and the staff of
the Philosopher go together. Let them have
a place among the proudest trophies and
most honored memorials of our national
achievements.
Upon that staff once learned the sage, of
whom it has been said, vile snatched the
lightning from heaven, and the sceptre from
tyrantS."
A mighty arm once WELD this sword in
righteous cause, even TO the ACKNOWLEDGMENT
OF Empire. In the hand of Washington this
was "the sword of the Lord and of Gideon"
1t was never drawn except in defence of
public liberty it was never sheathed until
a glorious and triumphant success returned
it to the scabbard, without a stain of cruelty
or dishonor upon its blade it was never sur
rendered except to that country which be-
slowed it.
AT The conclusion OF this address, the