Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-02-18
By NIasser & EiseIy
FERMENTATION OF wAsHINGTON's
SWORD AND FRANKLIN's STAFF.

! Mr.. G. w. SUMMERS rose, and addressed
the Speaker, who recognised the honorable
gentleman as IN possession ofshe floor and
all eyes we're at once turred TO him. and
the whole House was at once fr1shed into si-
fence. The galleries were fensefy flied with
an anxious and attentive eudtory, which had
collected in anticipation of the interesting pro-
ceedings which were about to be Witnessed.
Many Senators occupied seats amongst the
members in the House, and sopae of The re.
representatives. of foreign powers, accredited to
this Government in diplomatic relations, were
ranged below the bar 81; and all listened with
profound stiffness, while the honorable gentle
man from Virginia spoke as tollowss
Mr.. Speaker: rise for the purpose Of dis
charging an Office, not connected with the or
dnary business of a legislative assembly.-Yet
IN asking permission 20 interrupt for moment,
the regular order Of parliamentary proceedings,
| cannot doubt that the proposition which
have to submit win prove as gratityingas II may
be unusual.
Mr. Samuel T. Washington, a ciixcn of
kanawha county, in the Commonwealth Of
Virginia, and one of my constituents, has hon
ored 0se with the commission Of preserving, in
the United States, ard, through that body, 10
the people of the United States two most in
teresting and valuable relics, connected with
! the past history of oar co1ntry, and with men
1 oh h,fb ,,,7 fA f.,aS ,rni
the cabinet, best Illustrate and adorn our an.
anls-
One is the sword worn by George Wash
ington, first as colonel in the colonial service
of Virginia, in Forbes's campaign against the
! French and IudiaHs; and Afterwards during
the whole period of the war of Independence,
as commander-in. chief of the American Army.
1t is a plain cutleau, or hanger, with
green hiit and silver guard. On the upper
ward of the scabbard is engraven 81. Baily,
Fishkil" 1t is accompanied by buckskn
| belt, which is secured by silver buckle and
clasp: whereon are engraven the letters "G.
| W." and the figures "l757" These are all
of the plainest workmanship, but substantial
! times TO which they belonged.
The history of this sword is perfectly authcn-
! tic, and leaves no shadow of doubt as to its
! identity.
The last viii and testament Of General
Washington, bearing date on the 9th day of
February, l799 contains, among gteat vare-
~ of bequests, the following clause each
of my nephews, William Augustine Washing.
ton, George Lewis, George Steplee Washing
ton, Bushrod Washington, and Samuel Wash
ington, give one Of the swords or cutleaux of
which may die possessed /; and they are TO
choose in the order they are named. These
swords are accompanied with an injunction, not
to unsheath them for the purpose of shedding
blood, except it be torselfdctence or in defence
of their country and its rights; and, in the la;.
ter case, to keep them unsheathed, and prefer
falling with them in their hands, to the reln
quishment thereof"
In the distribution of the swords, hereby de
vised, among the five nephcws therein emu
merated, the one now presented fell 10 III,
5 share of Samuel Washington the devisee las
named in the clause ofthe will which have jus
read.
This gentleman, who died few years since
, in the county of Kauawha, and who was fa,ne
of Samuel II. Washington, the donor, / knew
, well. | have often seen this sword in his pos
: session, aud received fro.h himself the follow
r ing account of the manner in which il becam
his property, in the division made among tn
devisees.
lie said that he knew it to have been tn
side arms of General Washington during tn
revolutionary war-not that used on occasion
/ of parade and review, but the constant Serrtc
!. s,cord ofthe great chief; that he had hlmse
. seen General Washington wear this identc'
,. sword, (he presumed for the last tlme,) whe
in 1894 he reviewed the Virginia and Mar.
: land forces, then concentrated at Cumberlan
under command of General Lee. and destine
to cooperate with the Pennsylvania and Ne
:, Jersey troops, then assembled at Bedford.
= suppressing what has been called "the whskt
h insurrection"
10 General Washington was at that time Pre-:
a dent of the United States and, as such, W
10 commander-in-chef of the army. 1t is know
as that it was his intention 10 lead the army
of person on that OCCASION had he found il necess
m ry and he went to Bedford aud Cunberla
prepared for that event The condition
things did not require it, aud he returned to
en- civil duties at Philadelphia.