Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-02-17

semhed at Bedford in suppressing what has been |
called the Whiskey lnsurrecticn"
General Washington was then President of the
United states, and as such was commander in lief
of the army. 1t is known thatit his intention to
lead the army In person upon that occasion had he
found il necessary, and he went TO Bedford and Cum
berland prepared for that event. The condition of
things did not require it, and he returned to his civil
duties at Philadelphia.
Mr.. Samuel Washington held the commission ola
captain at that time himself and served in that cam.
pnlgn, many of The incidents Of which he has related
TO me.
He was anxious to obtain this particular sword,
and preferred it TO all the others, among which was
the ornamen,ed and costly present from the great
FIRE lcrck.
At the time of The division among the nsphews,
without intlna,ing what his preference was, he jo-
cosely remarked ",h,t inasmnch as he was he only
one of them who had participated in military service,
they ought TO permit him to take choice" This sug-
eeston was met in the same spirit in which il was
made, and the selection being awarded him. he chose
this the ainest, and, ntrinscay the least valuable
Of any, simply because it was the Battle Sword"
am also in possession of tho most satisfactory ev-
iicncc, furnished by Col Geo. Washington, OF George
town. the nearest male relative living Of General
Washington as to the identity of this sword. His in
formation, as to its history was derived from his faith
er, William Augustine Washington, the dcvisee 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 Washlngtons will all
of whom concurred in the statement that the true
serrics s,eord was that selected by Capt. Samuel
Washington.
Itremained in this genteman's possession until his
doa h, esteemed by him the most precious memento
of his llustrlous kinsman 1t then became the prop
er,y of his son. who, animated by that patriotism
which 80 characterised the Father ofhis Country"
has consented that such relic ought not to be APP
propla,od by individual citizen and has instructed
me- his representative, TO offer il TO the nation, TO be
preserved in its public repositories as the common
property FALL since its office has been to ACHE and
secure the common liberty Of all.
He has, in like manner, requested me to present
.h. Cane to the Congress of,he United States, deem
ing il not unworthy of the public acceptance
This the property Of the philosopher and
patriot Benjamin franklin.
Bv codlc to his last will and testament, we lind
il thus disposed of:
"My fine crab-tree walking stick, with gold head,
curiousy wrought in the form Of the cap Of Liberty
give to my friend, and the friend Of mankind Gen.
Washington. Fit were scep.rc, he has merited it
and would become it,"
Gen. Washington in his will, devises this cane rs
follows:
"Nem To my brother, Charles Wash ington, I
give and bequen;h the gold headed cane left me by
DR.. Franklin IN his will"
Captain Samuel WASHINGTON was the only son Of
Charles Washington, the devlsee from whom he de.
rived, by inheritance this interesting memorial and
having transmitted it to his son, Samuel t. Washing
ton the latter thus seeks to bcstow It worihiy by
associaing it with the battle sword in gift to his
countrymen.
| cordially concur with Mr.. Washington in the
opinion that they each merit public preservation s.
and obey, with pleasure his wishesn here present.
my them in his name, TO the nation.
Let the sword of the Hero and the staff of the Phi
| losopher 90 together Let them have place among
the proudest trophies and most honoTed memorials
! of our national achievements.
! Upon that staff once leaned the sage, Of whom it
has been said, "Ic snatched helghtning from heav.
en-, AMI the sceptre from tyrants.
A mighty arm once welded this sword IN right
cons cause, even unto the dismcmbernent OF Empire
In the hand of Washington this was "lhe sword OF
the Lord, and of Gideon
Ii was never drawn except in the defence OF public
| liberty; i, was never shea,hed until a glorious and
triumphant returned il to the scabbard, with
out stain of cruelty upon It's bladei It was never
surrendered except to that country which bestowed IL
| AT the conclusion of this address the galleries
which were crowded, sent forth emphatic manifesto
| tons ofapprobution.
Mr. join Quincy Adams then rose and addressed
the House az follows:
In presenting this resolution to the House, il may
perhaps be expected that should accompany it will
some suitable rcnarks and yet, sir, never rose Il
address this House under deeper conviction of thu
wan, of words to express the emotions that feel
is precisely because occasions like this are adapted
produce universal sympathy that little can be said b.
any one, but what, in the language OF the heart, II
tones not loud but deep every one present has silent
Nv said to himself My respected friend from Virgin
ia, by whom this offering Of patriotic sentiment ha
been presented to the representative assembly OF IN
nation, has it to me, already said all that cal
be said suitable to this occasion. nparllng from him
as af or few short days, we Mns all DO II will OF
my part, he Borrowing that in all probability sha
soc his face and hear his voice no more. But hi
words of this day are planted in my memory, an
will there remain till the last pulsaiion OF my heart.
The sword of WAsHINGToN! The stall OF FRANZ
I LIN! Oh sir, what associations are linked IN adf
mant with those names Washington, the warrle
\ of human Observation-Disclosures whose sword, a
Q my fendhas said, was never drawn but IN me cnus
Of his country, and never sheathed when welded
/ his countrys cause! Franklin, the philosopher ;
. the thunderbolt, the printing press, and the plongl
share! What names are these IN the scanty cataog,
of Inc benefac,ors of human kind! Washington an
If Franklin What other two men, whose lVes pGlot
$ to the eighteenth century Of Chrstendon, have lei,
:. deeper impression of themselves upon the age
G which they lived, and upon all after time! Washn
= ion the warrior and the LEGISLATOR, IN war, COZ
tending BY the wager OF battle for the independence
his country and for the freedom Of The human rac
% ever manesng, amidst its horrors, by precept ar
e. example his reverence for the laws of Peace and
v the ten1erest sympathles of humanity: IN Peae
y soothing the ferocous spirit of discord, among !
ID own countrymen into harmony and union, and g.
l. ing to that very sword now presented 10 his count
q charm more potent than that attributed IN ance
times to the Tyre Of Orpheus. Franklin! the m
chanc OF his own fortune, teaching, in early you'
under the shackles OF indulgence, the way TO veal
and IN the shade of obscurty the path TO greatnes
S. in the maturity of manhood, dsarnng the thund
Of its terrors the lightning Of its fatal blast! and wre
Al ing from the tyran;s hand the It'll more aililctl
of scep,e of oppression: while descending into the VI
" of years, uaversng the Atlantic ocean, Drawing in
- dead of winter the battle and the breeze bearing in
hand the cherter OF independence which he had &C
trbuted to form, and rendering from the self Great
e. nation to the mghliest nonarchs of Europe, the o
81 branch OF peace, the mercurial wand OF CONNER
IS and the amulet of protection and safety to the man
of peace The painless ocean, f,om the inexorable c.
he city and mercess rspacity Of war; And finally
as the last stage of life, with fourscore winters upon
head, under the torture Of an incurab disease,
ha turning TO his native and, closing his days as
ne chief magistrate of his adopted Commonwealth, al
is contributing by his counses under the PIesde ncy
to Washington, and recording his name, under the sal
at ton of devout prayer invoked by him to God TO Il
NJ Constitution under theaulhorty of which we are h
asst assembled the Representatives Of the North Am
;e lean People, TO receive, in their name and for tn
H. these venerable relics Of the wise, the valiant, and
good founders of our great confedcrs.ed Republic
70, these sacred symbols of our golden age.
IN May they be deposited among the archives of
M Government! and may every American who OF
~, hereafter behold them calculate mingled offering
M praise to that Supreme Ruler of the Unlvei by VIII
% tender merces Union has been hitherto preser
through al! the ycissitudes and revolutions OF this
mo buent world, and of prayer for the continuance
the blessings, by the dlspensations OF his Provden
led to our beloved country from age to age, till Ii
N shall he no more!
q. JT,e ,ok ana If ,iop ,vhich Ind orf