Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-02-16

os(Qlt &oD@6e II o>lkps1eo, q he com /
mon property OF all; since its Office has been
10 achieve and defend the commonliberty Of ALL
lie has, in like manner, requested me 10
present This cane ia the Congress OF the Uni |
ted States, deeming il not unworthy the pub
lie acceptance.
This was once the property Of the phi,oso-
pher and patriot, Benjamin Franklin.
by codici to his last will and testament, !
we -iindiit thus disposed Of: my enc crab
tree walking stick, with gold head, curious
give to my friend, and the friend Of mank ind.
General Washington. II it were q sceptrc, he
has mertcd il, and would becomeit
General Washington, in his will, deyises this
cane as follows
Item. To my brother Charles Washington,
give and beqseath the gcld-headed cone left
me by DR.. Franklin, in'his wih''
Captain Samuel Washington was the only
son Of Charles Washington, the devisee, from
whom he derived, by inheritance, this interest
ing memorial and having transmitted il to
his son, Samuel 4. Washington, the latter
thus seeks to bestow it wor,hay, by ,associa-
ting it with the battle sword, in gift to his
countrymen.
! Icordially concur with Mr. Washington in
the opinion that they each merit public preser-
va'ion; and obey, with pleasure, his wishes
IN here presenting them, in his name, to the
nation.
Let the sword'of the hero and the staff of
the phiosophcrsgo together. Let them have
place among the proudest trophies and mos,
honored memorials Of our national achieve
ments
Upon that staff once esnetl'tlie sage Of whom
It has been said, "lIe snatched the lightning
from III u ILL.,
mighty arm once welded this sword in q
righteous cause, eveauato'the ACKNOWLEDGMENT
of empire. In The hand of Washington, this
was "lhe sword ofthe Lord and of Gideon.n
1t was never drawn, except in defence of the
public'liberty. II was never shea,hed until
glorious and triumphant success returned it to
the scabbard, without stain of cruelty or dis
honor upon its blade. II was never surren-
dered, exceptto thc'country that bestowed it.
" LOUD and qong-coniniued plaudits follow
ell the delivery Of this address1 a.p,s.i,i..
The observation-disclosures advanced to the
seat Oh the hohorable gentleman, and received
INTO his custody the interesting relics: $
Mr.ADAMs then rose To submit a resolution
in relation thereto. He said: =, s5,ls ! :
| MrSPEAKER: representing this resolution
10 The House, it mary, perhaps, be. expected
that i should accompany .itwih some remarks
suitable TO the occasion,; and vet, SIR, Il never
rose TO address this House under deeper
conviction OF the want of words 10. express
the emotions that feel. II is precisely be-
cause occasions like this are adapted to pro-.
duce universal sympathy, that little can be said
by any one, but what, IN the language of the
heart-in tones not loud, but deep--eyery one
present has literally said to himself My, RESI-
Pected friend from Virginia, by whom this Of
IA h.. Il
ed to the Representative Assembly of the ma,
ton, has, it seems to me, already said all that
can be said suitable to this occasion. In part
ing from him, as after few shor. days We
must all do, 1t will on my part be sorrow, that
In all probability shall see his face and hear
ms voice no more. But his words of this Cav
nave been planted nm my memory, and will
there remaintill thelast pulsation of.my henrt
The sword of Washington The staff of
franklin Oh, ei,, what associations are
linked IN adamant with those names WASH
lngton the warrior of human freedom
Washington /! whose sword my friend has
said was never drawn but in the cause of his
country, and never sireatleG when needed in
his comtry's cause !-Franklin! the .phlloso-
pher of the thunderbolt, the printing press.
and the ploughshare.
| Whatnames are these in the scanty catalogue
Of the benefactors of Washington
and franklin What other two men, whose
lives belong to the 18th century of Christen-
dom, lave left a deeper impression of them
selyesupon the age in which they lived, and
upon all aftertimes Washington, the war
rior and the legislator! In war contending,
by the wager OF battle for the independence OF
his country, and Tor the freedom of the human
racs-Aever inanilesting. amidst the horrors of
/ war, by ;precept and example, mis- reverence
for the laws of peace, and for the tendercst
sympathles of humanity. In peace, soothing
the ferocious spirit Of ciiscord among his own
countrymen into harmony, nnd giving TO that
very sword now presented to his country "a
charm more potent than that attributed imam
| cient times to thelyre ofOrpheus. Franklin.
the mechanic 'of'his own fortune, teaching, in
early youth. under tile shackles Of ndgence,
the way to wealth; and, in the shade of OBJ
| security, the path to greatness : in the maturity
of manhood, disarming tile thunder of its ter
rors, she Lightning of ats fatal blast; and
wrestling from the tyranrs hand the still more
! affective sceptre ofoppessidn: while descend
ing into the vale of years, traversing the At
lantic ocean; Drawing, in the dead Of winter,
the battle and the breeze; bearing in his hand
the charter of independence, which he had
contributedto form; and rendering, from the self
tcfcatedao themightestm 6narchs of Europe,tI
olfveabranch of peace, the mercurial wand of
commerce, & ,heamulet of protection and safety