The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-02-21
MEMORIALS OF WASHINGTON AND FRANK

I We know not when we have been more deeply az
gected with thrilling and patriotic interest in the pro
ceedings Of our National Legislature, than on reading
the following account olthe presentation TO Congress
and, through Congress,to the people of the United
Suites of the service scord Of Washington wi ch he
bore with him through the long struggle which even
uated in the Independence Of our countryand also,
of nm Interesting relic of the Philosopher Franklin. IL
any American citizen read the account without
feeling the tear Of patriotism stealing down his check,
VIC do not envy him his stocism. a.r.
The Sword the used by Washington at the
opening Of his military Colonel ofthe Vir-
gna Militia in his expedition against the French and
Indians, and through the Revolutionary War, and
last, President ofthe United States, in review Of
the troops in 1904, called suppress the whis-
key insurrection in Penn. of which he designed to
take the command in person, but did not for e
that order restored without any very gcner-
al engagement
The Cane was bcquenthed to Washington by Frank
lin and with the Sword bequeathed by the latter
to relative by whom they surrendered to
Congress.
We copy from the National Intelligencer of We'd
nesday last the following editorial remarks of that pa
per-
WASHINGTON
The scene presented in the House of Representa-
tives yesterday Of those brief moments Of re
ireshing, which, few aud far between, occur the
weary way worn, heart sick traveller the
dy Iahara, where he comes upon cluster of palms,
and benenth their grateful shade finds yelling
spring worthy to be called "he Diamond Of the Des-
crt'' II hour when the remembrance Of
better days rushed with power upon the heart, and
bore it away, for the time, from surrounding
d"arth, and transported it, as in vision, TO happier
cline. Ii was moral mirage, ir which, while GU
zing in thought upon what ''that old man eloquent
well dGnornnated "our Golden Age'' one forgot
that there such things demagogues, and can he
such things, neither able nor pure Washington, our
own Washington might be imagined, for moment,
to have ''burst his ccIements and to be present in
the Legislative Halls of the land he loved; and both
the man who offered, and the man W no received the
cherished memorials of the dead Patriot seemed to
have FELT, while they spoke, the inspiration of q eat
er presence Than that which visible about them
fonc'u observer mig ht nave believed that the
mere touch Of Washington's Sword had sort Of NOR
al electricity about and that he who did but handle
tie staff on which Franklin had so often leaned
caught by the contact something of his elevating wis
dom. "s
Mr. Summers, as we well know, is esteemed at
home ms lawyer Of high standing. and man Of
great strength and purity of character, but his warm
est friends could not have desired that his parting
speech, Of were his Tasty member of Congress-
should have been more worthy of the place and of
the man. lie treated subject on which it is no ca
sy task without trlteness in u a: once simple
appropriate and dgnified saying just enough and no
more, and say ing with warmth of feeling 9too sim
ccre to be counterfehed His brief account OF the
relics he presented clear and succinct and vet
had enough particularly to give it the highest inter-
est AS he proceeded the crowded hall and galleries
were mute IA the grave and while every eye gazed,
md many an eye overlooked, every ear listened with
tho cagerest attention to the close.
The response of MIR Adams was in every way such
as might have been expected from him; but those
who only rcaa, must lose than halfihe impress
sion with which it received. The associations
of the occasion such could not fail To reach
mind like his, ard awaken within it those deep and
powerful feelings which, when unaroused, slumber
beneath aspect and manner which give TO token Of
Their presence Ills intonations were deep aud i'm
passioned; his voice faltcrcd-thc eloquent blood
rushed in torrents to his coun,enancc-and his whole
Natures orators strongly moved.
The whole transaction was in n high degree credi-
table to country and is records on our archives
will mark at least one brig day in the contempora-
neous history Of Congress.
As soon as the speeches ended ana the resolu
lion moved by Mr. Adams had been adopted, Mr.
Talaferro, hmseIfa Virgiuun, (and we may add
with truth fine specimen ofEthe Virginan gentle
man,) acted as the ''Faiher of the House, which
The date of his commission entities him to do, moved
hat both the addresses Of Mr. Summers and the re-
sponse ofMr Adams be inserted at length on the
Journals which having been ordered, Mr. McKennan,
4 Pennsy vanan, closed the scene in dignfied and
most appropriate manner by moving, in honor of the
occasion, that the House adjourn.
And now occurred spectacle true to Nature The
1ecorum of The House had kept every man in his seat
while the addresses were in delivery and the votes