Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-02-17
DEl.R PRR SIS
A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE

~ affected by the proceedings Of Our Nation
al Legislature as We were on reading the fol-
lowing thrilling account of the presentation
TO the Congress Of the United States of the
BATTLE SWORD OF WAsmrNGroN-,hc true
and sturdy fachion which was borne BY the
I" Father of his Country" through tho long
struggle that resulted in our National lnlc-
pendencc. The whole proceedings are of
surprising interest. The speech of Mn.
ScMMEHs is simple and touching, and his
closing remarks, particularly, arc as chas,e
and beautiful, as they are cloqucn, and APP
propria,e. There was evidently no at,cmp,
on his part to excite single emotion beyond
what the impressive circumstances the oc-
easion would naturally inspire. There is no
ostcn'atious coloring, no theatrical display,
no ambitious thrustlng forward Of the orator
As conspicuous figure in the beautiful his
teric picture. Ills language is simple, na;u-
raj, and impressive.
From the National Inellisencer.
THE PRESENTATION OF THE SWORD OF
WASHINGTON.
tn. sccno presented in the House Of Representa-.
Gvss yesterday of those brief moments of re-
freshing, which, few and far between. occur to the
weary way worn, heari-scS traveller across the san
Gy Iaharu, where he comes upon cluster of palms.
AMI beneath their grateful shade finds yelling spring
worthy TO be called " the Diamond of the Desert -
IL WAS al hour whom the remembrance of eiter days
rushed witt power upon the heart aud bore it away
for the time, from surrounding dearh, and transport
ee II, as in vision, to happier CLINE. 1t NOR
al mirage, in which, while gazing in thought upon
wha, that old man eloquent well denominaed
re nDp thprp s,rl
things as dsmsgogues, and can be such things. Meth
or a 10 nor pure. Washington, own Washing
ton, might be imagined for n,oncpt, to have burs,
his cctsmcnts," and TO be present in the Legisla tive
Halls OF the land he loved and both the who of
fsrsd and the man who received, the cherished me-
morals of the dead Patriot seemed to have felt, while
they spo,e the inspiration of greater presence than
that which was visible about them. fancifu OBJ
server might have believed that the mere touch Of
Washllg:on's Sword had sort of moral electricity
q oult, and that he who did but handle the staff on
which Franklin had often leaned caught by the
contact something o:hls el-vaing wisdom.
Mr.. Summers we well know is esteemed a.
home as a lawyer Of high standing and man of
great strength and purity OF charac'er bu, his
est friends could not have desired that his parting
speech f It were his lasD as a member Of Congress
should have been worthy of the place and of the
maa He treated subject which it is no easy
task - speak without triteness in manner at once
simple, appropriate and dsnfled, saying jus, enough
and no more, and snyng It with warmth Of feeling
too sincere 10 be counteeitcd. His brief account of
the relics he presented was clear and succnct, and
ye,had enough OF particularly to give i! the highest
interest As cprocecded, the crowded hall and gal
lcrl.. were as mute as the grave; and while every
eye gazed, and many an eye overfowed, every ear
listened with the eageres attention to the close
The response of Mr. Adams was every va, such as
might have been expected from him bu, those who
only read it, must lose more than hn the impression
with which II was received. The associations of the
occasion were such as could not fail 10 reach mind
like his, aud awaken within il those deep and power
f feelings which, when unnousel, sulnher beneath
an aspect and manner which give no token of their
presence His lntonations were deep and lmpasson.
ed his voice faltered-ihe eloquent blood rushed in
torrents TO his CONFERENCE.-The his whole figure al
ti'ude and gesture, were those OF one Of Natures
Ators strongly moved.
The whole transaction was in high degree credit
able 10 oar country, and ,s re ord on archives
Gill mark at least one light day in the conempora-
nsous history OF Congress.
As as the speeches were ended and the reso-
luton moved by Mr.. Adams had been adopted Mr.
Taliaferro, himself Nlrglnlan, land we may add with
truth fine specimen OF the Virginia genteman,) net
ing as the Father of the House." which the date oil
his commission entities tm to do, moved that both
the address of Mr. Summers and the response of Mr.
Adams be inserted at length on The Journal; which
having been ordered, Mr.. McKennnn Pennsylva
man, closed the scene in d2nifed and most appro
pirate manner by moving, in honor Of tho occasion
thaih the House al lourn.
And now occurred spectacle true TO nature. TIL,
dsco.um Of the House had kept every man in his sea
while the addresses in delivery and the be
ing taken but, no sooner had the ad ournment beef
announced, and the Speaker left the chair than Their
Wasa Simultaneous rUsN from all quarters 10 Obtain
nearer view of the interesting memorials of our grea
lost Patriots. Nor the eye satisfied with seeing
Every hand was ontsretcfied to touch them. IT wa
like Homer's scene of the bending OF Ulysses bow
and many puny hand now grasped the sword c
Washington, that would have trelnbIed in the scene
where once cleaned in the eyes of the foes to Amer
lean independence. Demand afer demand was mad
for pleasure grateful and so rare and it was lon
before the Sergennt.a,-Arms could rescue staff an
falchlon from tie still eager hands that relucan,l
gave them up to his custody. They were ordered ,
bedeposi,ed in the Department of State but we pr,
sumo they will eventually accompany the mitar
commission, his uniform, and other precious meme
rails of Washington, which have been trans(erre
from that Department to The halls OF the National II
stitu.e.
MEMENTOES OF WASHINGTON
AND FRANKLIN.
In the House of Representatives, on Tue.