Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1843-03-04
v,,uIycruys SWORD AND FRaNKLlys CANE.


ln compliance with the of of his cons,'u
sn accompanied resolution that they be received and
deposited in the archive. of country AZ tho mention
Of lu.trious party feeling fed and the Han
Of presented scene upon which the PaH'o
could gaz. with pleasure and delight Personal and poii,-
en-. entirely lost sight Of and UNION seemed
for time 70 place Of dscod and confusion. Tho
following remarks the Virginia Representative and Hon.
John Quincy Adams, this interesting occasion, will be
read With deep interest:
From tho National In.elligencer.
MEMENToEs OF WASHINGTON AND
FRANKLIN.
Mr.. Summers. Of Virginia, rose and addressed
tho House as follows:
Mr. Speaker: 81 rise for The purpose Of dis
charging a Office not connected with tho ordina-
~ business Of legislative assembly.
Mr. Samuel +. Washington. citizen of Kan
awha COUNTY, in tho G 'mm"nwenlih "i Virginia,
and ono Of nv constituents. has hOnored we with
the commission of presenting. in his name and on
his behalf, 10 the Congress Of the Uo,ted States.
two mos, Interesting and uable relics connected
with the past history of our country, and with
men whose achievements, both IN The field and IN
tho cabinet, best illustrate and adorn our annals
One is the sword worn by George Washington
first as Colonel IN tho Colonial services ct V,r-
gina in Forbes campaign aga'nst the French
and Indians, and afterwards during the whole
period Of the Of Independence as Comman
der-in Chief Of the American army.
II is n plan, con eau, or hanger. with n green
hill, and silver guard. Ga the upper ward Of the
scabbard is sngraven, -. Il ,iley, Fish Kill" /,
is accompanied by a buckSk'n belt which is secu-
red BY a silver buckle md cia,p, wherein are en-
graved the letters, &c. w." and the figures
nl757"
They nro all Of tho plainest workmanship, bu,
substantial, and in keeping with The man and
with the tiines to which they belonged.
Tho history Of this sword is perfectly authen-
tic, and leaves shadow Of doubt as to its iden-
tty The last will and testament Of General
Washington, hearing date on the 9Th day Of Feb
ruary. 1899, contains, among great variety Of
requests, the following clause:
..'rn each Of my nephews, William Augustine
Washington. George Lewis, George Sie2too
Washington, BIshr"d Washington, and Samuel
Washngtun give one Of The swords or conteaux
Of which may die possessed; and they arc to
choose il tho order they named. These
swords arc accompanied with an IL melton not TO
unsheaih them for tho purpose OF shedding blood.
excep, be for self defence. IN defence OF their
country and s rights; and, in the latter case, 10
keep them unsheathed. and prefer falling with
,he,n IN their hands to the REIMBURSEMENT thereof"
In the distribution of the swords hereby devi-
sed among The five nephsws therein enumerated,
the ono now presented fell TO The share OF Samuel
Washington the devi.ee last named IN the clause
Of the wi! which have jrst read.
THIS gentleman, no died a few years since in
tho county Of Kannwha, and who was the father
Of S ,mueI Il. Washington. the donor, well knew.
] have often seen this sword in his possession,
and receiv ed from himself the following account
Of tho manner in which it became his property
in the division IN lde among the several devisees:
He SAID that he knew it to have been the side
arms Of General Washington during The Ravolu.
,ionary War; not iha, used occasions Of pa
Iade and review, but ihe constant service SUord
of tia, crea, chef; ,h,, he h,a himself see" Gen
Washington wear tins identical sw"r', he pfesu-
med, for the last time when, IN 1874, he review
cd the Virginia and Mary nd forces, then
centraied at Cumbe rlaDd under the command OF
General Lee, and destined To CO operats with the
Pennsylvania and Now Jersey troops, then as.
seml,led a. b .ifnrd suppressIng what has been
called the "Whiskey lnsurrecti"n"
General Washington was then President OF The
Un,,ei States, and such wa. C"mmander IN
Chief Of the army. II is known that II vas his
iuten,,nn To lead tho army IN person upon iha,
occasion had Q found II necessary. md he went
Bsdfrd and Cumberland prepared Tor thai
event. The c"ndrii"n of things dad not require
il. and he returned 10 his civii duties al Phadel
ph'n.
Mr.. S,muel Washington held the commission
Of a captain at that time himself and served IN
that campaign, many OF the incidents of which
he has related 10 me.
He was anxious To obtain this particular sword,
and preferred il TO all the others, among which
was the ornsmen,ed and costly prcseu, Of The
grea, Frederick.
Al tho time nf The division among the nephew We.
without minimizing what his pref renee ~as, M
,cnsely rena rked .'tha, inssmuch ns he the |
oniy ono Of them who had participated in the /
military service, thev ought IN permit him TO ioke
chnice" This sugges','n was met in the /
spirit in which IL made. and the selection be-
ing awarded him. he ch"se this. The pIainesi, and
in,rnsicAily, tho least vali able of any, simply be-
cause u was tho "B,t.e Sword"
am also IN possession of the most satisfactory
evidence furnished by Colonel George Washing
ton. Of Georgetown. the nearest male relative
no. living Of General Washing, op as To IN. id.c
sity Of this sword. HIS information rs to IT,. his
tory, was derived from his father. William Anou.
tine Washington. tho devisce frs, named in the
clause If the will which ] have read; from HE
unce the late Bnshrod Wash :npion, Of the Su /
e.. I