Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1843-02-21

Congress, but the motion was not enter.
Iained, such a monstrous idea Ofretrench
ment being considered as entirely out Of
order-ihe vote on taking up the bill be-
ing 13l 10 So.
Unavailing efforts were made TO get up
the French spolialion claims, and resO.
luton for rswardiHg the officers oi the
Squadron.
A GREEN SPOT IN THE WILDER
NESS.
Washington's Sword-Franklin's Crab
Tree Cane-Presentatio Of them
TO the House Interesting Proceed
ings.
Mr. Summers Of Va. (prOducing from
a rude box before him an old sword,) a.
rose and said, it was for the pulbOse of
discharging an office not connected with
the ordinary business Of legislation, but
which he doubted not would prove as
gratifying as it was unusual.
Mr. Samuel T Washington, citizen of
Kanawha county in the Commonwealth Of
Virginia, one Of his constituents, had
honored him with the commission Of pre-
senting in his name, and his behalf, to
the Congress Of the United States, and
through that body to the people Of the u.
S., two most interesting and valuable rel.
les connected with the past history Of the
Country. One was a sword OF GEORGE
WARRINGTON, first as a cOlone! in the
colonial service Of Virginia, in Forbes
campaign against the French and Indi-
ans and afterwards during the whole po'
riod of the war of Independence. The
sword was plain hanger, with a green
hilt and silver guard. Scabbard stamp
ed 81. Bailey, Fishkill." Buckskin belt
with a silver buckle and clasp, whereupN
on is engraved sc. W.-l757." 1t is
of the plainest workmanship, said Mr..
s., but substantial, and in keeping with
the times to which they belonged. To
prove the authority of the history Of the
sword, Mr.. s. quoted from the last will
and testament of General Washington
dated February 9th, 1899 the follow
ing item:
ITO each Of my nophews, William Au
gusline Washing glon, George Lewis, George
Steptoe Washington, Bushrod Washing
ton and Samuel Washington, | give one
Of the swords or cou teaux,Of which may
die possessed, and they are to choose ir
the order they are named. These swords
are accompanied with an injunction no
to unsheath them for the purpose of shed
ding blood, except il be for self-defencei
or in defence of their country and its
rights; and in the latter case to keep
them unsheathed; and prefer falling with
them in their hands, to the relinquiSh'
ment thereof"
In the distribution Of the swords, the
one here presented had fallen into the
possession Of Samuel Washington the
father Of Samuel T. Washington, the do
nor. Mr.. Summers said that he knew
the father we'll, and had often seen this
sword in his possession and the accoun
which he gave Of the sword was as fol
lows:
, "He knew it 10 have been the side ar n
Of General Washington during the RevO
luton, not that used on occasions of par
ade and review, but the service sword o
the great chief; that he himself had seen
Oen Washington wear this identica
sword, he presumed, the last time il
1904, when he reviewed the Virginii
and MARYLAND troops, concentrated q
Cumberland under Gens Lee, destined II
co. operate with thePennsylvania and New
Jersey troops, assembled at Bedford fOI
the suppression Of thePennsylvania 'whis
key InsurrectiOn."
Gen Washington was then President
and as such, Commander.in Chief; and
it was known to have bee his intention
TO head the army in person; but the con
ditiOn Of things not requiring it, he re-
turned to his civil duties at Philadelphia
Mr.. Samuel Washington was at that time
a Captain under Gen. Washington in that
campaign; and had expressed his prefer
ence for this sword, over all the others,
including the costly present from the
Great Pr. Frederick (of Prussia.) AT
the time Of the division among the neph.
ews, and without intimating his prefer.
ence, Mr.. Samuel Washington observed
jOcOsely, "that as he was the only one Of
them who had participated in military
service, with their uncle they ought to
permit him to make choice" The sug.
gestion was met in the spirit in which Il
had been given, and Samuel Washington
chO Sc this, the plainest, and intrinsically
the least valuable, because it was the
Battle Sword"
MIR. Summers referred to other testimo-
ny sustaining the identity Of the sword
in question; and said, in conclusion, that
the son into whose possession this sword
had fallen, had committed it to him, with
instructions to offer il to the nation, to
Ge preserved in its public repositories as
'ne common property Of all, since its
oihce had been to achieve the common
liberty OfaN. And the sword was sur.
rendered to the sergeant.at arms.
| MIR Summers next nPnducnd c.or. a.