Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1844-05-04
CONGRESS.
WAsuINeToN, April 18th.
Presentation Of he Camp. chest Of General
Washington.

W~AsHINGToN, April 18th.
Presentation Of he Camp chest Of General
Washington.
Mr.. Adams rose and addressed the House
as follows In compliance with The desire
expressed in the last will OF William Sidney
Winder, a distinguished citizen Of the State
of Maryland, nov no more, | rise to present
to this House, and through this House to the
Congress Of the United States, the Camp cheHI
Of General GEORGE WASHINGTON, which he
used during the Revolutionary war.
As my warrant for presenting myself to the
House in the performance Of this service, ]
send 10 the Clerks table, and request him tc
read, a few very brief documents.
1. Letter from John Wethered.
Q. William Sidney Winder's will.
8. His letter unsigned, with that Of Mary 8
Winder.
4. Henry Maynadier to Governor Winder.
5. Henry Maynadief to. w. s.. Winder.
At the last session Of Congress it was my
fortune to offer a resolution Of acceptance for
the SUord of our nations great heroic Reyo-
lutionary commander and chief, presented, to-
gether with the Staff bequeathed to him by his
cofBpatriot statesman and friend, Benjamin
franklin, to the Congress, by Samuel T.
Washington, of Kanawha county, Virginia.
This incident was probably the inducement to
| the late Mr.. Winder TO deyoIve upon me the
welcome and honorable office of presenting
this additional relic of the great champion of
our country's freedom and glory.
The donor on that occasion was yet living,
and, with the resolution accepting the dona-
ton, the House thought proper to subjoin a
unanimous vote OF thanks to the donor for the
gift.
In this case the donor is no longer in the
land Of the living. He is beyond the reach of
praise or blame from his fellow creatures of
the human race. His heart can beat no more
in sympathy with those to whom the love of
their country lie, from.the cradle TO the grave,
the neyer-ceasing impulse of the soul. But
that ii was to him, this bequest, the very last
act Of his life-this letter, dictated by him on
his dying bed, and his signature of which was
suspended by the angel of death wrestling the
pen from his hand, are testimonials of which
all comment Of mine could but weaken the
force.
The thanks ofthis House are no longer &C
cessible to his ears but to his bereaved and
respected family a resolution Of Congress, at
testing the grateful sense with which they
receive this bequest, may carry soothing con-
SBnAESA " Att1 OOSOAAAEs AA4NS We may A%AtD1
hope, Joy ever to him in the mansions Of bet
ter world.
In the presentation of the sword of George
Washington to the last Congress, a profound
and sublime lesson Of national and individual
morality, associated with pure and lofty patri-
ofism was conveyed to his countrymen of this
and Of all after ages. Il will be recolleetsd
that in bequeathing his swords to bis nephews,
the Christian hero had enjoined uponthem ne
yer to unsheath them for the purpose of she'd
ding blood, except for self-defenes, or in de-
fence of their country and tie righ.s ; and, in
the latter case, TO keep them unaheathed and
fall with them in their hands rather than re-
linqulsh them.
The use and vocation Of the sword is TO
shed blood. Far different 10 the use Of the
implements now offered 10 the acceptance OF
Congress. The sword is the instrument of
destruction. These are implements useful or
necessary to supply the wants of physical ma
ture and for the preservation Of human life.
These are also useful for dispensing 10 others
the good offices of humanity. and c%onviyial
pleasures of friendship, and the sacred rights
Of hospitality. To oil these purposes, that