The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-09-22

For the Union.
The present fashion in our Cities of undermining every
thing ancient together with the increased and fast IN
creasng value OF building lots rapidly uproong from
our hearts spirit feeling which should never be de-
stroyed-a feeling of veneraion for the mementos of
great and remarkable men. Their ancient dwelling
places, which, but glance at, used to bring up such
countless ecolections are being rapidly obierated The
old dwelling house and shop with all that association
throws around them torn down to give place to
stately mansion where mans pride and pomp may glory
and display itself, spacious warehouse, where
his goods may be stored and his gains counted. few
short years, and perishabe paper will possess all the
records and recollectons which impershable granite
should hold up TO the eyes of poserity The utarian
may say, have their tombstones, and they enough
when the sentimental antiquarian may revive and in
duge his recollections OF the great OF times past Yes
money is such object with these utilitarans, they
would sell their fathers graves for building lots But the
tombstone is not associated with the OF past life
Il bears with it sad thoughts OF the grave and death 1t
does not bring up before us the hauns OF youth and
pleasure nor the quiet retirement OF old age Ii simply
tells that the body beneath it born on one day.
lived short while, and died on another To be sure, the
grave OF Times great may furnish food for the moaizer
and wisdom for the seriously thoughtful Our thoughts
the tomb carry onward and not backwardhee the
future swallows up the past.
Contrast the tombstone with the old house in which
the entombed once lived, with all the lining assoca-
tons which surround it and the varied scenes which
beside the !" scuptured stone which bears the name
of Walter Scott, to wandering through the parks and
halls OF Abbotsord, from whence his fancy took its
oitiest fights or sit in the room, perhaps in the same
chair at the table, where he penned for his thoughts
and fances delighting Immortality Who would not
rather have wandered over the house in which Franklin
was born, and caught electric inspiration from its
speaking walls, than sit by his gravestone cloudy,
gloomy sence' Not long since, the State house in
Philadelphia contained, in of its rooms, the urni
ture and paraphernaa which convenenced and
rounded congress, whose action made this country
what it is, in all its glorious honor and pros
pery. How expressive must have been their vacant,
silent chairs and tableshe curtains and walls which
had caught the sound of their voices That place was
sacred, and should never have been proianed; but
served from change or decay The old hangings have
been torn down. the old furniture has been turned out
the spirit OF undermining has entered, and relic is left
Let visit that hall before this sacrege was committed
What monument what inscription, what record from the
page OF history, could tell the half of what imagination
would portray with such vivid truthluness We would
be carried back to that day which is annually marked by
us with religious services, and civil ceremonies and
military display We might feel the stiffness which, for
several moments, pervaded that noble assembly previous
TO voting hat these united colonies are and of right
ought to be, free and independent States" We might
feel conscious OF the silent prayers ascending heaven
(and which were answered) for rmness, for unanmty
and resolution When Jefferson expressed his fears of
the dissection which the declaration undergoing, one
might almost again hear Franklin tell his story OF John
Thompson the halter;, or might hear him, when he
turned to Hancock who had told him we must all be
unanimous and say, "we indeed all hang together
or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately"
This great old hail. which the youth OF our land would
have visited with veneraon, has all been changed rob-
bed OF its glorious memories, and vesge of its for
mer self remains In Boston, facing the beautiful
mon YET stands the mouse In which John Hancock lived
There let II stand orever for it strong connecting
link with the past and makes realize with greater force
heexlstence OF that great man. Let not, then, few
hundred few thousand dollars purchase its destuc
ton.
have been led into this train of thought by the ac-
companyng extract from Boston paper, and also having
lately the house which Franklin was born level
with the dust A portion of the house to which his pa
removed shortly after his BIRTH and where he lived
for several years. yet stands but lated fear, to
give place to modern style of architecturefated
to PROSTATE itself to the undermining spirit OF the age
the touch OF whose wand stately granite warehouse
will its head the ruins of the relic which should
be preserved forever, A.
From the Boston Evening Transcript
FRANKL1y-THE HOME BoYHooD The racy de-
scrpton which follows, of the house which the home
OF Benjamin Franklins boyhood, will be read with unive
sal Interest," not only in this country but throughout the
civilized world 1t is copied from the Boston correspond
ence Of the National Ant-Slavery Standard;