The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-08-05
MIR WINTHROP'S ADDRESS,
ON THE OCCASION OF LAYING TIE
CORNER STONE OF THE NATION
AL MONUMENT TO WASHINGTON,
JULY FOURTH, 1913,
At TIE CITY OF WASHINGTON.

the iulfmcnt ola long deferred Obligation
In this cight-and-torticth year since his death,
we have come together 10 lay the corner stone
ofa national monument TO WASHINGTON.
Other monuments 10 this illustrious per-
son have long ago been erected. by not n
few ofthc great States of orr Union, by not
few ofthe great cities of our States, tho
.chiscllcd statue or the lofty column has been
set up in his honor. The highest art of the
old world-of France, of Italy, and of Eng
land, successfully been put in requis-
ton for the purpose. lloudon for Virginia,
Canova for North Carolina, Sir Francis
tChnntrey for Massachusetts, have severally
.signalzed their genius by portraying and per-
lpetuatng the form and features of the Faith
.er of his Country.
Nor has tho Congress of tho nation alto
rigcihcr failed gifts duty in this respect. The
stnassive and ma este figure which presidGs
over the precincts of the Capitol, and which
seems almost in the act Of challenging n new
VOW OF allegiance to the constitution and the
Union from every ono who approaches it, is n
visible tcstimony-and one not the less CRATE
tul to an American eye as being the master
~ production of n native artist--that the gov
.crnment of the country has not been unmind-
fu of what it owes to WASHINGTON.
One tribute TO his memory is left to be rem
dcred. One monument remains to be rear
cd. a monument which shall bcspeali the
gratitude, not of Statcs,or of cities, or of gov
ernlnents; not of separate communities or of
official bodies; but Of the people, the whole
of tho national national monument (crectcd
10y the citizens of the United States Amer
iCa.
OF such monument we have come to lay
The corner stone here and now. On this day
on tins spot, in this presence, and at this per-
else epoch in the history of our country ard
OF the world, we arc about to commence this
GROWING work of commcnoration.
The day, the place, the witnesses, the peri
cd IN the worlds history and in our own his
'tory-aIl, all are most appropriate to this oc-
tcasion.
The day is appropriate. On this 4th dav
oil geographically the peoples day-,ve
come most iitly TO acknowledge the pcopIc's
dehtt 10 tbcIr first and greatest bcncfictor
WASHINGTON, indeed, had no immediate
'conneXi0n with the immortal act Of the 9TH
ofJnIy,L His signature did not attest
the Declaration Of Independence. Bur The
sword by whidhthat independence was TO be
achieved was already at his side, and aIrcad-
had he struck the blow which rendered that
declaration inevitable.
"Hostibus primo fpgutis, BoSioni,,m rCcuper
.dtum,' is tie Inscription OH the medal which
commentaries Waslington's earliest tri-
nmph. And when the British, forces We're
compelled 10 evacuntc Boston, on' tho 18th
day of March, 1776, hloodlcSs though the vic
tory was, the qNestion was ir-cvocahIy scttl-
Get, that independence, and not the mere re-
dress of grievances, was TO be the momcntous
stake of our colonial struggles.
Without the event of the 9TH of july it is
true. Washington would have found no ndc-
qnnte opening for that full career of military
and civil glory which have rendered HIM H.
Fustrions forever. But it is equally true that
without Washington this day could never
have acquired that renown in the history Of
human liberty, which now, above all other
days, it enjoys. We may not say that the
anan made the day, or tho day the man; but
we may say that, by the blessing OF God, they
were made for each other, ard both for the
highest and most enduring good of America
and of the world.
The place is appropriate. We arc on the |
banks of his own beloved Potomac. On one .
side of us, within a few hours sail, arc the !
hallowed scenes amid which Washington
spent all his mature life, Which was not de-
voted to the public services of the country,
and where still reposc, in their origin nal rest
ing place, all that remained of him when life
was over. On the other side, and within our
immediate view, is the Capitol Of the Rcpuh-
)lc. standing on the site selected by himself
and within whose walls the rights which he
Vlndicated, the principles which he establish
ed, the institutions which he founded, have
0eon, and are still TO be, maintained, devcl-
oped and advanced
Ihe Witnesses are appropriate, ard such
rs eminently beft the occasion.
The President of the United States is here,
and feels, | am persuaded, that the official
distinction which he lends to the scene has
no higher public dignity, than that which it
derives from its associations with his earliest
and most illustrious predecessor 81 hold
the place which Washington held" must he n
reflection capable of sustaining n chief mag
istrnte under any and every weight ofrespon
sibility and care, and of elevating him to the
pursuit of the purest and loftiest ends
Representatives of foreign nations arc here,
ready TO bear witness to the priceless exam
pie which America has given to the world,
IN the character of him whose fame has long
since ceased to be the property of any coun-
try or any age
The Vice President and Senate, the heads
otDepartments, the judiciary, the authorities
OF the city and District, the officers of tho ar
my ana navy, from many n field and many n
flood of earlier and latter fame: veterans of
me line and volunteers, fresh from the scenes
OF trial and oftriumph, with swords already
Wreathed with myrtles, which every patriot {
proys may prove as unfading as the inurels
WIN Which their brows bound: all nre
iere' eager to attest their reverence for the
memory OF one, whom statesmen and soldiers '
i.uNe consplred in pronouncing to have been I
''rst alike in peace and in war. q
The Representatives ofthe people are hero I
ana 1t is only MS their organ that | have felt t
X incumbent on me, in midst of cares and 4
''u'ies which would have formed an ample a. /
poiosy for declining any other service, to say r
/" lew words on this occasion. {
vO coming here in no official capacity, r
4 nnI fIanNI t~.s..