The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-08-05
Vol, 70, No. 3, Whole No, SIS.

in regard TO the expenses ofhis wife's nnnu
al visit to the camp during the revolutionary
war, with his passing nIlusion 10 the "sGlf
denial" which the eXigencics of his country
had cost him, furnishes charming illustru
ton of his huhi,unl oXnctuess. The fact that
every barrel OF flour which bore tho brand of
"Georgc Washington, Mount Vernon" was
exempted from the otherwise uniform inspec.
ton in the West India ports-that being re.
gnrdcd ms an ample guaranty of tho quality
aud quantity Of any article TO which it was
alliXcd-supplics n not less striking proofth0t
his cXacncss was every where understood
| Every body saw that Washington sought
nothing for himself Every body knew that
he sacrificed nothing to personal or to party
ends. Hence the mighty influence, the
mntchlcss sway, which lac exercised over all
around him. ale was the only man in the
United States who possessed the confidence
ofaIl, (said Thomas JcflGrson;) there was no
other one who was considered any thing more
than party lender"
Who ever thinks of Washington ms n mere
politician? Who ever associates him with
the petty arts and pitiful intrigucs ofpnrtiZan
office seekers or parti2an Office holders? Who
ever pictures him canvassing for votes. deal
ing out prescriptions doing out patronage
mo part of my duty" wrote Washington
10 Governor Bowdoin, in letter the still uu-
published original of which is n precious in
hcritancc Of my own-"No part Of my duty
will he more delicate, and in many instances
more unpleasant, that Of nominating and ap-
pointing persons to Office. 1t will undonht-
edly happen tina, there will be several cnnd-
dates for the same office, whose pretcnsions,
abilities and integrity may be nearly equal,
and who will come forward so equally sup
ported in every respect as almost to require
IN nj of 81 INF Ig,tI N \
the right. | shall, however, in all events,
have the satisfaction 10 reflect that ! entered
upon my administration unconiined by sin
Gle cngGTCm cnt,uniullueuCcd 10y any ties of
blood or Friendships with the best intention
and fullest determination to nominate TO of
fee the persons only whoupon every con-
sideralion were the most deserving. and who
would probably execute their several fiuc-
tons to the interest and credit of tho Amer
lean Union ifsuch character could he found
by my exploring every avenue Conformation
respecting their merits aud prctcnsions, that
il was in my power to Obtain
And there WAS as lulc of the vulgar hero
about him MS there was of the politician. At
the head ofn victorious army of which he
was the idpl-an army too often provoked TO
the very verge Of mutiuy, by the neglect Of
an inefficient Governmcut--we find him the
constant counsellor suborduation and sub
mission to tho civil authority. With the
sword ora couqucror nj his side, we find him
the unceasimg advocate fpCacr, Repeated
~ invested with moro than the power oi'a
Roman Dictator, wo sec him receiving that
power with reluctance, employing il with the
utmost moderation, and eagerly embracing
The earliest opportunity 10 resign il. The Of
fer ofa crown could not, did not, tempt him
for an interest from his allegiance TO liberty.
lie rejected it with Indignation & adherence
and proceeded 10 devote all lis energies and
all his Influence, all his popularity AID all his
ability, TO the establishment of that Rcpuh-
Iican system, ofwhich he was first to last the
mcomprumsing advocate, and with tho III
innate success ofWlich he believed the hest
interests Of America and Of the world were
connected.
1t is thus thar. in contemplating the char
actcr of Washington, the Offices which he
held, the acts which lac performed, his stIr-
cess as statesman, his iriumpls IA soldier
almost fade from our sight 1t is not the
Washington Of The Delaware. or the Brandy
wine. or Germantown, or Of Monmouth: i! is
not Washington. the President of the Con-
vcniion, or the President of tho Republic
which we admire. We cast our eyes over
his life not to be daz2Iod by tho mc:coric
luslurc Of particular passages, but to behold
its whole pathway RADIANT, radiant every
where with the true glory Of Il just, COmsc- |
cntious, consummatc man! OF him we feel
it to be no cXnggcraton to say that
"-aIl the ends lie aimed at
Where his country's, Gods aud truths"
OF him we feel it 10 DO no cXaggaraton to !