The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-07-26

| ly invested with more than the power of O
Roman dictator, we see him receiving that
power with reluctance, employing it with the
utmost moderation and eagerly embracing
the earliest opportunity to resign it. The
offer of Grown could not, did not, tempt
him for an instant from his allegiance to Lib
erty. He rejected it with Indignation and
adherence, and proceeded to devote all his
energies and all his influence; all his popular
ity and all his ability, to the establishment of
that Republican System, of which he was
from first to last the uncompromising advo-
cate, and with the ultimate success of which
he believed the best interests of America and
of the world were inseparably connected.
1t is thus that in contemplating the charac-
ter of Washington, the offices which he held,
the acts which he performed, his success as a
statesman, his triumphs as soldier, almost
fade from our sight 1t is not the Washing
ton of the Delaware, or the Brandywine, Of
Germantown or of Monmouth it is not
Washington, the President of the Convention,
or the President of the Republic, which we
admire. We cast our eyes over his life, not
to be dazzlcd by the meteorc lustre of par
ticuar passages, but to behold its whole path
way radiant, radiant everywhere, with the
true glory of just, conscientious, consum-
mate man! Of him we feel it to be no ex-
aggeration to say that
tall the ends he aimed at
Were his Countly's, his Gods, and Truths"
Of him we feel it to be no exaggeration tc
say, that he stands upon the page of history
the great modern illustration and example Of
that exquisite and Divine prccept, which fell
from the lips of the dying Monarch of Israel
10 tbut no IIIct
ruling in the fear of God;
And he shall be as the light of the morn.
ing when the sun rseth, even q morning
without clouds p'
Proceed, then, fellow-citizens, with the
work for which you have assembled ! Lay
the cornerstone of a monument which shall
adequately bespcak the gratitude Of the whole
American people to the illustrious Father Of
his Country! Build it to the skies you can.
not outreach the holiness of his principles
Found it upon the massive and eternal rock
you cannot make it more enduring than his
fame Construct it of the peerless Parian
marble: you cannot make it purer than hi:
life Exhaust upon it the rules and princi
pies of ancient and of modern art; you can.
not make it more proportionate than his
character!
But let not your homage to his memory
or column thc trI q" 10 aaSler 10 'S soe
yourselves. Just honor to Washington car
only be rendered by observing his precept!
and initiating his example. Similiudine de
coremuS. He has built his own monument
We and those who come after us in successive
generations are its appointed, its privileged
guardians. This widespread Republic is thu
true monument to Washington. Maintain it
Independence. Uphold its Constitution
Preserve its Union. Defend it Liberty. lie
it stand before the world in all its origina
strength and beauty, securing peace, order
equality, and freedom to all within its boun
diaries, and shedding light and hope and JOY
upon the pathway of human liberty through
out the world and Washington needs NJ
other monument. Other structures may ftly
testify our veneration for him; this alone
can adequately Illustrate his services to man
kind.
Nor does he need even this. The Repub
lie may perish the wide arch of our ranged
Union may fall; star by star its glorieS ma!
expire; stone by stone its columns and it
capitol may moulder and crumble all othc
names which adorn its annals may be forgot
ten but as long as human hearts shall any
where pant, or human tongues shall anywhere
plead, for true, rational, constitutional lib
erty, those hearts shall enshrinc the memor,
and those tongues prolong the fame Of GEoRGl
: WASHINGTON