Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-02-26
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
:, $1,000. ,Ssn
THE VIRGINIA WASHINGTON MONUMENT.

sons has receded-,nd the calm of satisfaction and pride
noble deed now rests on tho metropolis Friday last, tn
birthday of the great Vrgnian was indeed proud DAY 10
the Old Domnion- witnessed the beginning OF the grea
work long contempaedthe laying of the cornerston
of monument TO George Washington the cordial menori
al of Vrginias love and gratitude great beneiacto
mankind We shall attempt picture of the scene ant
its many stirring incidents. All that shall essay is
brief outline of the most prominent features
1t was with heavy heart that looked out on Friday
morning, and the heavens overcast. Soon AFTER
slight blew up and prospects looked dark indeed
1t did not however, prevent the gathering OF the mgh'
mass of population In the streets TO do honor to the day
About half past eleven the procession commenced Its marcf
from the County Court House in the order of the published
Chief Marshal und his aids in front-ther
the Governor Of The State President of the United States
and ex-President Tyler in barouche, drawn BY -four
splendid bays mot ,cite horses as stated in telegraph
ic letter in the Baltimore American0 kindly loaned
by Poitiaux Robinson Esq., and driven by Mr. c. r. Allen
then beautiful column of the military, including the
fine corps of city and county, the Cadets from
Lexington and the Artillery, Captain Paul. and the Blues
Captain Donnan, from Petersburg-then the Executive
Council the orator of the day. Robert g. Scott Esq and
the Presidents suite and Governors aids In carriageshen
the commissioners of the Washington Monument and Mr.
Crawford sculptor and architect who designed the
men The Legislature followed-nnd the officers OF
the State Federal and City Governments the Clergy United
States and Virginia military ofcers-and brilliant cortcge
of associations viz: the Historical the Scientific and Lite
rary Fire Association, lin handsome uniformly Odd Fellows
Drids Sons of Temperance, Rechabes German Benevo-
lent Society," United American Mechanics other societies OF
mechanics and the Masonic fraerny-a bearing their rich
and beautiful insgnia-but striking than the
Knights Templr with their black velvet caps and dccora
,ons black and gltterng swords Citizens on fool
horseback and In carriages closed the procession which
| estimated to have been mile long.
The procession moved In regular and solemn ORDER to the
music several excellent bands and among them the fine
s. Band from Old Point which accompanied Gen Bankhead
and suite The side walks crammej and the doors and
windows on each side filled with ladies' children and
men, waving white handkerches and otherwise manfesnp
their pleasure Across Main Street from the American
Hotel white banner suspended BY rope OF arbor
vita and ntertwined bearing the following inscription
rThe gallant hero-Hghest civil ofhcer-Taylor-The HUI
name conqueror-The unpreending citizen. Thy arm Sc
cured us in battle Virginia daughters welcome her son. Thy
hear, will save US in peace" The "Second Washington
stopped the carriage spell this tribute in regard TO the
propriey of which, as from the fair fingers OF NO
| man. whose sway is onnipoient shall make no com
ment.
The long and beautiful procession marched to "a street
thence 10 Broad and down Broad TO h where open order
was taken and the Governor President &c. moved through
the ranks of the military &c. to the northern gate OF the
Capitol Square There they left the carriages proceeded to
the site where the was to be laid and occupied
the platform between the stagngs overlooking the
cavaon The patriotic curiosity of the crowd of both aex
esq was SO intense that regardless of the published pro
gramme they took the matter into their hands and fill
ed the whole of the stagngs The stagngs were cal
cuated hold about 1900 persons-we learn that double
that number occupied them with perfect safety and not
suspicion of accident marred the proceedings OF the
day. The crowd around the excavation was immcnse-ani
i, was with some difficulty that the Governor the invited
guests the Legislature and the Masons could pass through
70 their assigned positions The Masons surrounded the
cavationsome Dozen who 10 ofciae occupied the
bottom of the foundation including Grand Master Points
b. b. French of Washington City, and other distinguished
Masons Of this city and other pacesthe Knights TEN
par with their swords occupying the broad seps
which had dug the EARTH descending TO the bottom
| An Anthem was sung by the Masons, as follows
Tune-PALERMo.
To Heavens high Architect all praise,
All gratitude be given
Who deigned the human soul 10 raise
BY secrets sprung from Heaven
| Now swells the Choir in solemn tone
And lowering Angels Join;
Religion looks delighted down
When voiaries press the shrine
| Blest be the place thther repair
The true and pious train;
Devotion wakes her anthem there
And Heaven accepts the strain.
An eloquent prayer was then pronouncedby Rev. Dr. Em
pie, Chaplain, as follows:
Great Parent of the Universe our Father in Heaven the
God in whom live, and move, and have our being, We
he Masonic Fraernes and the thousands OF others assem-
bed here on this interesting occas0n DESIRE al the begin
ming sour work. to look TO Thee he great Archec
the Universe upon whom we depeh1 ars. ,ot m a,
of our fathers under the protection and guidance OF hy
good Providence this country was discovered and settled
and our independence ultimately acheved-and as IN the
times tried mems souls our nation always sought
and obtained thy blessing, SO we beseech thee noe io
Jesus sake look down graciousy upon u.s. Forgive ou
sins hear prayers smile upon our eorts anu DOM nc
cept ard bless the work of our hands.
We would not assemble o God, and grant that we may
not have assembled merely do honor to the great and
good-but also do homage that 0verung Providence
that has shaped happy destny-not merely 10 raise
monument Of gratitude man. but also to raise our monl
of gratitude to thee thou divine Author OF all good
and TO endeavor suitably ecoect and profit by the hume
rous and thrilling associations Of this day and this occasion
In dsproof Of the reproach that Republics know not how
10 be grateful Lord let the here to be erected
once only token Of honor and gratitude to him
who "6rs in frat in peace and first in the hearts
his countrymen" but also public and national monu
men, Of thanksgiving reared by grateful hearts Him
good providence reared up the man. who In the car Oh GOO
and under Heaven. like another Moses led our armies and
we are 80 highly distinguished. Great Ruler of Worlds and
Ruler Hearts in whose hands are the desines OF nations
by the influence of Thy blessed word and spirit deep
sense of national and Of individual hankuness to pervade
every heart Make US all duly sensible Of Thy great
goodness and our great obligations We aud and praise Thy
name for raising up in greatest need the man. the par
ot the hero the unostentaous christian whom we hnrf
this day assembled to honor We thank Thee for that deter
mined and self sacrificing spirit of unity and freedom which
peyaded our counry for the thunder of that native elo
quence he breath Of reedoml which then shook The cont
nent for the voice of that wisdom and patriotism which
! Guided our councis and thank Thee that our owr
Cherished native State Virginia, stood foremost In ht
| cause Of liberty. We give glory 10 Thy name, Q God
for that invisible hand that rded our gea. leader for t
conctthat guided and gaded him through the successive
stages of our Revolutionary struggles that he was one othos
chosen ones who abuay bent his knee In homage and
prayer and through Thy grace this was his armour
this the salvation of his country We would ascoe It to
the good Providence Of God that the life OF our
ton was nen era the history of government and OF man
that thou didst him up in this Western henspher
for the purpose of making him instrumental in establishing
the true principles of civil and religious liberty which arr
essentato happiness and civil prosperity and which
since then have been gradually pervadins the civilized
world; and we thank Thee Lord that after conflict whicl
shooS the pillars of distant throne thou hast pleased q
order that our nation and her great Commander shont
stand as the admiration Of the world We bless thy name
our Father in Heaven for establishing here model GOV
eminent for the nations of the earth TO copy-for gvnt
her. an impulse to the human mind in opposition to I'M
baeu influence and dominion of civil and religious ran
and in favor of enlightened and well regulated freedom
L h,,o air Fro