The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-08
THE UNION.

pass mich condolences 10 this kind OF patriotism. which
dictated Compliance with the custom OF placing the hands
a Congress- in the treasury to make such appropriations,
and believed that the advocates thereof called 10
pay money from their own pockets for just such aiiiv
otc Objects would take very different oil the sub
jeci Iii said that the sellers pledged 10 have no
present at the sale but il the resolution be
passed. does any member believe that there viii not be
any number O. persons standing aoHna ready % run Up
Such his impression, from knowledge OF the man
ner in which such things ranspired, in the face Of the
sSSfs auf a what pes hs held
this manuscript.
Mr. CHANDLER Atnoprice Il has been appraised
at $1,000 the appraisement having been made BY order Of
could assure the House that there would be by bid
ding the part OF the estate TO which the manuscript
belongs.
Mr. CARTIER idnotthe honorable gentleman from
yania Mr. CHAsDLEal remark, when this subject
was last before the House, that lis price 81 900
Mr.. CHANDLER. No, SIR; lsiated that sum TO be its
Mr.. CARTIER Is The estate insolvents IN
Mr.. A. JOHNSON conceived that by. bidding could not
be prevented when the impression is rife that almost any
may be extracted from the government Tor the
relic Indeed the goose being fat there will be no lack
of persons standing ready and anxious thus to pluck her.
she has heretofore always been plucked on similar
occasions II love OF country is the reason why these
parties desire that this paper shall remain IN the posses
sion oil the government why do not these executors place
i without reward in the keeping Of the government But
ngton's pen scattered over the country The other day
he had in the hands OF gentleman letter from The
Father OF his Country to Mr. Miller, Why not buy
that also Some years ago, $4,000 had been spent IN
the purchase of the manuscripts OF Washington and II
seemed TO him that having paid that sum for these papers,
the government fairly entitled 70 this as one OF them
without being called for additional appropriation
for this object.
On concluding, Mr. a. JOHNSON moved the previous
Mr.: INGE requested him to withdraw ii /; and it being
withdrawn,
Mr. |. desired to say, in explanation Of his vote on
the amendment limiting the amount OF the purchase TO
thousand dollars that he was not influenced by the
motives imputed BY the gentleman from Tennessee he
believed that the amendment OF the member from Ohio
nadcous and tia, il certain sum we're esas
cang the manuscript would compel the agents OF this
House to give the full amount Il the amendment had
been adopted the manuscript could be purchased for
less than thousand dollars because this would have
been regarded estimate OF its value by Congress-
The very opposite Of the conclusions OF the gentleman
from Tennessee influenced his action. He opposed
TO the purchase of the manuscript any price, He could
appreciate the feeling which prompts members TO treasure
everything which belonged to Washington; and under
ordinary circumstances could applaud their indulgence
any extent short of sacrifice Of principles when the OBJ
ect is to treasure the sacred relics OF Washington But
this not the time for the collection of those treasures
The sentiments which animated Washington have passed
away Those national, patriotic sentmentshose senti-
ments which looked TO the good OF the whole Union
have passed from among u.s. Does the public feeling Of
this country now respond TO the sentiments OF Washing
toms Farewell Address There is feeling TO respond
On the contrary torn to pieces by conflicting pas
sons, at with the sentiments OF the address And at
time like this, when state OF things exists threatening
to tear down the fabric OF Union they were asked TO
purchase the sacred relics of Washington, to deposie
them with the government He must consider this propo
stion Dissertation OF the memory OF the santed dead
With these views, he was therefore opposed 10 the pas
sage OF the resolution.
II the question to invoke from The tomb the Iiv
ing principles OF Washington he should regard all the
money Of the government well expended in the price
less treasure But this time worn parchment is mock
ing memento Of their death Cold as the dust of the
dead, they lie buried in the tomb Of their departed
| author.
MIR. STEPHENS said that the warning truth stated by
the gentleman from Alabama Mr. lEGEl should address
itself to the House conclusive for the enact
ment OF the joint resolution under consideration; that the
condition OF congressional opinion which that gentleman
adoption The spirit actuang and pervadng that address
had indeed departed from among the people Should
not, If can call back Is there from the North,
South, East West, who would not invoke its return
II would be well for gentlemen from the North were
making aggressions upon the South to invoke the sent-
ments of the Farewell Address for their future guild
ance. The gentleman from Tennessee MIR JoHEsoNl
had inquired what the value OF this old writing
He trusted that had not yet reached the point
in our national history at which the value OF
the sentiments OF Washingtons Farewell Address is
be estimated He (Mr 81 trusted that we might never
reach H. He desired all to come together TO read over
that address, that the spirit OF true and sound patriotism
What is this old writing worth Ii is said there is an.
other copy IN the hand writing OF Washington There
can be but one original copy But the government may
have corrected copy What he Mr.. STrPHESsl wanted
was to have the copy passing from the hands OF Wash
ington TO the printer.
Mr.. A. JOHNSON Have you any evidence that this
is the original copy
MIR. STEPHENS had heard that there can be no doubt
OF the fact The resolution pescribes that the
committee shall purchase the original manuscript only,
and the committee will not fall OF course to see to that
| point.
Mr.. A. JOHNSON The joint resolution cannot be
amended IN tins stage OF the proceedings upon H. the
time Tor amendment being past ls contemplated that
the committee shall 20 person 10 Philadelphia 10 see TO
the fact OF the originality oil the manuscript or will they
inirust this duty 10 agent
| Mr. STEPHENS did not know. He took it for grant.
ed that the committee could be trusted to discharge their
/ duty faithfully.
Mr.. MEADE (interruptng Mr.. SrEPHEss) said that,
having addressed note TO the librarian OF Congress
the subject he had received reply, stating that that OIL
hcer was not that any copy OF the Farewell Adj
dress, IN the handwriting OF Washington, was in the
| possession oil the government
| Mr. STEPHENS. Who does not know with what in
teres all look upon fac smtes OF old writings from the
pens oil venerated persons-upon old English manuscripts
those OF Junius, OF Byrsn The original manuscnptot
Hamlet, were il attainable would readily bring price
far, very far beyond that at which the best printed ed
tons oil all Shakspeare's writings sell at this tune
Mr. ). did not design speaking at that time upon the
character OF Washington TO compare him to any other
man who has ever lived He would value such paper
from under his hands far than any original manu-
script from the pen OF any other man.