The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1851-03-12


mango. and his narrow escape from the
perils Of the elements and the rife of
the savage Zoe. You remember the
campaign Of the following year. 1884.
when on an ever-memorable day-sn
the fourth Of July-washington. unfor-
tunately for every thing bat his fame,
had to eapitulate at what was well
called Fort Necessity--the very same
day on which the articles Of union. pro-
posed by Franklin. alluded to BY Gen.
Foote. were signed at Albany. We
see him in the next year in the terrible
campaign in which Braddock was slain.
and in which two horses were shot un-
der the youthful hero himself. and his
clothing was pierced by four musket
balls. The courage. the fortitude. the
skill. and the perseverance, with which.
young as he was. he conducted the re-
treat Of the wreck Of the royal army
from those inauspicious fields, and
watched over the safety Of the frontier
for the residue Of the war. raised him
at once to = position before the public.
and to . hold on public confidence,
which years Of success, on many occa-
sions. are hardly enough to reach.
Well was il said by President Davies,
in 1855 or 1877, in sermon to the vo-
lunteers Of Hanover county, "let me
point, as . remarkable instance Of pat
riotism. to that brave youth. Colonel
Washington. who. can't help but
think. has been so wonderfully pre-.
served by Providence to render some
important service TO his country"
Great applause.l l ask you, gentle
men, where in uninspired history you
can point to another prediction like
this. Of a youth Of twenty three. fulfil
led As this was in the subsequent ca
reer Of your Washingtonf Thus was
he heralded into the service Of his coun-
try.
In the great scene Of that service.
the revolutionary war. that mighty dra-
ma in human atfairs--I need not re.
mind you how every thing seemed to
cluster about him. There were others
who rendered invaluable services in the
cabinet and in the field; but Washing
ton was all IN all to the cause. Iwould
not on any account do injustice to any
other honored name. There were ma.
ny-more than | can number-who rem.
dered invaluable services to their coun.
try--who spoke kindling words Of pa
triotism in dark times--who rendered
most important services to the country
in most arduous and responsible diplo-
matte positions abroad = who reaped
honorable laurels on hard fought fields
but it was on Washington alone that
the heart Of the country cast anchor in
seasons Of darkness. Of calamity. and,
but for him. Of despair. [Great ap.
plasse.1 ] And, sir. when the revolu.
tionary war was brought to q trium.
plant close. and the colonies seemed
unable. under the old Confederation
to recover from their exhaustion, what
was il that induced those States, each
proud, and justly 80. of its hardly earn
ed independence. to abdicate some por.
ton Of their sovereignty on the altal
Of patriotism, and consent to the estab
lishment Of strong Central Govern
menti Gentlemen, they well knew
into whose hands It would first GO
they knew that he would set up prece
dents Of administration that his success
sors would not lightly depart from.
am almost tempted to quote the sub
lime words Of Milton
"rar OF his coming shons."
/ They needed in his case none Of III,
poor machinery Of felectioneering--non'
Of the nominating conventions in Phi
ladelphia or Baltimore-[a applause !
il needed none Of those to point ou
Washington to the choice of the peo
pie. In his case, that great civil &C
BY which free people constitute thei
rulers-an act which | think we ough
always to discharge with something o
the solemnity and conseientieusnes
with which we approach our religion
duties ian act too little deemed Of il
these modern days)-in Washington
case even this great civic act was bu
an august ceremony. From the mo
ment the Federal Convention had de
cided that there should be President
and nine States had adopted the con
stitution-although there were arrange
, ments and contrivances intended I
cause some uncertainty in the designa
ton for office-although there wer
E electoral colleges interposed betwee1
the people and the candidates. an
J votes were to be given for two person
l for President and Vice President, nc
! naming which was intended for eithe
office. yet in Washington's case thes
were all but forms; for from the me
5 ment when the constitution was adopt
: ed, he was already chosen in the heart
l of the people. Enthusiastic cheering
!. All the stages Of the election, all tn
! forms of suffrage, we're but the outwar
! promulgation Of this spontaneous NOR
: choice.