Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-07-14

silly accessible and generally agreeable
in climate and association. does give
strength to the union Of these States; that
this city. bearing an immortal aamc, with
its broad streets and avenues. its public
squares and magnificent edifces Of the
general government, erected for the pur-
pose of carrying on within them the imPor-
tant business Of the departments for the
reception Of wonderful inventions. the pre-
scrva,ion Of the records of American learn
ing and genius, Of extensive collections Of
the products OF nature and art, brought
hther for study and comparison from all
parts ofthc world; adorned with numerous
churches. and sprinklcd over. lam happy
TO say, with many public schools. where
all children Of the city, without distinction
are provided with the means Of obtaining a
good education-wherc there are acade-
mics and colleges, professional schools and
libraries-should continue to receive. as il
has heretofore, the fostering care OF Con
gress, and should be regarded as the per
manent seat ofthe national government
Here, TOO, a citizen Of the great republic oil
letters republic which knows not the
metes and bounds Of political geography
has indicated. l trust, propheiically, to this
nation, wide and powerful influence In
the intellectual world, and to this city
commanding position in the field Of science
and literature, by endowing here, and pla.
cling under the guardianxhip of the govern
ment, an institution "for the increase and
diffusion Of knowledge among mem
With each succeeding year new interest
is added to the spot. 1t becomes connect
ed with all the historical associations OF our
country, with her statesmen and her ora
tors, and alas, its cemetery Is annually en-
ricbcd with the ashes Of her chosen sons.
Before US is the broad and beautiful riv-
er, separating two Of the original thirteen
States, and which late President, man
of determined purpose and inlexible will
but patriotic heart, desired to span with
arches of ever enduring granite, symbolca
Of the firmly ccmented union OF the NORTH
and tho South On its banks repose the
ashes Of the Father of his Country, and Al
our side, by a singular felicity Of position
overlooking the city which he designed
and which bears his name, rises to his me
mory the marble column, sublime in 1T
simple grandeur, and fifty intended tt
reach loftier height than any simila
structure on the surface Of the who'll
earth. Let the votive offerings OF his CRATE
full coun,rymrn be freely contributed t.
carry higher and still higher this monu
ment. May say, as on another occasion
"Let it rise! let il rise! till it shall meet TIN
sun in his coming--let the earliest light o
the morning gid it, and parting day hinge
and play on its summit"
Fellow ciiizens-What CONCENTRATIONS
arc awakened in our midst as we assem-
BILE here to re-enact scene like that per
formed by Washington! Me;hinks l Sc,
his venerable form now before me, as pre-
scented in the glorioos statue by Houdon
nowin the capitol of Virginia. He is dig
nifcd and grave, but concern and anxiety
seem to soften the lineaments Of his coun-
tcnance The Government over which he
prcsides is yet in the crisis of experiment.
Not free from troubles at home. he sees
the world in commotion and arms all a
round him. He secs that imposing foreign
powers arehalf disposed totry the strength
OF the recently established American gov
ernment. We perceive that mighty
thoughts, mingled with tears as well as
with hopes, are struggling within him.
lie heads a short procession over these
thcn naked fields; he crosses yonder stream
on fnllen tree; he ascends to the top of
this eminence; whose original oaks Of the
forest stand as thick around him asif the
spot had been devoted to Druidical wor-
ship, and here he performs the appointed
dnty of the day.
Md now, fellow citizens. if this vision
, were reality, If Washington actually were
amongst MS, and if he could draw around
him the shades ofthe great public men Of
bis own days-patriots and warriors, ora.
tors and statcsmcn-and were 10 address
rs in their presence, would he not say to
Il us, "Yc men of this generation, | rejoice
and thank God for being able to see thai
our labors and tolls and sacrifices were no
IN VAN. You are prosperous, you are hap
by, you are grateful. The fire af hberf,
burns brightly and steadily in your hearts
while duty and the law restrain it from
bursting forth in wild and destructive con
hagation. Cherish liberty as you love i
cherish its securities as you wish TO pre-
SC We it. Maintain the Constitution which
we laborcd so painfully to establish, ant
which has been to you such a source Of in
estimable blessings. Preserve the Unior
Of the States, ccmented as it We're by oul
prayers, our tears, and our blood, b,
true To God, your countr, and your duty
so shall the whole eastern world follow
the morning sun, to contemplate YOU as .
nation, so shall all succeeding generation,
honor YOU as they honor us, and so shall
that Almighty Power which so graciously
protected us, and which now protects you
shower its everlasting blessings upon 20,
and your posterity"
President Fillmorel 1t is your singu
larly good fortune to perform an act sucl
as that which the earliest of your prede
cossors performed fiity-cight years ago
You stand where he stood. You lay you
hand on the corner stone of building de.
signed greatly to extend that whose cor
ner stone he laid. Changed, changed i
every thing around. Thesamc sun, indeed
shone upon his head which now shines up
on yours. The same broad river rolled a
his feet and baihes his last resting place
that now rolls at yours. Butthe site of thu
city was then mainly an open 6cld,-
Streets and avenues have since been laic
out end completcd-squares and publ,
grounds enclosed and ornamented, un
nj the city which bears his name. although
comparatively uncomfortable in number.
and wealth, has become quite fit to be the
seat ofthe government of great and uni.
ted people. Sir, may the consequences oil
the duty which you perform so suspicious
~ to-day equal those which flowed from
his act. Nor this only. May the princi-
pies OF your administration and the wis
dom OF your political conduct be such as
mat the world of the present day, and all
history hereafter may be nj M L..