The republic., 1851-07-07
A. +. CUNMEGHAM, p. G. w. p, who de-
liveTed the following address.


TON: Itake great pleasure in presenting TO yon gen
tlemen, the delegation Of the Sons of Temperance
from the great State OF Pennsylvania to which has
been conceded, by all her confederates the distin-
guished and honorable appellation Of the s.Key-
stone" to the Federal arch formed by the Union OF
these States, cemented and bound together by the
Constitution, that perfect work of the most exalted
and wise body of men ever met together in council
TO create organic law-foreyer Infamous be the
who seeks to destroy it, by abrogating its pro-
visions, by misconstruing, or by changing, in any
way, ts letter or spirit. In every great and pa
triotc movement Pennsylvania has stood upon
the level with her compeers, and brightly does
she shine forth this day in her philanthropic
character. On this. the natal day OF political
liberty, and the exaltation of human wisdom,
portion OF her sons appear before you to pre-,
sent their testimonial OF their deep affection and
profound veneraon for the character and services
OF the immortal WAsRISGToS to be placed in that
monument, now already pointing TO the skes,' .
to tell to after ages how deeply grateful were the
tri9 They do not expect, and it ia not presumed
that you, gentlemen, are actuated by the vain
hope that this monument will outlive the timee
during and never-dying fame of him who will be
known when monuments Of brass and stone, now
created shall be crumbled into dust and lost in OBJ
llylon No! they only ask TO incorporate their Of
fering in the work Of those earnest lovers of
IseroN who have been engaged for years in stmu-
lating their countrymen up TO the commencement
OF this tangible testimonial Of the appreciation OF
MIS- worth. All honor and praise TO the noble band
OF our felow-citizcns who had looked forward with
undoubting faith to tho day when monument
worthy ofthe patriot toarior, sassDlan and worthy
ofhis counrymen, should be erected under the
lutions OF Congress. but who, relnqushing that
hope long deferred appealed directly to the people,
have laid the foundation of this noble structure as
deep end securely in the public heart its real foun
daton is fixed in the soil that WAsHIsGros loved,
trusting to tho spirit Of beraty and love of coun
try. which peculiarly fills every true American bo-
som, to its imposing shaft arise until its pure
sides shall catch the fret beams of the morning
sun, increasing IN spendor till il shall reflect its
departing rays like the flashes of light from gor-
geous shield of FURNISHED silver studded with car
buncles when all around below is covered with the
shadows Of approaching night-ft emblem of the
mighty dead, whose deeds shine brighter and more
effulgent as the night Of death removes him far
ther and farther from our immediate consolation.
What q grand talisman il will be to those who
may hereafter be called upon to guide the des-
tlnies OF this mighty nation, and to occupy the
Presidential mansion-acting a perpetual
buke to the viciously ambitious, on the one hand.
seeming to pierce the darkest recesses Of their
black and corrupt hearts, and to expose their
evil Intentions to the gaze of indignant world ;
while, on the other, it will appear u. "pillar Of
hre by night" to encourage the virtuous and pa
triotic in their efforts and labors to 80 WELD the
weighty powers entrusted to their hands that
when they come to resign them, they may receive
the need of praise from grateful people, who
have been made happier, and better, and more
free by their labors; and the 10 pean shall
gush through the lips, from all hearts, of "We ell
done. good and faithful servant" II will teach
all that, If they aspire to a name and a place
in the memories ofthe future, and to be enthroned
In the hearts best affections of posterity, they must
be guided by the disnterested principles of him
whose life and character is vividly brought before
us this day-whose every act dictated in
WISDOM, and executed with TEMPERANCE, having
Justice alone in view.
however attractive and grand this stupendous
column may be to the eye Of the beholder, in out
ward appearance, it will not be half as pleasing to
me as It's inward casing, containing, as il will the
thousands OF memorials from States, cities, towns
societies., incorporated and unincorporated, and
from individuals, bearing in every form of express
sion-by pen and chisel-emblems, mottoes, senti-
ments, all expressive of profound love for WASH
INaToS, and breathing the most exalted patriotism
what study OF vast and thrilling interest will it
not present TO the vsiter, as he slowly wends his
way upward, from landing to landing, to note these
various memorials, and know that they were the
free-will offerings OF his countrymen-not wrung
from them by the hard hand ofarbitrary despotism.
to aggrandiEe and perpetuate unworthy name.
IL will, sir, be truly embematic ofour country, and
our institutions, where the high and the humble
stand upon the same impregnable platform Of po-
htlcal freedom and equality-to the eye OF the un-
practised observer presenting nothing but ncon-
gruous and heterogeneous mass of human beings,
guided by no fixed standard of political action; yet
when aroused by the tocsin 30 firmly united
and actuated by one impulse, that they may safely
"defy world in arms," that would Geek to enslave
the free or attack the sacred legacy left by
patriot fathers. From the base to the apex of this
colossal shaft will be found but lesson-of love,
gratitude, veneration, and patriotism lesson that
most devoutly pray may be read by all people, of
every nation, till the last throne that supports
tyrant shall be crumbled into dust for want of use
and every man, of every cline, be allowed to "sit
under his own vine, and under his own fig tree,
with mono to make him afraid" in the whole bound
less universe Of God.
In this magnificent American archive. Mr.. Pres-
ident and gentlemen of the building committee
vHntI ,Sot,,
perance of the State of Pennsylvania, whom
now have the honor Of introducing to you, de-
sire that the beautiful stone, adorned as IT is
with its characteristic and appropriate emblema-
tic devices, may find resting place. l will
not deain you with any heightened remarks,
nor presume to interfere with the presenta-
tion, not doubling that that duty is commit
ted to an eloquent and competent Son, who will
do full justice to the occasion, and to the glorious
cause In which they, with us, and mighty army,
who wear this decoration, spread over the conti-
nent Of North America, are daily engaged; l al
lude to the cause of TOTAL ABsTINKNCE-a cause
in which all mankind interested, from the
most lofty to the most lowly; for no rank or con-
dlton In life is secure from the ravages of intempe
rance, unless they have buckled on the whole ar
NOR OF Son of Temperance. 1t is not my pro-
vince, nor do intend this occasion, to deliver
a lecture on Temperance to the distinguished au-
dience here assembled; but their observation
will bear me out in the position have Just stated
II Is Tor them to examine the fact, and be guided
w uecibiou VI tuelr calm ana matureQ 1uuG-
ment; il is for theH, alone choose on which side
they will throw the weight of their influence, in
the great moral warfare we are now waging
against the destroying tyrant ALCOHOL and his
allles-Poverty, Disease, DEATH, and DISHONOR.
And now, Mr.. President, in closing, permit me
to introduce to your notice the Order of the Sons
OF temperance, forming the section controlled
by the Grand Division of the District of Columbia.
Although they cannot make the same display,
to numbers, that, on occasion like this, would
be witnessed in the larger jurisdictions of the
States, yet, sir, they are actuated by the phi
lanthropic zeal that permeates through the i'm
mense host OF their brothers, numbering half
million of stout, sober, discreet, and wise men,
spread over this glorious land of ours. The Spar
tan band now before you is engaged in the same
benevolent work, within their jurisdiction, that the
whole host is endeavoring to accomplish in their
several respective spheres; and although they find
much to dishearten them, and to contend with, in
their efforts to do good to their fellow men, in the
customs which now prevail in fashionable society
here, they do not despair of being finally triumph
ant Animated by the red, the ,chitc and the biw,
expressive of Love, Purity, and Fidelity, they look
forward with hope to the day when the demon Of
the still and the spirit of the vino cask will not
have single worshpper in all the world. May
good and aid como to our cause from this days
cslebration, to make more free and great as a
people and a nation.