The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-24

| Washington was all this and more. But this is nc
the highest or best that can be said Of him II wa
vicesto his country, In his own time and 70 bene
all future ages, il we are but just 10 bus memory an,
true TO ourselves. And this year seems to be, GU
OF many years, most hthng one TO commemo
that ever memorable address, given to the people
OF the United States think, on the 18th Of Sep
tember, l796, he alludes to forty-hve years ded
Gated to the services Of the country" Now, gen.
temen, foriy.hve years from 1896 carris US back
10 l7ol, just century from this time, as the COM
mencement OF the brilliant career of Washington,
according 10 his own statement. General toote
has given you 30 full sketch of the more recent
political services of Washington, that he drives
me back TO The beginning OF his career. In this
year (l75D he received, young az he was
boy as ne was, his hrs. military eppointmen, as
adjutant general in one Of the districts into which
Virginia was divided. Three years only had
elapsed from the treaty OF Aix-a.C hapelle but the
movements which had commenced on the part Of
had aroused the jealousy Of the French and In
diaps and, IN reality, these Insignificant local in
tert sis were the original source OF that great
years war which ended in the capture of Quebec,
and, remotely, TO the independence of the United
States. (Cheers) Gentlemen, young as he was,
Washington rendered the most important services
in this war. He was but nineteen years old in
l75l, when he received his first military appoint.
ment jus. alluded to. Two years after, you all
recollect he went on a most romantic and danger
GRAND, 10 the residence of the French Governor
in veraDgo, and his narrow escape from the perils
of the elements and the rifle of the savage foe.
You remember the campaign OF the following
year, 1854, when on memorable day-on
the fourth of July, l754-W ashington, uafor-
tunatefy for every thing but his fame, had to
capitulate at what was then called Fort Ne.
ceseity, the very same day which the articles
OF UNION, proposed by Franklin, (alluded to BY
Gen. Footc) were signed at Albany. We see him
in the next year in the terrible campaign in which
Braddock vas slain, and in which two horses wore
shot under Washington, and his clothing was
pierced by four musket balls and then the courage,
the fortitude, the skill and the perseverance, with
which, young as he was, he conducted the retreat
of the wreck OF the royal army from those inaus-
picious fields, which raised him at once to posi-
ion before the public and TO hold on public con-
w h,6y saTs Of on 0oca
said by President Dawes ,in 1856 or 1857, in SER
mon 10 the volunteers of Hanover county, "let me
point, as remarkable instance OF patriotism, to that
brave youth, Colonel Washington, who, l can't
help but think, has been SO wonderfully preserved
by Providence TO render some important service to
his country" (Great applause | ask you, gen.
tlemen, where in uninspired history you can
point to another prediction like this Of youth of
iwenty-three, fulfilled as this was in the subse-
que mt career Of your Washington. Thus was he
heralded into the service of his country.
In the great scene of that service-the revolu-
tionary war. that great drama in human affairs--l
need not remind you how everything seemed to
cluster about him. There were others who rem
dered invaluable services in the cabinet and in the
field; but Washington was all in all to she cause.
do not think am doing injustice to other honored
names. There are many--more than can count
who rendered invaluable services TO their coun.
tp-who spoke the kindling words of patriotism in
dark times-who rendered most important services
to the country In diplomatic positions abroad
who reaped honorable laurels on hard-fought
fields-but it was in Washington alone that
the heart OF the country cast anchor in
seasons of darkness, of calamity, and, but for
i'm n(A Aon AnA o.r
when the revolutionary war fought to a tr-
umphant close, and the colonies seemed unable,
under the old confederation, to recover from their
exhaustion, what il that induced those States,
each proud and justly 80, OF its hardly earned in
dependence, to abdicate something of their sove.
reignty on the altar of patriotism, and consent to
The establishment Of strong central government
Gentle men, they well knew into whose hands 1t
would first Po-they knew that he would set up a
pre- cedent that his would not lightly de-
Part from. am almost tempted 10 quote the sub
lime words of Milton
far OF his coming shons.
They needed in his case none of the poor ma
ehiney OF electioneering-non OF the nominating
conventions in Philadelphia or Baltimore Zap
plause)-it needed none OF those TO point out
Washington TO the choice OF the people. In
| his care that great civil act, by which q
free people constitute their rulers. An &C
| which ! think we ought always to approach
with something Of the solemnity and cons centious
| ness with which we approach our religious duties
Washington's case even this great civic &C, wa,
but an august ceremony. From the moment the
federal convention had decided that there should
| be a President, and nine States had adopted the
| constution-although there were electoral col
efes iaterposed between the people and the candi-
dates, and votes were 10 be given for TWO persons
for President and Vice President, not naming
which was intended for either office, yet in Wash.
iDgton's case these were all found; for from the
ms ment when the constitution was adopted, he was
chosen in the hearts of the people. enthusiastic
cbeering) All the stages Of an election, all the
forms of suffrage, were but the outward promulRa-
uon Of this spontaneous moral choice. Well,
gentlemen, after he was elected, how often in his
administration did his personal weight Of character
his individual influence. carry the country through
the severest Trials In one instance, especially,
when the minds OF the people were embittered on
the hand, by the detention of the posts
and the interference of the British cruisers with
our neutral trade, and when, on the other hand, we
were drawn very strongly towards France by the
contegion Of political reform, and the grateful re-
membrance OF valuable services in the revolution
the influence Of Washington was able TO subdus
the stntiblites Of the country to the measure Of
Just policy, and restrained them from rushing intc
the revolutionary wars which wasted the strength
and shook the stability OF Europe for more thar
thirty years. Now, gentlemen, what would ear
nestly ask is this all this mighty influence o
the character, and principles, and memory o.
Washington must they ell be buried in his
tomb Voices---Never; never.) Is all that h,
was to Us, and to manklnd-all his political
Wirutn, nc tkltIltuCts MS uusurprttcu
ttre.tedness-sll, in short, that made him to
be Washngion-is all this 10 be consigned to obi.
| won, in his dark and narrow house on the banks
Of the Potomac : (Cnes Of No. no." from all
parts Of the room) No, Heaven forbid. II is the
great preroRative Of our rational nature that mind
| and IT'S influences can never die and unless we
| are cold and dead, we shall listen to the voice
| which speaks TO through his immortal address
| with deeper reverence than that with which we
should listen to his living csunse U.s. That address
wac the most caraully prepared product OF mind
| from which nothing crude or I'LL considered evel
went forth-the maurest result OF his fe.lonp
| experience. At the close OF his political and mill
tary career haviIg fought through two great wars
one Of which ended in establishing the indepen.
dence Of his counuy-hayng been twice unsni
nously called to the chief msgistracy, and sbou
TO retire from office for the Last time, and as hs
thought for ever, into beloved retirement, as hi
called 1.-THE gave to the people Of the United States
his last counsels, as he calls them, in language
| can never repeat without tmo'ion-"of an ole
| and afiectionae friend" You have read /
| n fhoussnd t,pea Won nIace IN in the hand