The republic., 1851-07-07

gushed officers now sitting on the military court
martial, ex-Secretary Marcy, G. W. P. Gusts,
the National Monument Committee, Officers
of the Navy. the members of the City COun-
ellis, Clergymen, and the Masonic Fraternity,
and others.
Arriving at the site, the gentlemen first re-
ferred to approached the spot intended for the
cornerstone. The foundation was dug TO the
depth of about fourteen feet. The stone, we
were informed, weighed between four and five
tons, and was procured several miles from the
city, in tbs State of Virginia.
THE CEREMONIES
Were commenced by the following prayer, Of
cred by the Rev. DR.. G. M. BUTLER:
Almighty and immsrtal God, King of kings and
Lord of lords, creator, redeemer, and bounti-
ful benefactor; we bow before thee in alteration,
thanksgiving, prayer, and praise Thou hast
given life; thou hast sent thy son Jesus Christ
to us from sin and death; thou hast surround
ed with the means of grace and set before the
| hopes of glory. Make US, we beseech thee, par
| takers of thy pardoning love. Give US grace
thankfully 10 accept thy mercy and earnestly 10 do
| thy will.
We bless thee, Heavenly Father! for all thy mer-
cies TO a nation. Thou art a strong tower to
| those who fear thy name Our fathers trusted in
| thee and were delivered. They have declared un-
to us the noble works which thou didst i'll their
days and in the old time before them. Thou ddst
| plant them in goodly heritage; thou didst unite
them in the hour of peril; thou didst cover their
heads and crown them with victory in the day of
battle; thou hast carried US, their children, for
ward to this happy day in fraternal union, pros
| perity, and peace. We beseech thee to continue
these thy blessings TO and to the generations that
shall come after Let thy Dest blessings rest
our beloved Chief Magistrate, the President of the
United States. Give to our law givers wisdom to de-
| ldelltV a
promote the public virtue. harmony, and veal.
| Bless our Governors, Legislatures, Judges. Mill
tary and Naval Officers, and all who discharge pub
lie trusts. Grant that all estates of men through
out land. in their several vocations and minis
tries, may do thy will and win thy blessing; that
peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion
| and piety, may be established among for all
| generations.
| We thank thee, Heavenly Father, for this day
| for the mercies which it commentaries, and the
mercies which it brings We bless thee that thou
didst prosper the purposes and answer the prayers
of our fathers, who, on this day, declared them
selves and their country free. We thank thee for
our broad land, our just Constitution, our good
laws, our regulated freedom, our Union, pros
perity, and our peace. Wethank thee that we are
permitted, this auspicious day, to lay the cor
stone of an extended Capitol to meet the wants
of our enlarged land. Prosper thou the work of
our hands upon US, oh Lord, our God! Grant
that as we lengthen our cords we may strength
stakes. Let liberty be guided
by law, knowledge by religion, our pow
we never use our freedom cloak of malicious
or icentiousness, but remember always that
"Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty
Preserve the States of this Confederacy in perpetual
union. Let not the spirit of pride of false ZEAL
or of wicked mischief, unbind break the bonds
which make them one. Let the cornerstone of
this Capitol and the corner stone OF the Union of
these States both rest stable and strong until they
shall be shaken and broken by the throes of the
surrection morn! Oh God, our God, and ia
thers God, we entreat thee by thy multiplied mer-
cies TO us in the past, by the momentous interests
OF the present. by all fond hopes OF future good
for ourselves, children, our country, and the
world. we entreat thee. to preserve the States of
this Union forever free and forever one!
Smile, Heavenly Father, upon the exercises Of
this day, in this place, and over all our beloved
land Preserve and bless those who engaged
in them. May halowed and happy influences at
tend the celebration of this anniversary more and
services and prayer, and freely pardon all per-
sona and national transgressions. for the sake Of
Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen!
The Architect OF the building, Thomas U.
Walter, esq, caused the first stone to be low
cred into its final resting place. The President
| of the United States then examined it, and,
after settling it with few strokes of stone
mason's mallet, pronounced it laid. The Archi-
tect and the Grand Treasurer of the Grand
Lodge of Masons (Robert Clarke, esq., de-
posted in cavity cut in the heart of the stone
glass vase containing the articles enumerated
below; after which the Masonic Fraternity like
wise made "a deposit, and the Architect caused a
heavy crowning stone to be lowered and secure
| ly placed over the cavity.
The President adjusted this stone likewise,
and invited the Grand Master of Masons Of the
District of Columbia to see that it was well
laid
| The Grand Master then called upon the
Grand Chaplain, Rev. G.. A. Davis, to ask the
blessing of God upon the work then about to be
performed by the fraternity, which was done.
The Grand Master examined the stone, ap-
piled the square, level, and plumb, and pro-
nounced it properly formed, and of suitable ma
terial for the purpose for which it was intend
ed. He then placed upon it the corn, wine,
and oil, saying, as he did so:
| May the all -bountiful Creator bless the people
OF this nation, grant TO them all the necessaries,
convenience and comforts Of life; assist in the
erection and completion of this edce, preserve the
workmen from any accident and bestow upon US
all the corn of nourishment, the wine of refresh
ment, and the oil OF joy.
He then said
w lln WIS gaVel, Wnlcn was used by the lmmor-
tai Washington, at the laying of the stone
Of that Capitol, and clothed with the same apron
that he then wore, now pronounce this corner
stone of this extension of that Capitol we'll laid,
true, and trusty.
Accompanying the last words with three
blows of the gavil.
He then presented to T. U. WALTER, esq.,,
the architect, the working tools, being the
square, level, and plumb, accompanying the
presentation with the following remarks:
MIR. ARCHITECT now with pleasure present to
| you these working tools of your own profession
the square, the level, and the plumb. We, as spec
| ulative masons, them symbolically; you, as
an accomplished architect, we'll know their use
practically; and may the noble ediice, here to be
erected under your charge, arise in its beautiful
proportions to completion, in conformity with all
your wishes; and may your life and health be long
continued; and may you the work go on and
the eap-stone laid under circumstances as ausp-
cious and "a happy those under which this cor
ner stone has now been laid
The orner-stone was laid at precisely IL
o'clock meridian; and signal being given.