Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-11-27
MISCELLANY Y
The Mission Of Washington.
BY C. H. WILEY, OF NORTH CAROLINA.


BY C. H. WILEY, OF NORTH CAROLINA.
For nearly six thousand years the world was
without one pure patriot; for nearly six thou
sand wears our race had been making progress
before it produced soldier without amition, a
statesman without guile, ruler who preferred
to live under equal laws rather than to be the
law himself.
He had been looked for through the long
years Of injustice and misrule, Of fraud and
force, his expected coming shed hope in the
hearts Of men. And often it seemed that he
had come; but they who ran to meet him and
laid offerings at his feet were smote with iron
rods and delivered into bondage. t..
Still this hope gathered strength, aud the
race advanced in the attributes of him who
came to redeem it from its fallen estate.
"The Lord planted garden eastward in
Eden," and there he put man, formed in his
own image, the possessor of life and happi-
ness. But he was tempted and fell, and his
estate forfeited and, with curse upon his
head, he was driven from paradise. West
ward, his face was set and westward his
children were still driven, leaving their pa
ternal estate, the happy mansion of their faith
er, behind.
Westward, still westward they continued to
60; but though they were ever leaving their
ancestral abode still farther in the rear, they
were all the time coming nearer 10 the condi-
tion which man once there enjoyed That ex-
lie was designed to chasten, soften, and purify
their corrupted natures; and at each remove,
instead of dragging a heavier chain, their
yoke became easier and their burden lighter.
Still onward they went in their pilgrimage,
forbid to look backward or turn back, the
avenger pursuing at their heels; but they car
ried a covenant with them, and they often
stopped to read and scan and study its prom
ises
Thus they fled till they reached the shores
of the Great Western or Atlantic Ocean; and
on its borders they multiplied and increased in
comfort and knowledge. But the spirit OF
Cain still pressed upon and scourged them =
and they took shipping, and with their cove
nant and its promises bade adieu to eastern
land, committing themselves and their hopes
to the wide sea, steering westward, though
nothing but the bleak sea was before them. -
They found land, new world of primeval for
es,s ; and here their hopes grew brighter and
their hearts stronger, while their minds ex-
panded with new ideas and happier fances.-
But the oppressor still pursued and overlook
them; and they looked again to be driven
westward to find their expected champion and
their resting-place. But he arose in their
midst; and they prepared to stand their ground
and TO fight here the battle of liberty, and Of
right.
They heard and needed word TO which hu-
man ears had been strangers since the strife
between Adams sons; they received and cher
ished counter-charm greater than that " di
vide and govern maxim which, since the
days of Nimrod, had worked such wonders fol
kings and politicians. That precious secret
that potent ,alisman was the word Union-i
blended the hearts of the common people int
one mighty heart, whose pulsations sent {
healihful glow over the whole country; it EN-
bodied the Just impulses of our better nature
into one living mass of opposeless principle
that spoke the same eternal truths with a thou
sand voices Of thunder, and it bound mp in on,
resistless arm the whole patriot-strength Of op
pressed humanity. This compact heart was
heart of power and courage; this blended sen
timent was consuming fire; this unitet
strength was an over-match for any human
force.
Diride and enslarer' shouted old Oppres
sion from beyond the sea; Z. Unite and b
free" whispered the spirit of Washington
They did unite; and this compact humanity
like mighty Briareus with thousand arms
struck back at pursuing tyranny, overwhelme,
and trampled on it, and shook off the chain
from its sturdy limbs.
The mission of Washington was fulfilled
he laid aside the sword and the insignia q
power, he enthroned law in the seat of justice
in the seat which he himself had filled and re
signed, and he bowed to it and hailed it as hi
ruler, and the ruler of all-God's only vicege
rent on earth. ~. ta .....
The hope of humanity was reached-it
Washington had .come-and as he descende
into the grave, he called his followers abou
him and gave them his parting blessing an
bis dying counsel. He told them how muc
they had gained, and how they had gained it
and he told them how they could retain III
blessings they had achieved.
His eye surveyed the extent, the beauty an
greatness of the country which had been pal
tally redeemed from the curse pronounced o
Adam earnestly and affectionately gazed o
the busy and happy throngs that watched fc
his last benediction; and his heart swele
within him as he solemnly uttered the la
Promptings of his patriotic spirit, " be unite
and free!'' and then passed forever from Ii
ABODE OF mortals. sia arT f ottFaxA
So far we have obeyed his injunction and il
herited his blessing. The wilderness has gi'
en- way to felds and meadows and gardens =
cities and towns and villages cover the haun
Of the deer and buffalo; our rivers are GROVE