The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1851-03-12
SPEECH OF har.
HON. EDWARD EVERETT.

- s.e t@-s ktrN ON tuio7 anDiferxAry Ffs<l-
val " honor Of the Memory sf Washington
The second regular toast having been
read. viz; \" The Constitution Of the
United States'-
The Hon. Edward Everett, of Mas
saehusetts. responded as followsi
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen: /
rise with great difidence to address
the company on this occasion, sensible
as ! am that there are gentlemen pre-
sent much more capable Of doing 80 ac-
ceptably than | am. and much more
worthy Of the honor conferred on me
by inviting me to respond TO the toast
which has just been proposed. l thank
you, sir, Notwithstanding, for allowing
me the privilege Of being present on
this most interesting occasion; espe-
cially. sir. do thank you Tor the ho-
nor done to me in calling on me to re-
spond to that great and noble toast.
!" The Constitution Of the United
States" Applause. Sir. you have
done we'll to give an early and promi-
nent place to q toast m honor Of the
constitution. on the birthday Of Wash.
lngton, tor more than to any other in
fiuence. under Providence. the country
owes the constitution to him. TConti-
nued applause.l Did not the 6oaora-
BILE gentleman who has instructed and
interested us so much this morning
lGen. Fsote)-did he not tell us from
history that the very first suggestion
made towards the constitution--not the
first official act. but The hrst private
suggestion made towards the formation
OF the constitution--was made at Mount
Vernon. in the house of Washington,
and by Washington himselfa ZAP
plause.] And vet. gentlemen. | know
not how to speak to you on this great
theme for after the most instructive,
and appropriate. and seasonable com
mentary on the character. principles.
and policy Of Washington that We have
just heard. it seems as if every thing
had been said that could be said. Still,
| know that Il is 4 field il which an
American audience can never tire.
Washington is to us 10 our recent his
tory-within our own days. within the
experience Of eur fathers-he 10 all and
more than all that history and tradition,
and venerable antiquity. have accumu-
lated on the name Of Alfred. and the
two or three great names Of others like
him, IL others such there be, worthy to
be remembered in comparison with
Washington.
The memory Of Washington is in.
deed an inestimable portion Of the mo.
raj treasure Of the country; and | dr
not know. gentlemen. but that ! Nigh,
almost say. but for the sacrifice Of hu.
man life that would be occasioned by
it. that one would rather that half the
continent should sink than that We
should lose the memory and the cha,
racter Of Washington great applause
Ia character to be held up TO the imi
tation Of our children. to be pointed out
to the admiration of the stranger. to bs
commended to the fervent applause o.
oil mankind, and to be handed dowr
to the latest posterity. Gentlemen
Washington was all this and more. i
was his great mission to render tn,
most important services to his country
in his own time, and to benefit all fu
ture ages, if we are but just to his me
mory and true to ourselves. And thii
year seems to be, out of many years. ;
most fitting one to commemorate th,
memory and services Of Washington
In that ever-memorable address, giver
to the people Of the United States.
think. on the 18th Of September, 1896
he alluds to "forty-fye years dedica
ted to the service of the country
Now, gentlemen, forty five years from
1896 carries US back to 1851, Just |
century from this time. as the com
mencement Of the career of Washing
ton, according to his own statement
General Foote has given US SO full
sketch of the more recent political ser
vices Of Washington, that he drives m
back to the beginning of his career. Ii
this year (l75l) he received, young a
he was, boy as he was, his first militia
~ appointment as adjutant general i
one Of the districts into which Virgin
ia was divided. Three years only ha
elapsed from the treaty Of Aix-la- Cha
pelle; but the movements which ha
commenced on the part of the Obi
Land Company, with view to the Sc,
Element Of the region west of the ALE
ghanies, had aroused the jealousy {
the French and Indians; and, in real
ity, these Insignificant local interest
were the original source Of that grea
seven years. war in which the leadin
States of Europe became involved
which ended in the capture of Quebec
the expulsion of the French from thi
continent. and, remotely. to the indt
pendence of the U. States. TCheers
!, Gentlemen, young as he was, Washing
ton rendered the most important SCI
vices in this war. He was but min,
toor vaare old in 1751. when he recel,