The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-06-21


term to apply to many of the objects by which
it is distinguished.
Ii is always pleasant TO turn to the records
of the past, and never more 50 than when we
recur to those affecting the site selected as the
permanent seat of the General Government and
contrast them with our present history.
AS one of the first great ks-of permanent
cy the cornerstone of the Capitol was laid by
General WARRINGTON, on the eighteenth of
September, 1898, in the thirteenth year Of
American independence. A Georgetown paper,
published on the Goth of that month, in the
same year, gives glowing description Of the
grand procession and the attendant ceremonies,
which were conducted by the order of Free
masons, of which WASHINGTON appeared as
Grand Master p T. 1t is stated in this publ
cation that, elevated on triple rostrum, The
delivered an GRAFTON fitting the occasion, which
was received with brotherly love and common
dation. At intervals, during the delivery Of
| the grafton, several volleys were discharged by
the artillery. The ceremonies ended in prayer,
masonic chanting honors, and fifteen volley
from the artillery. The whole company retired
to an extensive booth, where an OK of five hun
dred pounds weight was barbecued, of which
the company generally partook, with every
abundance of other recreation. The festival
concluded with fifteen successive volleys from
the artillery, whose military maneuvres merit
every commentator"
The public records, which have been dill
gently searched, do not furnish any of the de
tails of General WAsHINGToN's address, We
are told that, in consequence of the yellow fe-
yer having made its appearance in Philadel-
phia day or two prior to the ceremony, the
alarm in that city was so great that the news
papers suspended their publication, which was
not resumed until the first OF December fol-
lowing.
LEWIS Fl. MAcHEN, esq, the present Assist
ant Secretary fthe Senate, was present. Hew
mere boy, and can remember only family the
proceedings on the occasion Of the roasted
OK, however, he has distinct recollection. In
| regard to this ceremony the following anecdote
| is related When WASHINGTON was offered by
physician the use of the only umbrella which
the country afforded to shield him from the
rays of the sun, he declined it, with the re-
mark ",To the ladies with it; doctor, have
been exposed to the sun before in the course of
my life"-a remark which Mr.. VARNUM, in
his History Of the Seat of Government, says,
''from the manner of its utterance, seems to
have made great impression on the hearers,
as one of the few instances in which WASH
INGroN joked or smiled"
Mr.. MAcHEN, though advanced in years, is
still active, and efficiently discharges his duties
as Assistant Secretary of the Senate; and, after
the lapse of nearly fifty-eight years, he may
have the privilege of witnessing on theapproach-
ing Fourth Of July, the laying of the second
cornerstone, or that of tho additional buildings
to the Capitol.
A writer recently, in the National Intelli-
gencer, over the signature of "W.," has fur
nished an extract from his manuscript work,
called "The "reminiscences of Washington, -
in which he says, among other things, abiding
TO the laying of the cornerstone in 1898:
"The Tbcr originally passed across what is now
the Pennsylvania avenue, about fifty PAGES west of
the brick arch. At this point the only bridge then
wasthe trunk Of tree, and higher up, near the
late railroad depot, q ford, over which, by
means of several large stones, foot passengers were
enabled to cross. II over this rustic bridge
that the procession. headed by General Washing
ton, passed to lay the stone of tho Capitol in
1893. The numbers assembled on that occasion
were not very great; but il took them time to
pass over the log bridge of which 1 have spoken.
While engaged in laying the corner stone with
Masonic ceremonies, the day being very sultry,
a citizen named Clotworthy Stevenson wished to
protect his head from the rays OF the sun by hold
ing umbrella over him; but he politely declined
the proffered favor, snying that he had been too
long accustomed to exposure to require its shelter
The ceremony was concluded with barbecue,
given in honor Of the occasion, not far from the
spot where Gen. Washington afterward erected two
largo brick buildings, which were destroyed by the
British army under General Ross during the last
war with England, in 1914, but which were re-
built and recently owned by Captain Wilkes, Of
the United States navy. The spring from which
the water was obtained for the assembled multi.
tude was at the bottom of the hill on which the
houses referred to stand, and is still there 1t may
now be seen flowing within few PAGES east of
New Jersey avenue, under which its surplus water
is conveyed through pipes, and flows into the
Tiber."
The apron worn on the occasion by General
WASHINGTON and the gavil have been care
fully preserved by the Masons. On the laying
of the cornerstone of the Smithsonian Insttu-
ton, in l847, Major b. b. French, as Grand
Master Of the District of Columbia, made use
Of them.
When the cornerstone of the Capitol was
laid, in 1898, there were fifteen States of the
Union. The number has since that time more
than doubled.
We observe illusions in many Of our ex-
change papers, North and South, to the fact
that committee Of Who's have rendered
Congressional nomination in the New Orleans
district of Louisiana to our late associate,
Mr.. ALEXANDER c. BULLITr. If the qualities
which are most attractive among personal
friends can win a general popularity, and if