The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-26
THE REPUBLIC.
From The ~. Y Journal Of CoDpasrcs. Feb. "a.
Celebration OF yvsshington% birthday.

From the ~. Y. journal Of CoDrasrcs, Feb. "a
Celebration OF wsshingtonr Birthday.
The city, on Saturday, presented every indi-
cation Of a jubilee. in which the whole popula-
ton took common and heartfeltinterest. Blu
siness, generally was suspended, and the streets
were thronged with performers and spectators
in the grand celebration decreed by the public
voice in commemoration Of the Father of his
Country, on the anniversary Of his natal day
/ The National and State flags were hoisted
on the City Hall, fronting the park, and on the
4 hotels and other public buildings of the city.
Beneath the States ensign, on the City Hall,
i was tablet, containing in large letters: sBorr,
! 22d of February, 1922 and below this hung
full length painting of Washington. Other
tablets were affixed to the front and sides OF
the hall, bearing on them the words: "Bun-
ker Hill, y Lexington,D "TTenton." 'sMpn-
| mouth, !" &c. An immense concourse Of peo-
pie filled the park during the day.
| The weather was exceedingly fine. A mild
i temperature, and AN atmosphere unusually
! bland, tempted even iuvalids to the streets OF
the open windows. The aspect of the great
thoroughfares was gay and hilarous.
i The military parade was imposing and bril-
liant, and commanded general admiration. Ia
the evening the City Hall was Illuminated,
and crowds of people assembled TO witness the
gorgeous display.
The Grafton Of General FoorE was conceived
in excellent taste, and received with great sat
isfaction. There is ever temptation on such
occasions to show the wersof omtory but in
! this instance WAsHINGroN himself was allowed
to speak From his history and his letters, his
addresses, his writings, a vast fund Of wisdom
was gathered, applicable to the present disor-
] ders Of the country; and as word after word OF
warning was presented from tho writings OF
j lWAsHINGToN, the audience expressed their con-
currence, and their determinations be guided
by them, in a tone not TO be mistaken.
Il The dinner took place at 5 p. m. The Ia
!, bles were spread in the ballroom attached Ii
Nibo's theatre, and four hundred guests sal
I down to partake ofthe ample cheer provided fol
. them. The order and excellence of the enter
tainment evinced the adoption Of highly Judi
& cious arrangements on the part of the man
. ayers, abundantly adequate 20 secure the conve
niepce Of their guests The Mayor Of the city
presided, and around him sat numerous dstn
s guished persons, among whom we recognised
Hon. Edward Everett, Chancellor Walworth
Drs. Spring and Cox, and others not less emi
nentin their respective spheres.
Previously to the announcement of the regu
lar toasts, the following letters.were read iron
Z the President Of the United States and tn
Secretary of State, Hon. Henry Clay, an'
Hon. Lewis Cass.
N ~ WAsHINeTox, Feb. II, 1851.
GENTLEMxE: / have the honor to acknowledge tn
receipt of your kind letter, informing me that th
Union Safety Committee intend to unite with ihe
. fellow-citizens in celebrating the anniversary
of Washingto birthday, and inviting me to par
ticipate in the festivities. Many confederation
would tempt mo to accept this faitering inyitation
did not my official dutiea compel me to decline il
, Nothing could be more gratifying than to ules
! | my old friends in your enterprising city. The
! uniform kindness has laid me under many obligs
4 tions, and the noble stand which they have take
in support Of the laws and the UNION, is descryin
+ of the highest Communications. sia ssg
! Ii appears 10 me, too, that the birthday of Wasi
ington s deserving of every honor which tho Amer
! cans can bestow upon it. II is more than ha
n century since the grave closed all that wa
mortal of this illnstrous man; but his voice sti
I. speaks from the tomb His paternal advice sti
sounds in cars, and his far seeing wisdom sti
warns ofour danger. How truly prophetic is tha
paragraph in his Farewell Address, in which
says: 81
'sIn contemplating the causes which may distur
our Union, il occurs as matter OF serious conccr
A that any ground should have been furnished 70
: tions-northcrn and southern, Atlantic and wesi
. ern--whence designing men may endeayor to excit
. belief that there is real difference Of local in
! terests and views. One of the expedients of part
: 10 acquire influence within particular districts 10
r misreprcsen She opinions and aims OF other dia
e trcts. You cannot shield yourselves too muc
: against the jealousies and heartburning whic
9 spring from these misrepresenatons They ten
70 render alien to each other those who ought to
bound together by fraternal Affection
: Who can doubt that his calm conemplative min
looked down the long vista of coming years, an
saw in the distance that "designing men, woul
SOW sectional jealousics for selfish objects which
l might destroy that Union which he loved so wei
and which he Justly regarded as the very palladium
a of our liberties and national prosperity.
But this illustrious patriot taught quite as muc
| by his example as his prccepts. He was blessed b
nature with vigorous constitution and well
balanced and discriminating mind Not brilliant
but singularly calm and practical. His judgmen
was never clouded by prejudice or disturbed b
passion With never failing trust in an overrul
! ing Providence, he never doubted that righteou
: cause must succeed; and with self frcanc
which nothing could give but disinierested dc
votion TO his country, and firm resolve, II neccs
fnry, to offer himself upon it's altar he proved him
self the prudent, brave, and victorious general, an
tho vice and sagacious statcsman Hcnever sough
office, but, when conferred, he devoted soul nn'
Z, body 70 the performance Of its duties He shrunl
from no labor or sacrifice, and, whenever his ser
vices could be dispensed with, he voluntarily re
signed tho high trusts with which he invested
aud, without regret, retired to private lifc II
truly refreshing TO contemplate such character
, and slalsc ones thirst from so pure fountai
! But have said more than intended, and mus
close by returning my thanks for your invitation
and expressing the hope that, 30 far from weaken
ing The citations may strengthen the bond
of Union; that every sectional jealousy may be die
Ipeilcd; that every constitutional right may be hel
sacred and invioatc, and that our glorious Unio
may be as enduring as tho fame OF the immorts
Washington.
Ihave the honor TO be, your friend and fellow
citizen, MILLARD FILLMORE.
To Messrs. ]. j. Henry, nj. Taylor, II. GrinnelL
Townsend. G. Douglass, G. J. Carleton, +. Gri
fin, r. s. Lathrop, e. X. Collins, and II. G. We
more, Committee.
p wAsmxoroS, Feb. 20, 1851.
GEsrLxMnN: II is a sourco Of deep regret to m
that my public duties absolutely prohibit me froi
having the pleasure Of accepting your invitation
. in behalf of the Union Safety Committee, to atten