The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-08-07
Mr.. WEBSTERS SPEECH AT WASHING
TON.

ttl6 foHI'H W July, WI. 'CostCf WuS tuc
orator ofthe day. From his speech on that
occasion, we extract the following passage:
Who does not feel that this seat Of the
general government, heathfuI in its situa.
ton, central ia its position, near TO the
mountains from whence gush springs Of
wonderful virtue, teeming with natures
richest products, and yet not far from the
bays and great estuaries Of the sea, easily
accessible and generally agreeable in eli
mate and association, does no, give strength
to the union Of those Statea that this city,
hearing an immortal name, with lis broad
streets and avenues, its public squares and
magnificent edifices cfthe general govern
mcn', erected for The purpose OF carrying
On within them the important business OF
the several departments for the reception
Of wonderful and curious inventions, the
preservation Of the records Of American
learning aud genius, of extensive collec
tons Of the products Of nature and art,
brought hither for study and comp psrisop
from all parts Of tho world adorned with
numerous churches, and sprinkled over, ]
am happy TO say, with many public schools,
where all tho children Of the city, without
distinction, are provided with the means Of
obtaining good educaticn-where nre
academies and colleges, professional schools
and public Libraries should continue TO
receive as it has heretofore, the fostering
care Of Congress, and should be regarded
as the permanent scat of the national gov
crnment. Here, too, citizen ofthc great
republic of fletters-a republic which knows
moi the metcs and bounds Of political geog
raphy has indicated, trust, prophetieal-
", to this nation, a wide and powerful in
nuence in the intellectual world, and TO
ibis city commanding position in the field
ofscience and literature, by endowing here.
and placing under tho guardianship Of the
government, an institution tfor the in.
crense and diffusion Of knowledge among
men," With each succeeding year new
interests is added to the spot. II becomes
connected with all the historical associn.
tions Of our country, with her statesmen
and her orators; and alas, its cemetery is
annually enriched with the ashes OF her
chosen sons. Before us is the broad and
beautiful river, separating two of the origi-
nal thirteen States, and which late Pres
dent, a man Of determined purpose and in
flexible will, but patriotic heart, desired to
span with arches of ever enduring granite,
symbolic Of the firmly cemented union Of
the North and South. On its banks reposc
the ashes the Father Of his Country, and
at our side, by singular felicity of posi-
tion, overlooking tho city he designed and
which bears his name, rises to his memory
The marble column, sublime in its simple
grandeur, and ftly intended to reach lof-
tier hoighth than any similar structure on
the surface Of the whole earth. Let the
voice Offering Of his grateful countrym
be freely contributed to cnrry higher and
still higher this monument. May | say.
as on another occasion. "Let it rise! lei
it rise! till il shall meet the sun in his COM
ing-let the earliest light Of the morning
gid it, and parting day lingcr on its sum
nit"
Fellow ciiizens--What CONCENTRATIONS
are awakened in our minds as we assemble
here to re enact scono like that perform
ed by Washington! Methinks | see his
venerable form now before mo, as present
ed ia tho glorious statue by Houdon, now
in the Capital Of Virginia. llo is dignified
and grave, but concern and anxiety seem
10 soften the Inoaments of bis countcnance-
The governmcn, over which he prosidcs is
vet in the crisis Of experiment. Not free
from troubles at home, he sees the world
ia commo,ion and arms around him. He
secs that imposing foreign powers are half
disposed to try tho strength Of the recently
established American government. We
perceive that mighty thoughts, mingled
with fears as well as with hopes, are strug
Cling within him. He heads short pro
ccssion over these then mixed fields; he
crosses yonder stream on fallen tree; he
ascends to the top Of this eminence, whose
original oaks OF tic forest stand as thick
around him as if the spot had been devoted
TO Druidical worship, and here be performs
tho appointed duty Of the day.
And now, fellow citizens, if the vision
we're rculity--if Washington actually
were amongst us--and il he could draw
around him the shades Of the great public
men Of his own days-patriois and war
rors, orators and statesmen-and were to
address US in their presence, would he moi
say to us-"Yo men Of this generation, !
rejoice and thank God for being able to see
that our labors and tolls, and sacrifices,
were not in vain. You are prosperous
YOU are happy--you are grateful. The
fire Of liberty burns brightly and steadily
in your hearts, while duty and the law re-
strain il from bursting forth in wild and
conhagraiion. Cherish liberty
as YOU love it--chersh its securities, as
you wish to preserve il. Maintain the
which wo laborod so painfully
to establish, and which has been to you
such source Of incs,imnblo blessings. Pre-
serve the union Of the States, cementcd as
il was BY our prayers, our tears, and our
blood. Be true TO God, your country, and
your duty. So shall tho whole Eastern
world follow the morning sun, to contem-
plato you as nation; SO shall all succeed
ing generations honor you us they honor
us; and so shall the Almighty Power which
so graciously protected US, and which now
protects you, shower lis everlasting bless
ings upon you and your posterity."
Al M.