The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-03-17

DEN's speech at the Congressional Banquet in
this city, on the 2lst ultimo, having been very
brief and imperfect, we publish the full report
by Messrs. HINoks and SMITH, as revised by
the speaker. We also give the speech of Mr..
TooMBs, of Georgia, on the same occasion.
REMARKS OF MIR. CRITTENDEN.
Mr.. PREsIpENT | regret that in this company,
where there many others more capable,
should have been selected and called upon to
| spond to the toast announcing the Father of his
Country as its mighty theme You have met, sir, to
commemorate the anniversary of his birth. The
occasion and the associations by which we
| rounded-here, in the city which he founded, at
| the Capitol and seat of Government which he es
tablished, in sight of Mount Vernon, hG chosen
residence and the sacred sepuchre Of his nmains-
the occasion and the associations make US feel as
| though we were almost brought into his presence;
| at least his name is here-a name which can never
die-a living name, before which every head in the
| civilized world is bent in reverence, and to
| which the homage Of every true American heart
is due. Loud appause.] ! almost fear 10 speak
on such a subject The character of Washing
| ton has ascended above the ordinary language
| OF eulogy. Cesar, Napoleon, CroIn
| well, may excite the noisy applause OF the
world, and inhame the passions of meh by the
story of their fields and their fame; but the name
| OF Washington occupies different, seener, a
calmer, more celestial sphere. [Great applause. ]
| There ia not in his character, and there is not
| about his name, any OF that turbulence, and ex-
| citement and glare which constitute glory, in the
vulgar and worldly sense of the term. His name
has sunk deep into the hearts of mankind, and
| more especially has it sunk deep into the mind
and heart Of America and in that secret and inner
temple it will reside, without any OF the !orms OF
ostentatious ldolatry. II resides In the inner re-
ceases OF the hearts of his countrymeD; and, like
oracle, ia continually whispering lessons of pa
triotism and of virtue. Great cheering.l lie
never sought or asked for what men call glory.
| He sought to serve his kind and his country, by
his benehcence and his virtues, and he found IN
that service, and in the performance of bis duty,
that only and that richest reward which can re-
compense the patriot and the statcsman. Renewed
and enthusiastic applause That was our Wash
ington. Let all the rest of the world present
any thing like his parallel The verdict OF mankind
has already assigned to him a pre-eminent and
solitary grandeur. [Applause. In him all the vir-
tues seemed to be combined III the farest propor
tions. The elements were SO mixed IN HIM, and
his blood and judgment were 30 comminged, that
all the virtues seemed 10 be the natural result, and
10 flow spontaneously from the combinauon as
water from the purest fountain In him, the exercise
OF the most exalted virtue required no exerton; II
| was part and parcel of his nature, and of the
| glorious organization "to which every god had
| seemed To set his seal" Applause Where was
| there any error in him. He was a man; and there
| fore, in all humility, who share that humanity
must acknowledge that he had his imperiections;
bat who, through his long and eventiul life, can
| point TO an error vice committed or n duty
| omitted? His character was made up and com
pounded of all the virtues that constitute the hero,
patriot, statesman, and benetactor tchcers,l and
| all his achievements were but the practical devel-
! opments of that character and of those virtues.
| lApplause.l He was the same everywhere-in the
camp, in the cabinet, at Mount Vernon. No differ
| ence could be distinguished anywhere. His great
meas was OF that innate and majestic character that
WAS present with him everywhere. IL was that which
gave him his dignity, and not the occasional situa
tions or offices which he held under the Govern
| mcnt He digniied ofhco-he elevated the highest
| rank, military civil, which he ever held. No
| rank, military civil ever raised him, or could
! come up TO That majesty Of character which the
| God of his nature had implanted in him. tGreat
| cheerine.l That was our Washington. He a
| hrm believer In Divine Providence, and II be-
longed to his elevated and majestic mind TO be
mind that connected itself with the throne of the
| Deity from which II sprung. His heart was puri-
fed and his motives were elevated by constant re-
| currcnco TO that Divine assistance which he
| thought was extended to his country, and 10 him
self in his service OF that country Our history as
| a people is, TO remarkable extent, history Of
| provcenccs; and among all the benignities Of
! Providence, IN worldly point OF view, know no
greater gift that she has conferred upon than in
| The person OF Washington himself tCheersl She
| raised him up at the appointed time. She raised
him up at a grand crisis in the affairs of mankind
when the thoughts OF men were about taking a
new direction when the old things the old despot-
isms, were about TO pass away under the influence
! OF dawning public opinion which was about 10
roasser the long lost rights of mankind; when you
| new born people, for whom this mighty continent
| had been reserved the most magnificent land
| that the Almighty ever prepared Tor man, had
grown TO an estate TO feel your strength, 20 know
| your rights, and TO be willing 20 struggle for
1 them; Washington was raised up 30 become the
great leader OF those great popular principles OF
human rigbts, and to cOnsecrate them. II were,
by connecting them in his person with every
personal, moral, private, and public yirtue-nOt
! leaving US to mere idealism, but exhibiting aud
| embUdying in he own veneratcd and beloved per-
con all thOse mighty principles which wer, necos
sary 60 success and TO the ostablishment OF our
\ liberties. He led us triumphantly through a seven
| years war; and our glorious Revolution being
| successfully accomplished he applied himself with
| all his influence and all his wisdom 60 secure by
| free and permanent institutions all the blessings
| that liberty and independence could confer on his
! country. Our present Constitution and form OF
Government were the grand results OF his patriotic
| efforts. Government being thus cs;ab.
lished, be by the unanimous voice OF his coun-
| try called TO the Presidential Office that by bic
| wisdom and influence he might put into practice
| aud consolidate thOsc new snd untried institu-
| tions by which all the blessings acquired by the
! Revolution and contemplated 10y that Government
were TO be practically secured tU The people OF the
United States. He served till the success Of the
experiment wac demonstrated lie retired then to
bic beloved Mount Vernon, and there passed in
| houored privacy the remainder OF his life. Where
can another such character be exhibited on the
pages Of history? Providence intended him for a
model. She made his character cover the
| whole space of political and private lie. Zap.
plausc She trained him Up in the humbest
walks of private life There be knew the wants
and wishes and condition Of the humblest Of HE
fellow. citizens. The confidence which ne inspired
everywhere spread with every step that he adj
vanced IN lfe. lie became commander Of the
army. With all the military dcspotisn that be-
longs 90 such a stste. he used his power without
the op ppres.ion of n human being. During a seven
years war, amid such trials and troubles as no
people ever saw, in no cnigency by no extremity,
wac he driven to the necessity Of committing a
trcspass wrong upon any man, or any man 3
property. lac needed no act Of amnesty afier-
wards ny the Government, to protect him against
personal responsibility which acts of violence
might have rendered necessary 10 others. lie led
| you triumphanty on. He an example 10 all
military men. lie became President He has left
| us example there, to which we look back with
| iilial revcrence and long, long may we DO SO
| IGreat applouse.l
| Before his retirement from Office he made TO the
| people OF the United States that Farewell Ad-
dress" go familiar 20 the thoughts Of us all. II
contains, he himself sad the advice of parting
| friend, who can possibly have no personal motive
/ 70 bias his council Al was the gathered wisdom