Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-28
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER
MONDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1852.

NONDA1, aFEDhUhhI loOA
Since the day when COLUMBUS first set his foot
on American soil, no event has occurred which has
so materially influenced the desnes Of this quarter
of the globe and especially of the Northern Conti
nent now chiefly occupied by the United States, as
the Birth Of WASHINGTON. 1t is fit; therefore, and
it is no more than becoming manifestation of
the sense Of his great virtues and services, that the
day of its occurrence should be suitably commemo-
rated when each revolving year brings it round
We signalze the occasion by inserting at large in
our columns this day the FAREWELL ADDRESS of
that great man, patriot, and sage-who, among his
recorded abors for his countrys good, has left in
this noble testament the last and greatest memorial
at once of his wisdom, his paterna care for the
people of the age in which he lived, his enduring
patriotism, and his far-seeing sagacity Of that po
litical legacy there is not line which ought not
to carefully impress itself the mind of every in
dividual who has any Of the share which, as
citizen and as voter he exercises in the direction
and the conduct of this Government; and yet more
deeply on the minds of those whom the citizens
of power in both the General and the State Gov
ernments.
The next great event in our history after the Birth
of WASHINGTON was the formation of THE Con-
sTITUTIoN, under which this country has, during
sixty-three years, fourished and prospered to an
extent which throws into the shade all preceding
amples of the rapid rise of people from infantine
weakness and dependence to greatness that already
ranks it among the most stable and impregnable
Nations of the Earth. 1t cannot but enhance the
feeling with which the Anniversary of the Birth Of
WASHINGTON must inspire every true American
heart, to reflect that it is very probable if not mo-
rally certain, that but for the ascendency of his
popularity, this people would for the want of
solidated Union, have reapsed into the imbecility
of the old Confederation, and thence into anarchy
and comparative barbarism
This Anniversary, which finds our Country SO
prosperous and happy, with that CONSTITUTION so
recently ratified anew" by the approving sense Of
the great body of this People, is greeted account
of that renewed ratification every one must have
observed, with an earnestness and fervor which
leave no room to doubt that the country not only
has passed unscathed through an important crisis,
but that, instead of losing any thing of its just au
thorty or rightful power this Government has
stood high in the general respect and admiration
as it does at the present moment.
What reverence, indeed, ought not we, on the pre-
sent day, to pay to the memory of WASHINGTON and
his compeers in the Convention Of 1887, to whose
Joint labors and selfsacr6cing spirit we owe the in
stitutons under whose protecting influence such
great results have been realizedl
Besides the Farewell Address there will be found
on the succeeding page highly interesting rcmi-
niscence of the Life of WASHINGTON contributed by
his venerable surviving relative, together with valu-
able Letters of his which beautifully illustrate his
public and his private character and habits.
To these several articles, appropriate to the An
niversary which is by common consent to be cele-
brated to-day, We add another, which now for the
first time appears in print the original of which,
in the familiar and peculiar hand Of its great writer
has just been placed in our hands by distinguished
citizen of North Carolina II was addressed as
will be perceived, to RICHARD DoBBs SpAIaHT,
subsequently Governor OF that State,) who had
been, with Gen WASHINGTON a Member of the
General Convention which framed the Constitution,
and bears date just before the meeting of the Con-
vention of Virginia, which was, with the Conventions
of other States, to determine the ultimate fate Of
that Constitution:
MOUNT VERNON, MAY %, 1888.
The Hon RicH'D DoBBs SpMoHr.
SIR am sorry to find by your letter that the
State Of North Carolina is 80 much opposed to the
proposed Government. If a better could be agreed
upon, it might be well to reject this; but without
such prospect, (and confess appears to me-
policy, think, must recommend the one that is
submitted
Tlo oa,,;r,o,,s of tL;a State will soon bo Lroyn
The second day of June the Convention is to meet.
Since the election Of Delegates to it, the prevailing
opinion is that majority of the members are in
favor of the Constitution but, as they soon to
speak their own sentiments it would be imprudent
to anticipate them, even if they were reduced to
certainty. Maryland has ratified by very large
majority--sixty-three to eleven.
With great esteem and regard, ] have the honor
to be, sir, your most obcdient humble servant,
Go. WASHINGTON.
BEAvEnsN THE soUrH-A correspondent Of the Natchcz