The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-23

At the Tabernacle 1t had been arranged that n.
Bowditch Blunt Esq, to deliver Grafton at half
past one o'clock, to portions of the Eighth regiment
and select number of ladies and gentlemen. The
invitation was likewise extended to one hundred and
fifty of the Veterans of 1912 and the Mexican yolun
teers.
Long before the appointed hour, the building
began to be filed. In the centre was disposed Com
pany of the Washington Grays, under the COM
mand OF Captain Lyons Company B, under Captain
Burger; Company G, under Captain Andrews Com
pany D, under Captain Lttle Company E. under
Captain Chamberlain, and Company +, under Cap
tain Quin. On either side were a troop OF Washing
ton Grays, under Captain Bunyan, and the Blue
troop, under Captain Patterson. To the extreme
left were the Veterans under Colonel Haigh and on
the right about twenty of the Volunteers under
Colonel Burnett. When this latter body came into
the room, they were honored by all the company
rising and cheering vehemently when their tattered
flags were displayed. Adkins Brass Band occupied
the seats Immediately under the organ, and, before
the proceedings commenced, played "All's Well,'
kathleen Mavourneen," "Washington's March,
and, amidst cheers, "Ha Columbia
On the conclusion of this national air, Major Gene
raj sandford Generals Hall and Morris, Rev. DR..
Van Pelt Mr.. Blunt and other gentlemen, entered
from an inner ROOM and assembled the platform.
General SANFORD occupied the chair, and called
upon DR.. Van Pet to offer up prayer. The reverend
gentleman acceded to the request, and in most ap
propriate words called down the Divine blessing on
the country in general and on the present proceed
ings in particular.
General SANFORD then introduced,
N. BowDlrcH BLUNT, Esq, who came forward and
said:-The birthday of Washington What throng-
ing memories cluster around this hallowed day
How swels the heart with patriotic pride at men
tion of the immortal name Of Washington! Ladies,
Citizens, and Citizen Soldiers am here, in ODE
dence to your welcome commands, to perform the
honored duty which your Partially has assigned to
me- Nearly seventy years have rolled into the abyss
of time since that memorable era, when, forced by
stern necessity the parent country recognized the
rights of her infant progeny, and acknowledged her
existence as sovereign and independent nation.
The two or three millions who survived that deadly
struggle have swelled into teeming population of
UPWARDS of twenty mllions-the ssterhood Of the
old thirteen has increased to united family of
thirtyone; and the constrained limits OF our ancient
domain, overlapping the snow-capped ridges OF the
rocky barriers Of the West, and breastng success
fully the turbid waters Of the Father of Rivers,
claim the mighty lakes and their outlets at the
North, the Great River (Rio Grande) at the South,
and the vast expanse OF two mighty oceans East ana
and taunts which, in greeting her birth, proclaimed
for the infant republic sickly existence and prema-
ture DEATH have, like their authors, passed into obi
| Won. The great problem has been solved. The
capacity OF man for selfgovernment is no longer an
experiment; and, in the pride OF honest fame, the
American republic stands before the world vast and
| splendid monument OF civil and religious liberty.
ing at the return of that day which gave
| birth to him, who, under Providence, above
all and more than all, was the instrument
of effecting this great. and enduring. good.
| Welcome thrice welcome, then, be this glorious an
niversary and again and again let the cheer go
forth with which we hail the birthday of our Wash
ington 1t is not OCCASION nor before an audi
encc like this that am required 70 recount the nus
! impressed upon every American heart The tales OF
the nursery, the childs first primer, the youths
reader, the class book the history OF the Revolution
and the " Life and Writings Of Washington" by our
own American biogrspher, the accomplished Sparks,
have performed that task alike for the infant mind,
the youthful understanding, and the matured intel
lect of manhood and age. well remember, in my
boyish days. with what avidity scanned his portrait
as portrayed in the graceful and elegant language OF
a contemporary, the Marquis Chastellux Having vi
sited him at his headquarters, he thus writes- The
continent OF North America, from Boston to Charles
ton is great volume, every page of which presents
| his eulogium. Brave, without temerity-laborious,
without ambition-generous, without productivity
noble, without pride-virtuous, without severity-he
!
limits where the virtues, in clothing themselves in
more lively but more changeable and doubtful colors
may be mistaken for faults His stature is noble and
lofty-his physiognomy mild and agreeable. He has
neither grave nor familiar air. His brow is
sometimes marked with thought, but never
with inquetude. Inspiring respect, he inspires
confidence, and his smile is always the smile o
benevoence." Such was the portrait Of the living
man, as drawn while yet in the command of thu
army, and in the seventh year of the war. When TIN
war of the Revolution broke out Washington was il
the prime Of manhood. Trained to arms from earl,
YOUTH he united in his person all the moral an(
physical attributes which beft, as they should belong
to, exalted station. His wisdom, patriotism and ex
perience, pointed him out above all others as the
chosen man ordained by Heaven to work out oul
emancipation. When, therefore, in the Congress Of
l775 after the encounters OF Lexington and Concord
it became evident that the struggle had commenced
| that great champion of independence John Adams,
at once directed the attention of Congress to Col
Washington. then member, las gentleman whose
skill and experience as as an officer, whose indepen-
dent fortune, great talents, and excellent universal
character, would command the appreciation of all
America and unite the cordial eXertions of all the
colonies better than any other person in the Union
On the next day, 10Th June, l775, Washington was
unanimously elected General and Commander-in-
Chief of the Army of the United Colonies Two
days after this memorable event. and the very day
on which his commission was signed by Congress,
occurred that first great battle of the Revolution,
which has rendered the name OF Bunker Hill immor-
tall and inscribed on the roll of martyred patriots the
| mperishable name of Warren. The warof the revo-
luton was not mere struggle about stamps, or
strife about tea. twas war of principle contest for
supremacy of two great antagonistic forcesarbtra-
ry power on the one side and civil and religious
liberty on the other. Between these opposing pow
ers war Of ages had already ensued. Baflied Oft
at times subdued-thc ETHEREAL spirit, although slum-
bering through the dark night of the Middle Ages,
awoke with the Reformation, and again renewed the
contest. From that time it has gone on trumphing
and to triumph. /" Human agency cannot extingush
it. Like the carths central fire. it may be smothered
for time, the ocean may overwhelmit it, mountains
may press it down. but its inherent and unconquera-
! BILE force will heave both the ocean and the land,
and at some time or other in some place or other,
the volcano will break ont and flame up to heaven
Ofthe events the Revolution propose not to speak
The scaffJd the dungeon and the prison ship, alike
performed their work of vengeance and cruelty The
battle fields OF the Revolution have now become classic