New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-02-23

Celebration of the Anniversary Of Washing.
toms Birthday-Miiftary and Civic PARADE
-Oration BY n. Bow ditch Blunr-Illumiaa-
lions, &c.
The One Hundred and Twenty-irst Amir
versary Of the Birthday OF GEORGE WASHING
Ton was celebrated yesterday in spirited man
ner, and in style becoming the memory OF the
illustrious Father of his Country" Toe
weather was comfortably warm and the day
unusually pleasant and like spring. During the
day tie " Star Spangled Banner" was displayed
shove tie various pusEc buildings, military companies
and civic societies with full ranks psraded the streets
with martial music and the throngs of people who
had ssper ed business for the day TO witness is DIS
plays gave il the character of national holiday.
The various companies of the military and the seve'
raj societies marching through the streets during
the earlier parts of the day to the places designated for
forming into procession. The Washington G7eys
eighth ResmenD psrticissted in this anniversary by
a parade and sreview before the Mayor and Com
mon Council in front Of the City Hall The review
was witnessed by large crowd of spectators, and there
were present BY invitation the officers OF the First Di-
vision, the Veterans and the remnant Of the New
York Volunteers" The review over they marched %
the Tabernacle when Gen. Sandford Introduced Rev.
Mr. Van PELr, who offered up an eloquent prayer r.
the conclusion Of which he also announced ~ Bowditch
Blunt Esq, the Orator Of the day, who delivered tie
following Oration hear which The building was allied
with brilliant sudence of military and large nari'
Der of ladies' and gentlemen
The birthday OF Washington Whist thronging mem
ores cluster around this hSlOwed day How swes
the heart with patriotic pride At mention G the IN nor
tai name Of Washington Ladies, Citizens sni Cufeh
Soldiers sm here. in obedience 20 your welcOmecon-
ands 10 perform honored duty which your partial
ty has as. a,ned 10 me. Nearly seventy years have
rolled into TIE ahyss of time since that memorable era
when forced by necessity, the parent country re-
cognzed the OF her infant progeny and scSno"l
edged her existence sovereign aud independent na
ti,n The two or three millions who survived that
deadly struggle have swelled into tecmns popuai0n
OF upward OF tseniy mlliOns-the slster0oOd OF the
old thirteen has increased TO united tsnuy oi tlFty
one and the constrained limits of our ancient domain,
overlapping the wcappcd ridges Of the rocky bar.
riers .; the West and bTeasting successfully the
turbd waters Of the Father of Rivers, now clam
the mighty lakes and their outlets az the North. the
Great River (Rio Grande) az the South. and the
vast expsnse of two mighty oceans East aud
Wet a. their preseu, boundaries The propheces aud
tAunts which IN greeting her BIRTH proclaimed tor the
infant Republic sickly existence and premature death
have, Ike their authors, passed into Oblylon. lnr
great problem has been solved The capacity OF man
tor self government ia no longer experiment; and,
In the pride OF honest fame, the American Republic
stands before the w0rd vast and splendid monument
OF civil snd religious liberty Wen msy We, year by
year accord our joyous greeting at tue return OF taat
day which gave birth % him. who, under Providence,
above all, and more than ALL the instrument
Of eieCiIng this great and enduring good. Wei
come thrice welcome then, be this glorious ami
versary and again and sgsil let the cheer 90 forth
with which We hail the birthday OF Washing
ton IL - not occasion. nor before an audience
Ike this, that All required 10 recount tho history
Of his career From earliest infancy IL has been
impressed upon every American heart The tales OF
the nursery the childs frs, primer the youths reader
the class book the history OF the Revolution, and the
Life and Writings of Washington, by our own Amer
lean biogrspher, the accomplished sparks, have per.
formed thst tk alike for the infant MAD the youthful
UNDERSTANDING and the mStured intellect Of manhood
and tge | well remember, in my bOyish days, with
what avdity scanned his portrait portrayed IN the
graceful and elegant language OF a coempOrary, the
Marquis Chasielleux Having visited his at bs head
quarters he thus writes The continent Of North
America from Boston 20 Charleston is grea. volume,
every page ~ which presents bis euloglunL Brave,
without NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., without smbiiion--gener
Gus wiihoas proofs aly-uoble without prdevirtuou-,
without ., srfy-he seems always to have confined him
set wirho those limits wberu the virtues IN clothing
themselves Ia more lively but more changeable and
doubtful cooi may be mistaken tor faults His statue is
noble and lofy-his physiognomy mild and agreeable.
lie has neither grave nor familiar air. Iiis brow Is
sometimes marked with thought, but never
with inquetude. Inspiring respect, he inspires
confidence, and his smile is always the smile OF
beneyolence.' Such was the portrait of the living
man, a. drawn while yet IN the command OF the
amy, and IN the seventh year Of the war When the
OF the Revolution broke out Washington IN
the prime Of manhood. Trained To arms from early
youth, he united in his person all the moral aud
physical attributes which bcft a. they should belong
TO- exalted station. His wisdom. patriotism and
pereuce pointed him above all others the
chosen ordained by Heaven to work Gus our
emancipation. When, therefore, in the Congress OF
no after the encounters OF Lexington and Concord
IL became evident that the struggle had commenced
that great champion OF independence, John Adams /
at directed the attention Of Congress to Colonel
Washington, then member, " A. a gentleman whose
skill and experience an officer whose indcpea.
dent fortune, great alents aud excellent universal
character would commend the appreciation Of all /
America, and unite the cordial exerons Of all the Colo
MES better than any other person in the Union On
the next day 18th June l775 Washington was una aim.
ousiy elected General and Comm IN Chief OF the
Army OF the United Colonies Two days after this /
memorable event. and on the very day on which his .
commission signed by Congress occurred that ars.
great heie OF the kegOutOn, which has rendered the
name OF Bunker Hill immortal, and inscribed ON ths I
roll OF maItyred patriots the imper-hablc name OF War
rem. The war Of the Revolution not a mere strug
gle about stamps a strife about ten IL of
principle, contest for supremacy OF two great antsg
ontc iorccs arbitrary power the side, and civil
ano religious liberty on theOser Between these Opp0
ing powers war Of ages had already ensued Baf,sd I
ott-attInes subduedthe ethereal sp M although sln-
bering through the dark night OF the NJ dole Agcs,
awoAe with tho Reformation, and again renewed the
contest. From that Tune has gone trumphinQ and
10 triumph. Humsn agency cannot extin zi,sh q
Like the esrths central IRE, may be smothered for
nme, the ocean uisy oyerwhelm mountains msy press
e down, but lie inherent and uheonquersble force will
hesye both the ocean and the land and time OF
other in some place other the volcano will break out
and Fame Up 70 Heaven" OF the Of tAe Reyolu
ton propose not 10 speak The scarold the dungeon
and the prison ship, alike performed their work o. yea
geance and cruelty The battle fields of the Revolution
have now become cl4ssie ground aad The Il Sar.
stogo, White Plains, Monmouth TrcntOa Camden aud
forktown are iamlAr as housesoldwori. Through IRE
and blood The NOBLE spirits OF that day went On their
course u political regeneration and national saly Atom
But grsater WORK s1l remained the work Of devils
Ing and framing form Of GJyernsent for themselves
aid poeterity. The original colonization of the
Northern portion VI the American continent wa con
tToEei BY different influence and s:recsed by dseord
ant and various interests Thas while on the bleak ani
barren rock Of Plymouth, bsrd OF exes prompted BIZ
high religious iath, and seeking asylum wherein 10
worshp God according &C the dic Of their own CON
scerce-' planted COony the stern Puritan spirit Of
whcse founders existed in much Vi ancient force AZ
The period Of the Reyouiou ether causes aud otherin