Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1854-03-09


should be due him "who rides upon the
whirlwind and directs The Storm" nurtures
and guards those principles, not only I'll
they bloom but until they arrive at maturI-
Ity? All this, all this Washington did for
our couniry-and how should our gratitude
be eighiened when we cas-. our minds back
to the Revolution and behold his actions
also ihere
''What gratitude should o'erfow the swelling
heart,
And breathe in free and uncorrupted praise
For benefits received: Propitous Heaven
Takes such acknowledgment fragrant incense,
And doubles all its blessings
Yes, in the responsible station of Chief
Magistrate, the same wisdom, purity and
patriotism, that had shone SO brightly in his
PAS, actions, shed their rich glow upon his
every deed. A, the close of his second
term of office, he declined the nations, graf
itude and returned to the shades of Mount
Vernon as private citizen, with the whole
peoples blessings and prayers showered up
on his head, TO smile away his years upon the
bosom Of domestic felicity. But he was not
long allowed 10 enjoy this fond wish OF his
heart. Dificulii,s having arisen with the
governmen, Of Frsnce, he was called from
his retirement again TO take command of the
armies OF his country, for he alone could
unite all hands and hearts. He obeys the
call, but happily peace was soon reslor-
ed. He again retired TO the scenes Of pri-
vate life.
Thus have rapidly sketched The princi
pal events in the life of George Washing.
ton. This may be esteemed by some 10
have been a superfuous work, as being so
we'll known as to have required no recital.
But thought it called for by the occasion.
|, is true bis life is we'll known,-aud | as
an American rejoice that it is so-but can
i. be too often told, can i. be too often re-
hearsed? Where is The heart ,ha. does not
throb with more patriotism when the name
of Washington is mentioned, ,-where is the
bosom that does not heave anew with gra-
titude and love of virtuous and ennobling
qualities, when his services are recoun,ed
His life should be read and re-read thou
sand times by every American in the land
his character should be studied and dwelt
upon with increasing rapture by the mind,
until every lrai. be marked in indellible lines
/ aud ltaeeJ IN characters of ntvcr-falir5 h.5sii1
lance upon lis tablets. There is nothing
in the greatness or glory Of our country
with which his name is unconnected tina,
name, like seraph directing an emancipated
spirit in lis flight to Heaven, will lead US
'e, if we follow it's light, TO future Of far
more glory and renown. To profit by this
light, TO walk beneath its guidance, we must
be acquainted with every ray which gIlm-
mers from il, we must know every emana-
ton which spaIkles from ii.
Washington What associations are
slnked in adamanl" with his name! ''The
friend and warrior of human freedom. whose
sword was never drawn bnl in the cause Of
his country, and never shea,hed when WELD
ed in her cause" Wha. name in the
scan,y catalogue of human benelac,ors II
Who has left deeper impression upon the
world than he /? Let not Cesar, Alexander,
or Napoleon be compared to him? Let not
those desolators and .despoilers of the earth,
whose swords drank the blood of countless
numbers in their ruthless careers of con-
quest and violence, whose names are dyed
in gore and stepped in The tears OF walllng
millions, be placed by his side. Tha. they
were great is unquesllonable. But there are
different orders Of greatness. Among them
the first rank is undoubtedly moral great
ness, that sublime energy by which the soul
wlhslands all The powers of the universe TO
sever it from the cause of freedom and reli-
gion, and, as was said by sublime writer,
reposes an unfslering trust in God end is
ever ready to be offered up on the altar of
its country or Of mankind. But do we see a
trace OF this in their characters F.? Their on
| iy claims 10 distinction consists in the num-
her of victims they have offered up on the
altar Of their insane ambition. Their only
merit consists in having slain myrlads of
their fellow beings. But how much Of this
tue greatness appears in the character OF
Washington. No soIdid aims of ambition
rest upon it, not blot stains his escutch-
con, not one unworthy motive dms his
fair fame, not single instance of abuse Of
power can be traced TO him. His actions
are one series of pure aud lofty lriumphs for
his country's welfare, unaIloyed with any
selfish ambition unllnged with any unwor-
thy motives. Intaminatis Julget h0noriJus.
His heart, so bold in the din of battle, So
strong in the fury Of strife, SO unfinching
in the performance of duty, was as soft and
mild that which beats in The bosom of d
child. Behold his sorrow and anguish in
signing the dealh-warrant Of the victim of
him, who barlered his country for British
gold, who siung it with nai!orous kiss,
who in her darkest hour, with Il soul of
treason, sought 10 crush every rising hope
of freedom and bury it in the night of the
grave-of him whose very memory is des-
pissed and loalhed,-
ooh breathe not his name, let it sleep in the shade
Where cold and unhonored, his relics are laid.''
Blu, every act Of Washington, both public
and private, fully confirms the character OF