Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1854-03-09
A ID ID II Z s S
DANIEL W. FL A W X n S,
DELIVERED AT CHARLOTTE HALL,
FEBRUARY 22ND, 1854.
Respected audience j.:

Respected audience:
This hall, which is consecra,ed TO learn
ing, to the instruction of youth, is this day
filled for purpose different. We have
met here TO commemorate, IN d suitable
manner, the birthday Of one whose name
is, and will ever continue 10 be, enshrined
in the hearts Of the American people, as the
Father Of his County, as the embodiment
OF liberty and patriotism themselves.
This is day sacred to America! How
auspiciously i, ddwns upon US! Bringing
with i, as much happiness as a nation can
know, with splendid prospects of the future
opening upon US, the rays Of propliious
light lha, surround it are as pure and bright
as its recollection is deep and henoted.-
Happy day! Associated as i. is with the
birth Of Washington upon its annual return,
we will pause in our occupations and turn
our thoughts to the study Of his character
and services, mark the traces he has leit up
on his country's welfare, contemplate its
past trials. its present prosperity, and tutnre
prospects. Grea,ful hearts bespeak noble
characters. 1t is always a sure indication
Of high, lofty and patriotic spirits when q
ilude, when a people, thankful for their past
and present enjoyment, turn with strong e.
motion to the hand that has given them and
guided them to their happiness A na,ion's
patriotism will never die so long as its ben
efac,ors are remembered it will roll on in
one continuous stream its flame will burn
with a never-d, ing ustre, SO long as this
fond memory fingers in the heart.
The commemoration Of illustrious days
naturally calls up every recollection con-
nected with the circumstances which made
them celebrated. The character Of our an
ceslors is presented to US as model for stu
dy and imitation, their virtues we imbibe,
their sentiments we adopt, and thus, not on
ly is The spirit ofpalriolism kept alive, but
we become better qualified 10 perform the
duties incumbent upon US as citizens of a
gres, and glorious Republic. How the mind
is elevated, how the hear. purified by the
Contemplation Of .he acts Of greasand good
men. How could the mind be better en-
ployed, how time more properly spent! y
We can boast of ancestors Of purer lives, Of
loftier patriotism than Greece or Rome ever
knew, nay. the annals of the world may be
searched-the!r equals cannot be found
Wha, examples for observance, what models
for imitation! But the purest of The pure,
the lof,iest of The patriotic, stands Washing
ton, whose life and character shines out
beacon lghts 10 illumine every spot, where
heart beats 10 the aspirations OF patriotism
and liberty, or ,hrobs with love ofin,egrily
ard virtue. In The commemoration of bis
ilIustrious birthday lei us So contemplate
his character, that our minds may be Indel-
libly impressed with the principles he loved
and cherished, so that whilst our hearts
warm and glow with patriotism we may al
SO become wiser and better.
Upon The 22nd of February, 1882, a star
just appeared above the horizon Of the
world. Even when its faint glimmerings
could barely be perceived, even when its
ligh, was scarcely disceruible, men loved
10 gaze upon it as an emblem Of purity
and ruth. Higher and higher il ascends-
with every step of ascension il sends out
purer beams. No clouds obscure it, no g loom
o'erspreads it, but with steady and increasing
luslre it pours forth streams of continuous
light. The hghes, point Of the heavens is
reached-is glows with shining splendor in
the middle of the skies-is influence the
kindlies,, its look The puresl! Though it
has set by the course Of nature, yet like a
fixed star Of heaven, from W hose place il re-
moved from its station, The rays would con-
tlnue to flow, floods OF light yet stream from
the position j. occupied, and SO will con,in
ne forever! Not like the sun, which daz-
zles The eye of The beholder, the more these
rays strike upon the vision, the brighter
.hay become, yea, they penetrate into The
very heart, and, like the herad-dove Of
heavens peace, whisper TO it glad tidings of
great joy! No power, BAT one suflicien. to
rend the very earth into pieces, can dim or
obscure them, but during all time, with ev-
er-rsdient brlliancy, they will flow on
the Joy of America-"ber whole peoples
love end the whole worlds respeci!'
Such was George Washington, and such
is The character and influence he has lel, be-
hind him. Even his boy hood is full of in
cidents which should be held up as bright
examples to the youth Of America. Let US
not treat these as light or unmporianl.-
They fully indicate, that habits formed
when young, in great measure, control
and govern the future life. If Washing.on's
youth had been one Of dissipation and vice,
if instead Of cherishing the divine principles
of rectitude, he had lrod in The frail path Of
immortality, the world would never have
runp with his mighty fame, or been cheered
with The light Of his immortal actions. 1t
was his character, iha. character formed
when the rose ofyouih bloomed fresh upon
his brow, that raised him 10 his exalted
height, and wrealhed the gilded chaple. of