Washington sentinel., 1854-05-23

Washington.
Nothing would be more gratifying to my
State pride or social inclination than to be
present on the occasion intimated; but there
is at present an almost impossible gulf, the
6ftdgeless Potomac between Virginia and the
city OF Washington, so much so at this mo-
ment, by reason of high waters as to render
crossing too precarious, even if Mrs. Jones's
poor health had not paramount claims on my
presence.
mean to embrace the earliest occasion to
enroll my name as member of the James
town Society of Washington, whose first stand
ard-bearer you are.
With great esteem, yours, faithfully,
THOS. AP @. JONES.
t. RITcHIE, Esq,
President Of the Jamestotca Society
Of Washington.
CH. MAURICE SMITH, Esq: Gentlemen fill up
your glasses, and drink with me bumper to
Thomas Ritchie, the patriot, the patriarch
andthe Virginia gentleman Great applause
Mr.. MONTAGUE. / move an amendment to
that toast--to add, may he speedily be re-
stored to health Emphatic approval.
The toast, as amended, was drank with
great cordiality
VIM. Nj. OvERToN, esq.,, chairman of execu-
tive committee. Mr.. President and gentlemen: !:
There is among us one who has been associated
in days gone by with those brave men whom
the nation delights to honor. He is con-
Meeting link between the past and present be-
tween the men of the revolution and those who
now enjoy the benefit of their labors. beg
leave to propose, on behalf of the Executive
Committee of the jamestown Society, the health
of George Washington Parke Custis, of Airing
ton. Great and long continued applause.
The toast having been enthusiastically drank,
MIR. CusTIs rose and said Mr.. President and
gentlemen l am obliged 10 return you my sincere
thanks for the honor you have done me in drink
ing my health. II is almost time that should give
place 10 Younger and better man but so long as
my connlrymen do me the honor to call me out on
occasions like the present, so long shall humbly
endeavor TO be at their service Cheers.
Gentlemen, you have done well 10 assemble
this society on this interesting occasion, to cali
up the cherished memories OF the past. To re-
call the memory OF our ancestors IS pious as
well as patriotic task. The descendants of the
pilgrim fathers in the north have strictly observed
this duty. Those descendants from that race
ofiron-sides of old, whose sternness and whose
virtues In their forests made tyrants trembe, still
preserve the memory of their foretathers in this
happy land of liberty. You, Virginians, looking
back through the long vista OF time, may behold
approaching on the broad bosom of the Chesa-
peake, few feeble barks. They contain bold,
chivarous, brave band Of men, sent by Proyi-
dence 10 plant the standard of civilization in tie
New World fAppausel Fearlessly they plant
their feet on this noble soil. When they meet
The savage, he says TO them, who comes TO in
wade the land given by the Great Spirit TO my fore
fathers - u come" says Smith, on the grandeur
OF his virtue and his courage, come 10 disperse
the pagan darkness that reigns here come 10
plant the standard ofcivizalion, and the standard
of salvation 10 man; offer you in one hand the
olive branch OF peace, but if you do not accept it,
here is my sword and buckler.n lAppause.l
Such was the pioneer of Virginia; such was
that chivalric race, headed by that very prince OF
chvalry, the renowned John Smith, who more
than two centuries ago commenced that goody
work which, under Divine Providence, hath grown
10 be the mighty " Old Dominion ICheers-l
This tiny band, undergoing all those vicssitudes
which belong TO the settlements of new countries,
still pressed on 10 the goal of dominion. What
though the arrow of the savage thinned their
ranks, what though famine stared them in the face
still, still, they go onward and onward the power
of Heaven smiled upon them, and that power
which fomed an infant State has extended TO form
mighty nation
Now, my friends, when you look around you
and see how free, how happy you are, oh, let your
minds go back TO the days of trial through which
your fathers passed. When you exult in the
grandeur of the republic. remember the ragged
army that achieved your liberties. [Applause.l
BE not too elated with the prosperity which be-
nign Providence has showered upon you but re-
collect " the days that tried mems souls"
destinies then as il does now. When you remem-
Der these things, you may form some idea Of the
pretium HbertatiS-the price at which your liberty
was purchased. Liberty we have thanks to God;
but it was paiC for. Ask the old soldier of the
Revolution what were the terrors of Valley Forge
ask him what clothes he had on his back, or what
shoes on his feet when the Hessans were cap
tured at Trenton. We value everything accord
ing 10 the difficulty which we encounter in order
to obtain it. The liberty Of this glorious country
obtained a n her
noblest spirits breathed their last on the battle
field and IN the prison-shp. Now, thanks to God,
our mighty eagle spreads his broad wings from
ocean 10 ocean and shadows continent.
Hence say, you perform generous and pi-
Gus act, when you assemble in this hall 10 call up
the old memories of the past, and 10 tell your chill
dren and your childrens children, and the genera
tons that shall rise around you, that the little colo
ny at jamestown was the commencement Of this
| great country. tAppausel
Having lived 10 see my beloved country attain
| its present condition, having witnessed the first
day of our constitutional government, and seen it
IN all its changes from that time 10 this-a period
OF more than go years. assure you, the improve
ment, the rise, the progress, and the grandeur of
4 our country appear 10 me like romance. If in
| the widest days, the widest man that ever was
born OF woman had been told ''that the United
States Of America, in the short period of some
three score years, would become one of the lead
! ing powers of the world, and would be- in a short
time, the mistress of The world" he would have
pronounced the prophecy an idle dream. Well, il
| is a romance; and glorious romance we have
had oft. Cheers.
When the foreigner lands on your shores, he
says at once, IL did not come to New York ex-
pecting TO see London; thought 10 see a COM
mercia city, but did not expect 10 see London,
and that OF GO years growth | say to those
gentlemen your London took GOO years 10 grow
aye, you had 10 plunder the world 10 make il
grow, but we are all good honest fellows who
plunder nobody, and yet we have London here.
[Applause.l
Gentlemen, in my humble career on very many
occasions, when my friends and fellow citizens
have done me the honor TO call me out to address
them, always say 10 them no matter what they
have met for, whether for social or political pur-
poses, whether 10 advance agriculture or promote
temperance, whenever body of Americans are
together, their country is the subject that should
be uppermost in the heart.
So long as a gracious Providence shall permit
me, old and worn down as am TO mount ros-
trum, my theme will be "my country Yes,
my friends, il is true that in some three score
wears, under our blessed constitutional govern
ment, the United States of America have risen.
TO be the first commercial nation on the globe
Foil hot ,,. IL. -.