Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-04

dress with the hlial love and homage OF his heart
for the venerated memories of Mount Vernon, by
reciting ode which he composed for the CEN
tennial anniversary Of the birth of Washington,
22d of February, 1882, and which he had rected
on many and interesting occasions for nearly
quarter of century:
ODE,
Composed for the Centennial anniversary Of Wash
ington's Birth, the 22d Of February, 1882, by
George w. r. Gusts, Esq, Of arlington.
FIRST IN WAR; FIRST IN PEACE; FIRST IN THE
HEARTS OF HIS cOUNTRymEN.
First in Waffle drew his patriot brand
Not worlds 10 conquer, but world 10 save.
When peace and freedom best his native land,
Resigned his power into the hands that gave.
2
lllustrious man could not ambition, then,
Tempt thee 10 turn against thy country's breast
Thy victor sword, and be like other men
And hailed Hero like the laureled rest!
All notify laurels were by virtues won,
Pure and untarnlshed by a single shame;
Freedom and glory claim their Washington;
Millions unborn will venerale that name
Thou empire founder patriot, soldier, sage
Centuries will pass, generations rise and die,
Thy fame will flourish on, from age 10 age,
unheedng time, 10 immortality.
First in Peace.-lh our country's infant day.
When Constitutions Banner nrst unfured
Her civic chiefs, how wise thy civic sway,
When young empire dawned upon the world.
First in Peoples Hearts-Ah, there enshrned
Thy fame and memory will never die
But will instruct, adorn, and bless mankind
Till time shall merge into eternity.
Called to thy great reward--thy race is run;
Yet there's pure, bright, benignant ray,
Cleans from the glories Of thy setting sun
To light the future patriot on his way.
What tho no b! onze nor marble trophies grace
Nor the proud column lifts its towering head,
Nor nations tribute marks this honored D lace
Where rests the ashes Of the mighty dead
Yet when the future pi2r journeys on
Thro' this vast realm, he II view with eve intent ,
The malchess gores OF Washington;
An empires, self, its founders monument
MIR. FENDALL, after making his respectful ac-
acknowledgements for the compliment paid to him,
addressed the company for about half an hour.
He noticed the origin and objects of the James
town Society; which was established by Virgil
mans, temporarily residing in the National Me-
tropolis, III order TO commemorate the settlement
of jamestown, on the 18th of May, 1907, and to
keep in remembrance the virtues and sufferings
of their forefathers
This event has been comparatively neglected
while the junior settlement at Plymouth is not
only regularly celebrated there and at Boston by
the "Sons of the Pilgrims,' but by associations
of them throughout the continent; and the vet
later settlement at ST. Mary's, has been the sub
ect OF several most impressive celebrations by pa
trio IN ott; 81
good reason To hope that central society would
soon be established at Richmond, with associa-
tons, auxiliary and subordinate to it, throughout
the State, and among Virginians residing else
where, for the annual commemoration of the first
of all the permanent English settlements in North
America. In 1907, its two hundredth anniver-
sary celebrated as a Jubilee on the site of
Jamestown; "and no vestiges of this ancient town
then remained, except tombstones and the ruins
OF church steeple about twenty-five feet high,
mantled to its very summit with ivy" Time
may continue the work of desolation till every
physical trace of jamestown shall have been de-
stroyed, but the settlement of 1907 will survive
on the imperishabe record of history, for il was
the germ of the great American Republic. At
the shrine OF the founder of that Republic, our
present anniversary has been celebrated-at
Mount Vernon, the home of WAsHINGToS. Mr.
+. here dwelt on the local associations of Mount
Vernon with the fame of the Father of his Coun-
Wy, anu Will lne SUBJECT OF the celeDrdtlOn.
lie also mentioned an interesting incident of
the boyhood of Mr. CUsTIs, the eloquent and ven
cradle orator of this day, which took place at
Mount Vernon during the lifetime of Gen. Wash
ington.
lie referred to the inspiring effect which the
circumstances Of the present anniversary were
calculated to produce on the minds of all true
Nrrgnians; and TO the political Importance, in a
Republic, OF doing honor to great events in her
history, and thus fostering patriotic and generous
sentiments among her people. Our brethren of
New England and Maryland had got the start of
us in the pious work of commemoratng their an
cestral settlements. Why is this sol The com
monwealths springing from these settlements are
but separated parts of what was once Virginia, as
constituted by the original charter. And when
they were disloined from her by subsequent char
ters, II was not tho worst part with which the
name OF Virginia remained. MIR. i. here men,
toned some prominent points in the history Of
Virginia. The great principle Of the American
Revolution, that taxation and representation
ought TO go together, had been previously assert
ed by her, in an act of the House Of Burgesses
passed years before the principle was established
I'm England, by the success of the rebellion or
revolution of l64l; and when the mother country
attempted TO violate that principle against the
colonies, none was moro strenuous in resistance
than Virginia
Mr., +. here referred TO her sacrifices in the
cause Of public liberty IN the revolutionary war
and since. In remarking on the title Smother Of
States, which was sometimes given TO her, he
adverted TO her magnanimous cession in 1888, to
the United States, Of all her rights in the terri
tory northwest of the river Ohio-a grant includ-
ing more than 900 000 coo acres, and by which, as
her delegates truly said Virginia laid empires at
the feet Of Congress" In the same liberal spirit,
for the convenience of portion Of her citizens,
she consented to further diminution of her ter
ritory, and TO its becoming an independent State
the now great and flourishing State Of Kentucky.
A national character so unselish-a character
distinguished well by the Purtan's stern zeal
for liberty, well by the generous Praces Of the
Cavalier, may well be a subject Of pride TO Vir-
ginians. IL is this sentiment and no idle vanity
which warns their hearts and eleyates their
minds, when history points them TO the sons Of
their parent State, whose genius and virtues have
oxerted controlling influence on the destinies Of
the whole American people. Mr.. +. illustrated
this topic by examples; and concluded by urg-
ing the Importance Of vigorous prosecution of
the objects Of the Society.
The foregoing is a brief outline Of portions of
his remarks. We have been unable 10 obtain
full report Of them.
From the Charlottesville JefTersonian