Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-18


pendages are valued at 500. The body Of the
cane is OF our own native manzanito wood
handsomely polished, selected from large num-
Der some months since, and properly seasoned and
polished. The gold head is of unusual weight
four inches in length, bearing on the top fine
piece OF transparent quartz almost entirely pure
IN color and heavy with gold. Under the quartz
IN a loeket-setting, are specimens of quarts, gold
dust from the four sections of the State-from
Kern River, Mariposa, Ell Dorado, and Siskeyou
The ferule is of silver, and is protected at the
end by platina point. The head is octagonal
IN form, and bears alternate sides with the
ornaments, the following inscriptions sTo Benz
Z. Washington, presented August 10th, 1855,
tribute OF esteem from friends in San Francisco -
"A worthy son of his nativity and adoption
Virginia and California" The ornamental por-
ton of the head consists of four basso-relevos
IN natural colored gold, representing the arms of
California and Virginia, and the emblems of Col.
Washlngton's profession, Printing Press and
scroll and pen emblazoned in light As speci-
men OF California workmanship it will compare
1avorably with anything gotten up in the
State. 1t was manufactured by Mr.. w. C. Ran
dolph, and reflects great credit on his Judgment
and taste. 1t is valued at $500.
Shortly after A o'clock Mr. Calhoun Benham
arose and presented the testimonial to Col. Wash
ington, with the following address:
COL WASHINGTON: have been deputed, sir
by your friends here present, in view of your APP
preaching departure, to express the thoughts and
feelings with which they hear of your intention.
There is not one, sir, who does not enter into
your feelings on this interesting occasion. And,
gentlemen, every one who has been long in this
country, who has taken part in the trying strug-
giles OF its past, must realize, as the steamer
cleaves the waters of the Golden Gate, and he
gaZes upon the receding city, that much of his
heart is invested here; and if our friend does not
realize IT now he will tomorrow. know he will,
Tor have felt the same emotions.
When the news of the gold discoveries reached
the Atlantic border, it struck upon strange pop
ulation-a large class of which was over charged
with youthful ardor, enterprise, and the spirit Of
adventure These qualities, it is true, had found
expression in the Mexican war; but that had
rather increased than exhausted them Return
ing home they found the avenues of life over
hled-the dull routine, still duler than before
They looked hitherward. They saw an allurng
theatre for new actors-for a new drama They
saw country where there was none to make
them afraid; where labor was dignifed, not de-
graded They resolved to come. To some-the
hewers of wood and the drawers of water-per-
sons without home, without friends, without as
soclatons, 1t was easy. But to those, and our
friend was of the number, who, had been reared
II the midst of refinement and refining influences,
who had family, friends, home, it was difficult
it involved sacrifice. Well might such, with
the simple agriculturist of Italy flying before the
insatiate repacty of Augustus soldiers, have said
and with equal sadness:
"Nos patrim fines, ct dulcia lnquimus arva"
Such men, with others Of all classes and de-
gree, came. Our friend came-not by sea- but
across the plains, over mountains, over deserts
Embrowned and toughened by toll and exposure,
and imbued with that knowledge of his kind ,
learned better in wilds and in cities, he was pre-
pared for the duties which were assigned him in
his new home.
His career since his arrival is too familiar to all
to be dwelt on. To-day, we are seeking to con-
vince him that we think he has discharged all
those duties: and that he has reflected honor on
his native State, and he may now go home and
meet his family and his friends with proud salts
faction.
lie has verified that old maxim
''Celum, non anmum, mutant, qui trans mare
currunt"
And lest the Latin Of any ofmy friends should be
as rusty as my own, will take the liberty, with
out offence hope, of translation. "They change
their horizon, not their principles, who 90 beyond
the seas" Alas! all men have not done So He
now goes home. ] say TO him, the blessings of
your friends attend you, and other blessings
richer far. May you and yours have prosper
Gus voyage. And when you have sulfice re-
treshed your heart by delightful converse with
family, with early friends, with scenes endeared
by youthful associations-return to us, and you
will find the circle of your friends undiminshed
unless by death, ready to welcome you with open
arms, and TO assign you new duties worthy your
own character and suited to your high abilities.
On the conclusion of Mr. Benham's remarks
which were listened to with great attention, Col
Washington arose, amidst great applause and
made the following feeling and admirable reply:
| thank you, gentlemen, for these beautiful
testimonials of your friendship, and at the same
time tender TO you my acknowledgements for
the tiattering terms in which they have been pre-
sented. accept them with pleasure, and il is
scarcely necessary to assure you, that | will pre-
serve them among my most cherished and valua-
bic possessions
Occasions Of this kind are too frequently used
for idle defamation and egotistical display
hope will not be considered as amenable to the
charge OF using the present for such purposes,
when refer TO circumstances which greatly en-
hance the value of your gifts in my estimation.
We've standing before you upon the eve of a
hnal departure from your shores-were it my in
tention ito paddle my canoe" upon other
waters than those Of California, and amid other
scenes, and in other lands, TO form new and
strange associations, grateful as would be these
mementoes, they could not fail to awaken pain
ful reflections. Sklliully wrought, and beautiful
to the eye, as they are, could not but look upon
them a. the material emblems Of broken ties and
severed friendships. ! could not divest my mind
OF the thought that, in view Of the uncertainties
and vclssitudes Of life, had parted with the ma
Jorlty OF you at least, to meet no more forever.
As my absence, however, will be merely tenn
porary, am spared such painful reflections.
can now regard these tokens as the embodied evil
dences Of priced friendships which have lef for
but a brief period in the State of my adoption,
and which hope to renew ere long by personal
presence. will bear them with me to my native
and-the Old Dominion, whom / am proud to re-
cognIze as my mother-where ! am assured they
viii elicit for me warm congratulations from
many friendly heart.
Another reflection, gentlemen, greatly en-
hances their value TO me- suppose that j may
classify myself zone of the oldest inhabitants
OF this our youngest State of the confederacy :
my citizenship dating from the celebrated pioneer
epoch of lS47. In the summer Of that year, after
a tedious trip across the plains, / arrived with
many another adventurer to this then almost un-
known land. During the period since, marked
with wonderful changes in all the departments of
social and political development have been for
a larger portion Of the time somewhat promi-
nently before the public. As the editor Of two
leading Democratic dales-the Stale Journal and
Times and 7ranScript-it has been my fortune to
shiyer many lance, not only with the old enemy
ofthe Democracy, the Wings, and its more modern
enemy, the know.nothings, but at the same time,
and perhaps more embtered warfare, with men