American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-02-22
THE TwENTY-sEcOND.


in honor of the day some years since in
Washington, our attention was attracted
by the following well-timed remarks of Mr..
CRIrTESDrE, which are so appropriate and
so much superior to anything we could
say, that We lay them before the reader.
Letn one fail to read and re-read them,
- they are pre-emiuently appropriate to the
time and suggestive of the true policy of
this nalion:-
Mn. PRrs1DESr; regret that in this
company, where there are SO many others
more capable, should have been selected
snd called upon 10 respond to the toast an
nouncing the Father of his Coantry as its
mighty theme. You have met sir, 10 COM
memorate the anniversary of his birth
The occasion and the associations by which
we are urrounded-herc,i in the city which
he founded, at tie Capitol and Seat of
Government which he established, in sight
Of Mount Vernon, his chosen residence and
the sacred sepuichrc of his remans-tLe
occasion and the associations make us feel
as though we were almost brought into his
name which can never die-a living name,
bsfore which every head in the civilized
= world is bent in reverence. and to which
the homage Of every true American heart
is due. | almost fear to speak on such a
subject. The character of Washington
has ascended above the ordinary language
of eulogy. A Caesar. a Napoleon, Crom-
well. may excite the noisy applause Of the
world, and iEAame the passions of men. by
the story of their fields and their fame; but
the name Washington occupies different,
a serener, a calmer, more celestial sphere,
There is not in his character, and there is
not about hsname, any of that turbulence,
and excitement, and glare, which consti-
tute glory, in the vulgar and worldly sense
of the term. His name has sunk deep into
the hearts Of mankind, and moro especially
has it sunk deep into the mind and heart
of America, and in that secret and inner
temple it will reside, without any of the
forms Of ostentalious idolatry. 1t resides
in the inner recesses of the hearts of his
countrymen; and, like ali oracle, is contin-
ually whispering lessons Of patriotism and
of virtue. He never sought or asked for
what men call glory. He sought to serve
his kind and bis county. by his benefcence
and his virtues, and he found in that ser.
vice, aud in the Performance Of his duty
that only aud thtt richest reward which
can recompensethe patriot and the states
man. That was our Washington. Let al
the rest of the world present anything like
his parallel. The verdict ofmankind has
al 10 L. ,,,
solitary grandeur In him, all tho virtues
seemed TO bo combined in the fairest pro
portions. The clements were so mixed il
him, and his blood and judgement were sc
commingled, that all the virtues seemed tc
be the natural result, and to flow spontane
ously from the combination, as water from
the purcst fountain. In him, tho exercise
OF the most exalted virtue required no ex
er;ion; II was part and parcel of his ma
tufe, and Of the glorious organization "to
which every God had seemed to set hi
seal" Wherew was there any error in him
lie was man; and therefore, in all humil
ity, we who share that humanity must &C
knowledge that he had his imperfeclion
but who. through his long and eyen,(r
life. can point TO an error or 10 vice CON
mitted. or a duty omitted? His characlc
was made up and compounded of oil III
virtues that constitute the heIo, patlio
statesman, and benelactor, aud all his
cllievements were but the practical deve
opments of that character and of those VII
tues. He was the same eyerywhere--i
the camp, in the Cabinet, at Mount We
non. No difference could be distinguish
ed anywhere. His greatness w6s Of tn
innate d majestic characterthat wasprcsei
with him everywhere. 1t was that whiC
gave him his dignity, aud not the occ
sional situations or Offices which lie he
under the Government. lie digDihed O
fce--he elevated the highest rank, milit
Ty or civil, which hs ever held. No ran
military or civil, ever raised him, or cou
come up to that majesty Of character whit
the God Of his nature had implanted
him. That was our Washington. IIe W
firm believer in Divine Providenc
and it belonged to his elevated and MAZE
tic mind to be so--a mind that connect,
itself with the throne Of the Deity fro
which it sprung. His heart was purif,
and his motives were elevated by consln
recurrence to that Divine assistance viii,
lie thought was extended to his countr
and to himself in his service to that cou
try. our history as people is, to a !
Variable extent, history OF providence
and among all the benignties of Pro,
dence, 10 worldly point Of view, kno
no greater gift that she has conferred up,
US than in tho person Of Washington hil
self She raised him up at tho appoint
time. She raised him up at grand cri
in the affairs ofmankind, when the thougl
Of men were about taking new direcic
when the old things, the old despotisn
were about 10 pass away under the inilen
of dawning public opinion which was
bout to re.assert tho long lost rights
mankind; when you, a new born peop
for whom this mighty continent had be
reserved as the most magnificent land Il
the Almighty ever prepared for man, h
grown 70 an estate to feel your strength,
know your rights, and to be willing
struggle for them; Washington was rail-
upto become the greatleader ofthose or
popular principles Of human rights, aud
consecrate them, as il were, by connect
themin his own person with every pers,
al, moral, private, and public virtue
leaving us TO mere idealism, but exhibit
q