Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-03-03
Mashingtnn sentintl.
PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS.
Presentation Of the sword OF Gen. jackson.
lN House. or REPRESENTATIVES,,
February "a, 1859.

of Representatives, and informed that body 81
the foregoing proceedings Of the Senate
The House forthwith proceeded to the con
sidaration Of the resolution.
Mr.. SMITH, Of Tennessee, said In asking
the consideration Of the resolutions just read
justice to the occasion requires few remarks
from me, and only regret that this response
bility had not devolved upon some one more
capable than myself Of performing SO impor
tant duty.
In all ages and in all countries il has been
Customary to commemorate the deeds Of illus
I ious men. Painting, poetry, and sculpture.
have been brought into requisition to perpetu
ate the memory of their achievements and to
keep alive in the hearts of the young venera
ton for their ancestors and pride Of country.
Every capital in christendom is adorned
with monuments erected to the brave and wise
who have, by counsel or deeds, given direction
10 the policy or illustrated the pages of their
countrys history. Their museums are filed
with relics which, from their intimate personal
associations with the gallant dead, ever keep
vlvidly before the mind their public acts and
private virtues. These teach lessons as i'm
pressive as towering monuments or glowing
canvass.
Brief as our existence has been, the history
stirring Observation-Disclosures which have had
an influence not only upon our own land, but
upon the civilized world. The painters art
has adorned the walls of our Capitol with rep
reservations of some Of the most important of
these events. Here we have the first grand
scene of our Revolution, the Declaration Of
Independence, upon which no American can
look without experiencing feelings of the most
ennobling character. The very features are
preserved of the statesmen who proclaimed
doctrines which startled the world from its
long lethargic sleep, revived again the spirit Of
Sydney and OF Hampden, and gave the first
just conception of the true dignity and capaci-
~ OF man. Their voices are all hushed in
death; but the echo Of the appeal of l776 still
lives, and is reverberating throughout the earth
making strong the arms and hearts of those
who for their rights and liberties would proudly
welcome death and the grave
With what glowing pride do we look upon
the battle scenes here portrayed-battles fought
not TO further the schemes of ambition, but in
defense of freedom and universal humanity ,
No enslaved people have bewailed the trumphs
OF our warriors, but the whole earth has arisen
and pronounced them blessed.
The battles and victories which the artist
has here celebrated were still fresh and green
in the memory of the people when the nation
was again called to arms to vindicate its honor
and the rights of man. Many Of the leading
spirits OF the Revolution still lived. Upon some
the palsying hand of time had been heavily
laid; but in their hearts the love of country
and the fires of patriotism still brightly burned
They urged the young to the conflict The
voice of Jefferson rang through the land cheer.
ing the brave, nerving the arms Of the timid,
or or,r-fr ho,, and Al. - y
all. The warriors of the Revolution who still
retained their vigor buckeled on their armor
for the conflict. Conspicuous among these
were Van Rensselaer, of New York, Smith OF
Maryland, Jackson, of Tennessee Our coun.
,rymen, under the lead of their gallant cor,
manders, triumphed upon the land and upon
the sea, and established forever our rank
among the nations of the earth. The actors
in these scenes are fast passing away. But few
OF the gallant leaders in this glorious war still
survive, and they are verging upon their three
score-and'ten, and must soon be gathered to
their fathers Duty, gratitude, and patriotism
should prompt US to collect trophies of their
victories, and garner up memorials which will
speak TO future generations of their greatness
and patriotism, and which will keep the mem.
DRY of their deeds Of noble daring alive forever
in the heart Of the nation.
Not long before the death Of that distin-
guished chieftain, Andrew Jackson, he placed
the sword he had worn in all Of his battles in
the war of 1912, in the hands of friend to be
delivered to his patriotin-arms, the late
General Robert Armstrong, who had in an
eminent degree commanded his respect and
enjoyed his confidence. These two iamented
patriots had shared together the hardships OF
the camp and the dangers of the battlefield
and the bestowal Of this relic by the illustrious
hero was fit testimonial of his appreciation O!
one whose courage he had seen tested on many
bloody field, and whose patriotism had often
elected the warmest gratitude and highest ap,
plause Of his countrymen.
II was at the battle Of Enotochopco where
the little army commanded by jackson was
almost surrounded BY the enemy, and in the
heat of the conflict General Armstrong was
severely wounded But he did not desert his
post, and, when unable longer to WELD a sword
or stand upon his feet, he chung to a small tree
which stood near him and cried, any brave
fellows. some may fall but save the cannon
Such bravery elected the thanks and gratitude
Of his commander, and made him the WORTHY
recipient Of the favorite weapon worn by him
on that trying occasion.
The family Of General Armstrong, actuated
by the patriotic impulses which ever character
lied their sire, have placed this sword at the dis
posal Of Congress. Il seems TO me eminenty
fit that it should become the property Of the
Government, and be placed among the trophies
Of our victories and the mementoes Of our
heroes; for it is associated with the names oil
Two of the "brayest of the brave" and with
battles, the history Of which, will fill the
brightest pages in our country's annals.
In moving the adoption of the resolution on
your table accepting the sword / do not feel
called upon TO pronounce eulogy upon Gen.
eral Jackson. lie needs il not "God blessed
him with length Of days, and he filed them
with deeds Of glory" which have entered into
the history Of the nation and become the heri-
tage OF his countrymen.
Mr.. ZOLLICOFFER, of Tennessee, said:
Mr.. Speaker, it being my fortune TO represent
the Hermitage district, where that great man
lived and where hisremains are entombed, the
House will pardon me for briefly giving utter.
ance to emotions which fill me on this peculiar