Washington telegraph., 1856-06-04
nv. ~.

IN chief. Those whom the petitioner gave
to the service Of her country were my i'm
mediate neighbors and friends. One of
her sons volunteered in the Alabama regi-
ment. IN the company commanded by his
uncle, Capt. Gallmau. The father and two
other sons enrolled in my company and
were mustered into the service of the Uni
ted States at Charleston, and under my
command -
Considerations of personal attachment
might. possibly did, influence them in join
ing the army But. sir, the love of our
friends is after all but another name for the
love OF our country; for be who is incapable
OF the first, will be surely found recreant
in the hour of his country's need
The interest take in the passage of this
bin for the relief Of their widowed mother
Is but poor reflection of the friendship
borne to myself by her noble sons; but il
cons!rans me to do that for her which
she will not do for herself She appeals
not to your charity, but to your magnanimity.
appeal to both. come before you beg
gng for bread for the widow and the father.
less. She comes in confidence and dignity.
as the Mother Of thiS mOdern Gruccht,
and demands that her name shall be inscrib
ed in honor upon the statutes of her country.
The pittance of eight dollars per month,
which is all that is granted by the bill. is
less coveted by this lady than the official
and recorded acknowledgement of her serv-
ice to the State; and yet. sir, because few
dollars are involved-a sum less than sim
gle hundred for an entire year-appreheu-
SI.n - lat
prove dangerous in the future.
Never since this government was estab-
lshed has acclaim identical with the pecu-
liar circumstances of this been presented to
the consideration of Congress In al hu-
man probability another like it will never
be presented and if it should be, then those
of US who admire the example of this moth
er-those of US who. in cur country's
extremity, would hold up her heroism
precedent for every American mother
to follow, will but obey an honorable in
stinct, and subScrve the best interests of our
respective constituents, when we follow the
precedent, which trust is this day to be
established.
Mr Speaker. there is a golden mean
even in virtue itself. Prudence may be
pushed SO far as to partake of the inhrmi-
ties Of fear. and constitutional construction
in regard to public moneys may become so
rigid as to pr judice public virture by its
imitation of the meanness of avarice.
1t wond be difficult to point out the line.
OF the section, or the article of the Consti
tuition which authorizes the purchase of the
paintings which embellish this Capitol but,
sir, public contempt would wither the wretch
who, by his vote, would convert into filthy
lucre that potrait Of the savior of bis coun-
try, (pointing to the portrait of Washing
tony or that Of him, his chosen disciple,
pointing to the portrait of La Fayette.)
Money. sir, is neither the wealth or
strength of State Virture, genius.
knowledge, courage, patriotism! these are
its treasures, compared with which, in their
influence upon popular sentiment, gold
gold is even worse t han Gross.
"Il fares the land, to Fastening ills prev,
Where wealth accunuates and men decay.n
Three centuries ago, when border feuds
were common, a maiden born on the shore
of Lake Constance had gone to seek her
fortune in Switzerland, and learning by
accident, in the family in which she was
that an assault was intended
upon her native village, under the cover
of the night, she took horse and swan
the current of the Rhine, and by her time
ly warning saved her birthplace and peo-
pie from sack and slaughter. An eques-
trlan monument was erected to her honor,
but her heroism is to this day commemo-
rated by memorial more touching. Each
night as the watchman goes his round,
when the hour of midnight arrives, he
calls aloud the name of her who, three
hundred years before, awoke the sleeping
inhabitants and rescued them from danger.
The historian appropriately says, that the
fame and memory of that girl has given
tone and spirit to the youth of that little
town, which is worth in its defense bat
talion of armed men, l but repeat the
story; it is for the gentlemen of the House
to make the application.
1t is proper that [ should state that
the petitioner has already received the
bounty of the Government; but these al
lowances cease on the 4th of March next,
when unless this bill passes, she will be
thrown upon the cold charities of the
world. I have stated her case with as
much brevity as full. understanding of
her claim would permit, and now appeal
to every gentleman who hears me, to
yield to the generous impulses which now
swell their bosoms. to unite with me in
passing this bill with a unanimity which
will be as honorable to them as it will be
gratifying to the petitioner
The claim is so just, so peculiar, that
regard the passage of the bill but as
matter of form, and therefore ask for its
third reading, with view to It's immedi-
ate passage.
The scoundrel Abolitionists of New
FnoIand are villifYing Edward Everett in