Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-03-19

torrent of his loosened soul upon your shriyell-
ing ranks.
At dawn, the flag of England waved in tri
umph; at sunrise it hung, rent by che sword
and blackened by the fame of Washington.
A year passes away, and again frowned |
the Winter In the SHOWS of Valley Forge
are scattered the buts Of Washington,s army, ,
while the British, under Howe, hold Acar-
nivals at Philadelphia. Among his b Lsaad,
the rays of patient hope streaming from his
presence. Wherever he went, pain hushed
its cry-discontent smoothed its frown, and
long suffering endurance-the efluence of
his own soul-took possession. In the
mountains of the Canary Islands, there is a
tree constantly attracting the rain and dis
tilling it upon the herbs beneath. So Wash
ington drew from his own high soul unceas-
ing fortitude, and distributed in into the
hearts of his despairing followers.
After our Independence was achieved, as
president of the Republic, and as private
gentlemen, on flowed brightly his subsequent
days-until from the summit of the pile,
himself, deed after deed had created, the ca
gle of his spirit spread its wings and scared
to the bosom Of its Maker. The stormy sun
of Cromwell plunged below in lurid glare
the mild orb of Washington glided down in
amber glow leaving the sky the brighter from
its presence.
Other great men have their monuments in
the shape Of Cathedrals and pyramids hut
none SO great as that Of Washington. His
monument is the Republic he founded. His
name is murmured in the pines of the North,
and magnolias Of the South-Niagara utters
it in its plunge, and the Alleganies in their
blasts-the Mississippi sings it with her
mighty tongue, and California flashes it
from her veins of gold-it is written in one
heightened line by the feet of emigrants a.
cross the Western praries-the Coumt ia
bears it on, and even the Pacific has com
menced to hymn it with her grateful lips
Still will that name be borne, until Asia
shall hear it and be glad-and the World
shall reioice-if not in the Republican the
name and fame of Americas Washington.
have alluded to the veterans who make
on this day, their pilgrimage to the tomb of
our Hero. How, at their sight, the memo
ries Of our second contest rise before us -
Never surrendering the hopes of our con-
quest. England, for years, impressed by
thousands of seamen, and blockaded Europe
to our commerce. At last once more our war
cry rang Free Trade and Sailors Rights =
was now that cry, and like the Fiery Cross
of Scotland, the summons to arms ran
throughout the Republic. Up went the
blazoned flag again-the flag of Lexington,
of Bunker Hill. of Trenton and of York
| towH, and flashing eyes and gallant hearts
crowded beneath it.
It seems but madness for America thus to
have lifted the gauntlet of England Ours
were a few frigates and an unguarded coast,
hers splendid Navy, bright with the tro-
phies of the Nile and Trafalgar. Ours were
hut Tho;,
woodlands, where they had lived i'll rustic
toll, handling their scythes and swinging
their axes, and marching for the first time
against the foe. England welded disciplin-
ed battalions, veterans bronzed with the suns
of the Peninsula, in whose stern faces had
flashed the deadly fires Of Badajoz and Sala
manca, who had breasted the torrent of Ma
poleon's cuirassiers, and had heard the deer
trumpet of Massena's voice calling again anC
again to the charge against their serrieG
squares.
But though the soul of the Revolution wa
not wanting, the future was dark to tn Ma
ton. The 18th Congress showed divided
councils The clarion tones of Henry Clay
rang out for the war, but the piercing &C
cents Of Randolph were heard against it.
The Northwest deepened to blackness a
Hull surrendered-over the St. Lawrence tn
S0aQOW DTOOueU, Fello'eu SCdISelJ Wy eT
noble valor of Van RENSSELAER, and Scott a
Queenston.
But the ocean rolled in sunshine. Thor
streamed our flag, and there broke our thun
ders. The sulphurous cloud that mantle'
the Constitution and Gurriere in their deadl
grapple changed to a pillar of fire ; by tn
former, shot the beams Of a first victory
the stricken heart of the nation. The biz
zing Gurriere sank into the ocean, but he
glare survived to fash the first misgiving
the face of England. That fiery pillar ligh
ed Decatur's eye as he brought his Unite
States nearer and nearer the doomed Mac
DOMAIN Her sails still bright with the la
victory, the Constitution meets the JAVA
Towering like the nations hope, out COM
the Constitution from the conflict, every ma
erect, every spar perfect, while the Ja'
rolled on the pillows torn and helpless
Then came the Peacock plunge beneath Il
guns of the Hornet, until the heart of t
whole Republic sang for JOY.
At the North the cloud still hung, but t
sunlight was ready to break through. Pt
nv led his little feet into waters of La
Erie and changing around his keels, tn;
American emerald into British ruby, heral
; ed with the stern music of victorious broa
sides, the march of our nation to her ul
mate triumph.
Harrison conquered at the Thames. wht
i also our most dangerous Indian enemy,
cumseh, fell
q With his back to the field and his feet
the foe."
r True, the disastrous expeditions Of Wi
q inson and Hampton interfered. But n
It there were in the formers descent of the
a Lawrence, and latter's ascent toward Cana
1 brave and patriotic as any that ever da
the lightnings of battle, and would SO hi
ID proved themselves had fortune been prop
80 Gus.
1t On was the march of our nation.
n Bear witness to that march, We fields
)s Chippewa and Lundy's Lane. Where \
N CARA thundered its eternal hymn to Libel
l. the Sons of Liberty could never fall. Th
lr simultaneous torrents of American bayor
n dashed upon the foe at the first, carry
IS victory as they went-three successive
Id riers of American muskets met the f
Y, charges on the heights of the last protect
Ie. the victory won. Honor to Brown, Sc
BY Miller, Worth, Leavenworth and JessuI
'at Their names are carved deep on the pilla
ed our eternal glory. And honor also to
30 red brethren of the forest, some of whom
= here present, who in defence of our rie
y Eiifted their tomahawks, and caused thel
ire drink deep the blood Of the foe in the
led of our direst need.
Onward still went our nation, unit
hat Plattsburgh, with one arm she struck