Thibodaux minerva., 1856-02-23
George Washington.

| Yesterday, one hundred and twenty-four year
ago was born, in the secluded homestead of his al
cestors on the banks Of Bridges Creek, County c
Westmoreland, Virginia, GEORGE WASHINGTON
the Father of his Country" No unusual cere
mony OF rejoicings, pomp, or kingly pagean
marked the birth of this great and good man-ta
liberator of the American Colonies, from Britisl
oppression and tyranny, and now the greatest ire
constitutional government in the world. 1t wa
in after years, that Washington so ngratiated him
self into the hearts of his oppressed countrymen
caused them, and the down-trodden of all nations
to idolize him while living, and to reverence hin
when dead 1t is in vain that we look through thu
pages of history for his equal; he stands alone II
the measure of his fame-his is universal-that 0
all others. but sectional And until time shal
be no more future generations, the friends OF civi
and religious liberty throughout the habitable globe
will be taught to lisp his with praise and hal
his advent, next to that of our Saviour as the cho
cest and greatest blessing ever fallen to man.
When the name Of an Alexander, Caesar
or Napoleon, shall have been eftaced from the re
cords of the past, his will live, and be held il
grateful remembrance by the lovers of liberty al
every successive return Of that day that gave him
BIRTH matter in what part Of the globe they may
man; in Washington, the rule was reversed-i
was the man that made the times. None other
than he could have resisted the promptings Of hu
man ambition, and spurned self aggrandizement fo1
nations welfare. Truly has it been said that he
was man without fault; and, therefore, he
stands without an equal among the truly great, O.
either ancient or modern times, noble example
for emulation.
But, it may be asked, what has Washington
done more than others, that he so much claims our
admiration9 To such We answer: He was one
among the first to stand forth when called upon by
an insulted and bleeding country, without profit,
or emoument, to arrest the strides of despotism,
tyranny and oppression. How well he performed
his part in the great struggle for constitutional lib
erty, the pages of his countrys history abundanty
testify. From the time he engaged with Braddock,
in defense of America, for the mother country,
against the French, down to the period he expelled
the British by the crowning victory the plains of
Yorktown, was spent in the tented field of battle,
in the service of his country.
And what has been the fruits of these achieve
ments? The altar of Libelty-the guardian Of
the rights Of man-the pyramid of Freedom, of
Virtue, of Liberty and ndependence-whose can
vas wing Of commerce may be seen futtering on
every sea, on all portions of the globe; and over
the bosom Of whose mighty rivers, may be seen
stemmng their swift currents, the majestic steamer
the production and skill of her own mechanics.
Such is free, proud, happy America-such the
nome of the oppressed-such the birth-land of him
whose name on yesterday was eulogised by Colum-
bias sons, from the Aristook on the North to the
Rio Grande on the South; from the Atlantic on
he East to the auriferous shores of California on
he West
The dirge Of time may ring in triumph over the
ubverted affairs of tyranny and the thrones of su-
his efacing finger may point in scorn
o the mouldering temples of human architecture
nd human pride; he may survey with real or
fected triumph the monumental mounds of other
lays-the mausoleums of departed glory: but
here is temple over whose summit the genius
# freedom, the guardian spirit of our happy land
hall hover-a temple whose deep foundation is
lid in the adamantine basis of virtue and national
lory, whose proud fabric shall ever, as now, rear
s towering head among the mighty nations Of the
arth; and whose splendor shall remain when that
others shall have passed away. Cold ard mis-
nthropic must be the bosom of him who went not
orth yesterday to hail the ever-memorable epoch
national jubilee-the BIRTHDAY OF WASHING
oN!-he whose worth the encircliDg vista of years
an never obscure around whose head the never
citing stars Of independence shall float-the dia-
EN- of the free, the heritage of the brave
Over eighty years ago, when the storm of battle
'lled in gloomy clouds over the horizon; and
hen it burst with redoubled fury on the shores of
lr native land, Washington nobly stood forth amid
e din of arms and the cannon's loud roar, ready
defend his country's rights After seven
'ars siege, laboring under the worst of disadvan-
ges, but fully conscious Of the justice Of our
use before heaven and man. one by one the
'rk clouds rolled away, and left Columbia's
irteen glttering stars in the zenith of nations.
e was his country's defender in times that tried
ems souls; he was her friend when the stars of
'ace returned" He vanquished by energy-he
hieved by moderation. In truth has it been said
He was first in war-frst in peace-and first in
e hearts Of his countrymen."
The BRIDGE QUEsrIoN.-From perusal of the
oceedings of the City Council, at its last stated
Getting, as appear in our columns, it will be per-
ived that action has been had in regard to the
Instruction of bridge across the Lafourche at this
int. The proposition of "tax'' or "no tax" is
be submitted to the legally qualified voters at our
xt annual charter election, in May. If our citi-
rs are awake to their own interest the result of
At election is easily told. i
No measure of greater public utility, SO pregnant
th results that would rebound to the future of our