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

toms birthday, adds to the tributes paid to
his memory. We have read nothing of the
kind with more pleasure, than tho following
eulogy delivered at Albany, by ALFRED B.
STREET:
AS Chimborazo towers over its landscape,
so towers George Washington IN American
History. Myriad portraitures of his stately
presence have. been aecompiis I'D, andtl lhpagh
each runs the same liikchAsss1 God oflsewedj
him with an individuality nc.more to be
mistaken than the Peak Of Tenerife, or the
Cataract of Niagara. Now the tornado tear
ing it's way in thunder, and now the calm of
the Summer noon -tide-wielding with the
same success the sword Of war, and the olive
of peace-the most opposite traits seemed
blended in his grand nature.
Some lllustrious men are crags Of ice
others flaming volcanoes. Washington was
the mountain-builded indeed of granite,
yet soft with verdure-holding alike the oak
and the blossom-in its dells the bird and
on its brow the eagle
Alexander planted his foot on the neck of
the world, but fell before the wine cup
Trajan sent abroad his legions till the Iron
Gate ofthe Danube, and the mounds of buried
Ninevah felt their conquering tread, but he
was imperious. Napoleon reared his throne
from the fragments of thrones he mad shat
tered, but he was ambitious. Washington
alone-in the altitude of his nature, and
splendor of his deeds, lowered aloft with
nought to mar that nature or sully that
splendor.
With what JOY and pride then do we now
assemble to wreathe his shrine with the gar
lands of our homage. The Greeks ceebra-
ted the birth days of their Gods with pealing
hymns and triumphal chariots, but--sight
far more impressiye--on this day, whole
land checks its stately tread and bends it's
mighty heart before a single altar.
| A new interest also centers upon this An
niversary. To celebrate it, the survivors of
those who struggled through our second War
for independence have here assembled
Knowing the tolls and dangers of the tented
field they with most sincerity, can offer the
need of praise to our common Hero and
Patriot
And now as We bend around this shrine
of glory, let the deepest emotions possess
our hearts. Come from your graves, ye
mighty dead--com patriots of Washington
and gather around us. To the man ye loved
to the hero ye worshipped ,wepay the rites
due to valor and virtue. They come-their
pale brows bright with joy and exultation
the chivalric Lafayette-the daring Wayne
the stately Knox, Marion with his flashing
eye, and Sumpter with his vigorous arm
A9x they n2ye in sloEsr9esssi0n tsrough
battles, the director of their councils-the
star of their hope-the rock of their faith,
f they bow in reverence, their lips move in
praise, their hands swing the incense-they
) pass away; but still on the air is left the
solemnity of their presence, and on the heart,
the spell of their power.
! In all things connected with him, Washing
ton showed the innate greatness of his heart.
f Reared in opulence, voluntarily, he turned
from iowery ease to follow up the rocky chan
+. nels through which flow the pure waters of
1 self-denial and virtue. In the years of his
n early manhood, he forsook his home to dare
S the dangers Of the savage wilderness. There,
= while his physical frame was Injured to hard
i ship, his character was moulded. His strong
|. impulses We're controlled by patience, and
r his fiery courage steadied by fortitude Did
C not his soul too, in this companionship with
s nature, lmblbe the pure inspirations Of Free
8 dom-Freedom as shown in the pine tree
If swinging to the wind, and the torrent dash
It ing from the mountain?
o In the sylvan shades of Mount Vernon
g washington passed on to middle age, in quiet
If A storm then gathered which reused him
n from that quiet. Powerful England insulteG
l. the spirit of freedom, beating as with thC
pulse of life, In feeble America. Remon-
strances were sent to the King, but as thun
der ls> scarce heard in the cold air of tht
mountain top, so did our complaints die away
In the British Court. Then war-cry rang
Give me Liberty or give me Death!' was
that cry, rolled from the lips of Patrick Hen
ry, and mighty was its influence Like th
apostolic tongues of fire, the words hashe,
r In all directions-they cleaned in every ey
a they kindled every heart. Give me Lii
IN erty or give me Death p Lexington burs
Y. into crimson, and Bunker Hill into volcan
al of battle. Give me Liberty or give m
p Death! Every vein cf the outraged natio
I'd bounded beneath the impulse, and up sh
I'd started into fiery life.
1t In his green retreat, the heart of Washing
a ton was also kindled. From the height {
ca his being his calm eye saw the clouds aris
a ing pile upon pile, and darkening the seen
sh beneath, while close at hand, the ocean
ng Revolution was heavingand blackening wit
nd the stern roar of its anger beginning to a
be cend. In the first Continental Congress
ck with the impetuous Gadsden, thefe~y Adam
at John Jay of the eloquent pen, and Patric
to Henry of the laundering tongue, there W;
les Washington. The ID Congress appointe
ed him Commander-in-C Chief, and now CONNER
of ced his principal career.
St 1t is not my intention to speak IN dets
to of his acts. They are familiar to us as OF
eet stars and sunsets. will speak of two
pal showing his contrasting traits OF despcra
to courage, and christian fortitude.
it Tracking the frozen ground with the
ing bloody footsteps, our little army retreat
bic before CORVALLIS beyond the Delaware. B
of while our sky was turning to blackness,
Of beam of light, bursting from the soul
or Washington, blazed across the scene.
in The day of our Savior's birth had darken
Of. into night--dark, bitter night The bl;
!. howled and the snow fakes streamed.
was a time when, in old England, and ey
Our our own. unhappy land, household grou
Inc sat before blazing fires that ghttered UP
yer, laughing faces. where mirth and sweet c.
oin tent kept holiday. Upon such a night, {
Washington-he who with God like
ia tience, had retreated step by step, before
'eu exultant foe-with his fiery soul now up {
1lhe eager, turned his great heart TO his ener
lorn and flashed in his eyes the sword of bat
arts The black food of the Delaware rolled
"a where blocks of ice were clashing-but
uno after boat tflledwith shivering soldiers, pus
81 . from the snowy brink. Muskets froze
fingers and cannon were white with fros
SLY icy fragments crashed against the boa
ana but onward went the host--one stately s.
t. he towering in the midst, till eli had reac
Nine the shore.
What thunder is that, CORVALLIS,