The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-08

Having now finished the work Tncd me, retire from
the great theatre Of ton and naddng an anecion.ss
so lorq acted here offer my commission, ana AXE my
leave OF all the employ ments OF pubic me- Wnat
sword was that which he resigned Oher swords were
stained with bood-other swords were steel the edges
Of which bad turned armor which backed them
their hits turned ON they mad proecteo-
but the sword
OF Michael; from the armory Of God Col ....
Was given him tempered 50 that neither Keen
Nor solid might resist Its edge
This entitled him u 60 home and the domestic man
hurried Mount Vernon. Here be was patrarchai ana
provide nj Tor his household No duties there were below
his greatness as none elsewhere had been above his ca
pacity his How mighty different IN this from
the common herd OF public men who neglect wives cm
d. en- ube ladies' pleased at this) servants farms
houses neghborhood ami all domestic duties ana les
for the camp for the poor politicians life IN Con-
Addressing himself TO the Hon. Messrs. Lcher ana
keu both Of whom seemed to enjoy the allusion)
Just then the prime Of vigorous manhood nifty one
wears OF age he hale and strosg ana seasoned He
had passed unhurt through the flames Of war, and he
had now to prove his virtue pure enough 'or peace ms
and federal. He the first impulse 70 the iherha
improvements Of Virginia He looked 70 her haroors ana
rivers and under ms influence the Legislature FORMED
the two first mpanies TO extend the navigation OF the
roiemac and James rivers. Forty thou AM dollars
worth Of stock offered his acceptance, he devoted to
education and partly believe, 10 the college called af
~ hm at this very hcalys But above ALL his wisdom
aw The federal necessity Of more perfect union OF the
States Insurrccton agaizRt weak confederation mad
already began in Massachnsefs-a State always among
the FIRST patriotic devotion and strangely, always in
the Hartford Convention and of late years, by her
Modification fugitive slave acts first in discord and re-
beton. Ianghtcr). Virginia led by Washington, was
Grs, to resolve upon the reign of Constitution He
headed the Virginia deNgatNn; he presided over the
Convention and as its President he hrst signed the sa
cred bond of Union, the Constitution OF the United
statcs-a form OF. government the length and
breadth Of which no man has yet fathomed. What
now shall destroy this work Ct Washington
SHAY had rebeed against confederation, and assachu
sets did suffer the infamy. What, now, Il her
hirher lawn and her preachers OF Christian politics
shall trs pe upon the ah upon the ouths Of organic
law and mady hing over the grave ut Mount vernon
make wreck Of this master work q wisdom ana
yirue-more OF nspir alton than OF human Thought
and reascn-new, igpa unprecedented and unequaed
the system Of just equal and free government What
IN Virginia will remain loyal, like her leader and
WIN savngy defend the holy places OF the
mighty dead, AID he glorious work Of their master minds
That all Mt shall not II cannot be done. The con
siitution and the Union shall be preserved Qoua
cheers)
the Convention TO preside over the country Writing TO
General Knox, he saii.-"Intsgrity and hrmness all
promise These, he the voyage long short shall
forsake me- though be deserted by all men, for
OF The con. oacn be derived from these the world
cannot ceprve men But before he went 70 New York
he had q pilgrimage Of lhal piety to make. He visited
hi neither to biz her farewell and Obtain her blessing
In uartiug. he said, AS the weight OF public
business which must necessa ry attend the Of
new government can be disposed Of, will return 10
Virginia, and"- 'You will see me no more" said bis
mother my great age warns me that shall not be long
in this world. trust in God that may be tomew What
prepared for better. Go, George CO. my son. and per
foam your duties and may the blessing OF God and that
n,
hat~dna e-that Virginia womani She never again saw
the son ,he thus sent his daues which she had well
All soldier. to your honor'd res,
Your truth and 4, yaior r bearing;
The loving the daring.
Unanimously elcoteo President his progress 70 New
by crowds throbbing with aton love and gratitude.
the umpkink, Trenton, The mairons threw
bridge ofevergeens and flowers with THIS inscription !
"The heyo who defended the mothers viii protect the
woman could not ia to honor him who was the gallant
husband ano the son Of hlial pety He met enough "
ntoxicate human pide snd vanity but when guard was
announced 10 him by military efcort he said Il require
no guard but the affections Of the people" cloud cheers
All this him pain, for he dreaded reversal Of this
scene alta rall his enJeavors 10 do good
IEs administration lasted from 1889 1897. Ne re-
men5creo that be put the government into action,
gave It's rst direction. New, uneSampled, its action
War In every scnse problemaca His wisdom solved the
problem. lie wasa judge OF men aud selected the best
cabinet. HIS Indian I-lcy wa pacific, humane and pa
opened fully the wholly operations Of the
81 the United States. His foreign policy
poeei il supreme in success. No lcgcrde
q. main OF diplomacy embarrassed his dircctncss Of
gotiaon No secresy yelled H. His policy peace and
neutrality bis safety valve against all OF other
nations. and he formed entapgng alliances with
Iii. treaties ~sth SPAN and England, and peace with the
Emperor Of Morocco hts Intervention in the French
Revolution snd contest with Genet his suppression ofhe
wh-kcy insurrectop, by prompt appaats Of force
efficient 10 prevent boodshed the ranking OF bad
God his bfd resignation and retirement his example
Il but ia the Presidency; lila whole and
trnnaion OF civil service, exceeded all examples
Gent modern, were based upon no prccedents, and
have resulted In progress and prosp rty which hsv.
proved his wisdom by the tests of time and fruiton
And he concluded all by Farewell Address, which Is
ifca revelation Of the experience OF the past OF the
truth az the present and prophecy for the future o.
this country. lrs advice has been neglected but two
instances 90 history and rcaping the crop
Of dragons teeth which by these two viola
tons. Contrary 70 H. q sectional line nxci by the
Jolly of the ssouri Compromise and since then
tapgne a'lnnce was formed by What called the Clay
RIwer treaty and the effects Of these two all
have 10 dread IN present domestic and foreign
laiions This Is than well worthy u the note Of
yairio ism and sfaiesmaDship.
Bidding farewell 10 civil Ne as well as military service
he again iopdy turned, be ever AID, 10 his home At
Mount Vernon There was his haven. There he was the
every day sort OF man, unaffected, simple, domestic.
Strict and regular In habits, he saw TO every minute de
tail of plantation operations. When Col Meade asked
Mr.. Custis his steJeon, how he should know General
Washington when he met him tn the fields, where be
was riding out the answer was, "You will meet sir,
elothes a broad brimmcd white bat a hickory switch
In his hand, and carrying an umbrella with long stan,
wheh = attached 70 his saddle bow that = General
think fall In with the General shall be apt 10 know
him" Who would not at once have known him IN the
midst Of muutndeS Personal ncatness ~as promi
virtue In linn. But his presence though so very
plain lone, inspired more awe and reverence than did
that n any other man There h be was he had
been In the field cabinet, always acting under
controlling purpose governed by sense Of duty, scru
puous in rs performance exact in is execution, and
.ura sclence and PATTERN planter. Above all from be
ginning 70 end he a Christian. Pracc ally Iaou.. be
committed everything IN ana ID IN The camp
or cabinet or on the farm the guidance Of God-to He
assistance In aid Of second causes which he careful
and industrious 10 exert TO apply and W improve.
though be bad finished The whole work set before him
yet % The very lat be called 10 the country
yte and be was ready aud loyal to tic last The elder
Adams gave him the command Of the provisional army
and 10 declined subOrC mate under his
successor in the chief command.
There il in my maternal family original letter, a
COPY Of which have here present 20 which would
draw the of the professors and cadets o this In
tutc u the subject &c selecting proper characters
officer the twenty four regiments OF Infantry author
zd 10 be eventually raised by Congress for the French
war IN 1890. He speaks especially q chat the per
nrrei of army officers should be- II portrays the
care with which he cansed the selections for the
provisional army 10 be made and inculcatcs
the incstmabe truth that II is "a deusive hope that
nc Of bad habits by being ransplan,ed into the army
will become good men and good ohcersn To you de-
R ate this truth the publication of this letter worthy
To be preserved as a monument Of history and NOR
eel Of washneton's moral philosophy. This letter was
written the 18th day of the June before he died.
~, with all this rerfcciion and performance sbou,