Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-12-29
aailp a'irginiau.
Forefathers' Day at Plymouth.
Appnfss or EDWARD EvgaErr.

landing oi the Piigrims OF the MayhOwcr. upon
Plymouth Rock, and as such was celebrated In
severnl localities. At Plymouth the custom has
heretofore boon To arrange ceremonies srecially
adapted TO tho occasion, including oration BY
some eminent person. This year, il wns thou Rht
proper to substitute exercise Of different sort
but not less ft to keep alive all tho valuable me-
morics and associations of the day, is.--the de-
livery, by Mr.. Everett, Of his Address on tho
Character of Washington, for the benefit Of the
Mt. Vernon fund. t.a=
Fortunately tho weather was quite propitious,
and the contemplated arrangements were success
fully carried out Many persons from tho neigh
boring towns were present, and even delegation
Of Bostonians was among those who made pilgri-
mage to the sacred place whereon our Forofathers
first set foot. The use Of Davis Hall was gratui-
tously given FOR the purposes Of the day, and at
eleven o'clock the hour for the exercises to com.
,nence, II was quite full; not less than thous-
and persons being present. Some OF the oldest
residents ofthe town, their venerable locks whit
cned with age, sat upon tho platform near tho or
ator.
Aher u voluntary by the plymouth Amateur
Orchestra, The breaking waves dashed high"
MIR. W. Z. Bryant's hymn upon Foreiathers bay
was sung.
Mr.. Davis. the Chairman Of the day, then In.
troduced Mr.. Everett in some appropriate re-
marks. &upon. rising tho orator was greeted with
cordial applause. llc prciacod his address with
some remarks the substance Of which was as fol-
lows:
SPEECH or MR. EVERETT
Mr.. Chairman, and Ladies' and Gcntomen--I
have much pleasure IN appearing before you at
this time. beneath the cheering influence OF these
frightening skies. Tho weather was yesterday
unpromising TINT sent Geographic message
to the gentleman who has done me tho honor to
introduce mo in such ilattering terms. asking
whether it might not le better on tho whole ~
postpone this asscmblage Mr.. Davis wrote back
to mo In substance that they never postponed
Forofathers Day: you might rs well think Of post
poung the sols,oc; and besides that. tho sea-cap.
tains at Plymouth were sure that We should have
pleasant weather to-day. ! th ought that tho pros
pect was not very tempting, md was inclined to
'think that Tor once tho sea-captains OF Plymouth
wero mistaken. But find they wero not, aud
the next time want to know what sort of weath-
or VIC arc going 10 have next day. shall send to
the scacnptains Of Plymouth to ascertain. Tho
men who have watched tho portent Of the weather
on lee shore, in driving gale, who have stud.
led tho signs Of the times ON the top Of the noun
tain wave, nre as likely 10 come 10 n correct con
clusion they who consult thu books Of philoso-
ply or tho pnRcs of the almanac.
MIR. Davis told you TINT thirty -four years snce,
for the frat time IN my io faced u Plymouth
audience to speak Of tho memories of our immor-
tal fpreihthcrs Tlif is hot the second, nor the
third nor the fourth, n the fifth time that
1t haa been my privilege to speak within these
hHiloWsu prccihcts, aIlu uppn ms pffht tNehe.--
On former occasions | have come to YOU, my
friends, with remarks IN re or less carefully pre-
pared for the precso occasion. But though /
como to you now +, repeat AN address having
reference to tho und Of the Pilgrims having no
geographical connection with Plymouth, and in
tended to be addressed Ia nl the people Of our
vast country, yet | bccve that it hns never been
my fortune 10 speak to you n subject better in
harmony with the day.
1t is two hundred and thirty eight years since
that weary storm tossed company, ono hundred
and two in number -nne of them born upon the
passage,-crept up the ieycold rocks of Plymouth
then for the FIRST time trod by civilized man, to
commence II settlement on the verge oi the unrod-
den wilderness During that dreadful winter they
laid more than half thor number beneath tho sods
and those sods were carelully smoothod every day
that the savagcs might not have menus to count
tie number Of the graves. The trials sorrows and
offerings Of that dreadful winter, no tongue, no
Zen f mnn, can ia these prosperous days ever
adequately dep;ct They nre buried. never to be
revealed ill the day Of judgment, beneath tho
pen ,elul sods Of Plymouth. But, my friends, 1t
il me compensaiion---l think it would to the
Pl grim Fathers have been some compensation,
cvcu in these undcscrobed. indescribable sorrows
aud sutIerings, if they could have looked forward
to q, day like this. ! believe that they would have
been consoed by aprospect Of the glories of their
children.
] am to speak to you to-day upon the character
Of Washington. 1t is II theme, II is O memory not
ina opropria,e to the day. The first efforts that
wei made in these ballowed precincts are the fit
fore runner Of those in after times 10 which we owe
our independence. IL the capstone was carried
up in l776, the great foundation was laid in 1920
on plymouth Rock.
Mr. Everett proceeded to the delivery of his ad-
DIRE upon the character of Washington, and du-
ring the two hours Of its delivery was listened to
with close md undivided attention.