Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-02-27


parts of the Hall, and upon rising was re-
ceived with long continued applause. Order
being restored, he spoke az follows:
Mr.. President AND GENTLEMEN: | esteem
it a great privilege and honor to speak on
behalf Of Massachusetts on thi. most inter
esting O~ccasIon-of Massachusetts, the eides:
of the sister States Of Virginia in this great
family of republics. She knew and loved
your peerless son a, an early day. While the
lilies of France hoated over the bastions Of
Quebec. while the red cross Of ST. George
waved from Maine 10 Georgia; while the
blouu Of youth was on his Own cheek; he
visited Boston, then the residence OF the
Commauder-in chief of the Royal forces.
When tn. great appeal was made to the
stern arbitrGme OF war, and the ali Impor-
tant uue,ti1n arose in the CDutine0tal Con
gress, who should lead tie patriotic arms oil!
America, in the doubtful contest; Ma-sucha-
sets, represented by one whom your "
J f. rSDn pronounced the Colossus OF debate
in the great argument OF lndependenc'->ne
from whom many of you afterwards differed
10 political opinion, bu! whom all honored
as a true, warm-hesrted patriot-Massachu-
sets, | say, represented in the Continental
Congress by John Adams. gave her voice
and her influence for the appointment Of
Washington. She had her own armies, her
own generals in the field, in common with
those Of the other New England States--the
veterans Of the seven years war Rogers
provincial rang rs, Siark's cOmradc>-aaeu
who had cllmhcd the heights OF Abraham
and stOsm,d he citadel Of LDulshurgh-the
men of the l9,h Of A:ri' and the lIth OF
June--lcd by Ward and Warren. aud Put
nam and Prpscott--but, at the rick Ut touch
ing tie most sensitive nerve that thrills the
human bvsUm-the point OF honor on the
part OF the solder and the gentleman Mas
sachusetts gave her vote and all her influence
for the 'beloved" Col. Washington. II t.
Virginia belongs the incommunlcabIe glory
of having given him to his country, may not
Massachusetts, under the circumstances T.
which | have alluded, reflect with Satisfaction
that she contributed all her iotl"nce TO pI.c;
that npbie 500 at the head OF the American
armies? Sac remembers, too, WITH Interest,
tnat the nesly elected commander as-hmed
his high trust under the shadow 0i her an-
Gent University at Cambridge; that, "Ith MS
head quarters established there, be held the
royal army for near a twelve months
beleagured in Bostun-aud that he achieved
his first great military success from the
heights that now command her capital.
Sume foreign writers have denied the mill
tary talents of Washington. Massachusetts
knows better. She witnesses the remains Of
the magnif eDt lines Of decentralization.
twelve miles in circuit, in which, with raw
recruits, inaLcquately supplied tor tne f"id,
without Urduance, without mnrltlDn he
held the rOya! forces closely Invested tor near
a tw eiVc months. She GGhJids eternal monu-
ments Of his military skill IN the heights 1t
Dorchester, where, by q magnificent strAtegl;
combination, be earned "a place, lappeai TO
the gallant chIeltaIn, Gen. Scott, among the
greatest masters # war. A late French W.T.
ter has said, that Washington could not have
led the French grand army of lSl2-ihat
prodlgiouo army moving in thirteen parallel
columns, each a host-led by tributary
Kings, and heroes OF "A hundred wars-and
got them IN safety to Russia. | do not know
that any one has a right to ASSET this, or
take Tor granted that he whO did great things
with small means, would not have done pro-
pol tinnataIv greater with ample Incins. NJ
any rate. whatever superiority may tie ciaiI'-
ed for Napoleon, on the hare assumuilon
thai Washington could not have conducted
his mighty force into Russia, some deduction
must lie made from that superiority Tor the
historical fact, that Napoleon himself could
not conduct that army out OF Russia.
At all events, sir, Washington himself, 10
whose heroic self-possession there entered
not the slightest particle OF arrogance or
presumption, calmly contemplated the possi-
bility that he might be brought into personal
cor dict with that dreaded NapOlern; and
in that belief accepted the Command OF the
American army in l1yS. Nucu ~ the eX-
Z, citation Of a war Wiz our hUu0rcd reVu'T-
tiUnary allv, tnen distracted IN her d.nesl'c
cUuCcil-, Washington vas aplulntcl Leu
tenant ttchera.-a tile and Il trust "hIch
America, but in a single other l~u,tancc, has
given to any one Of her gallant ron.--hc
more than once declared that, IT the enemy
invaded us, be must not be permitted 30
much ~ to land on our shores. And IN a let
ter to President Adams. written shortly after
accepting his commission, he makes the sisnl-
cant remark, the French with whom we
have DOW To cOntenG1 have adopted The prac'
tice, with great ard astonishing success OF
appointing generals Of juvenile years to
Command ther armies" He had every rea-
son to suppose at that time, and, doubtless,
did suppose. that in the event OF i Ere. CD M
vasiJn, the armies OF France would nave
been commanded hy the hero of Arcola and
Lodi, the youngest and most successful Ut
these youthful generals.
Sir. the occasion which has brought Us t.
gether is, in my Judgment, Of far greater lm-
p]ortance and significance than any mere
popular pageant. Virginia has been called,
and Justly, the mother of States aud OF states
men; but this is an honor which she shares
with her sister republics. From Maine to
Georgia, every one Of the old thirteen has
sent her children to lay the foundation OF
new republics IN the rising West; every one
Of the cunfedersted States ha9 Is list OF the
wise. the hOnored, aud the brave among ITS
children. But to Virginia alone belongs the
honor IF giving blTtn to the one man, whose
pre.eninence all HcknoH ledge without envy,
in whose lame all other States are proud as
fellow countrymen to claim a share.
| rejoice that in cOusecratIug u monument
to this pure and bright name you have found
AL American Artist equal to It's conception
and execution. Oh. that be could have wit
messed this triumy hant day. My is sue
cess carry consolation TO the heart OF his be-
reav,d u,rtuer. He has lett behind him, a
-. not