Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-02-27
can almost fancy that the gifted sculptor,
like the gifted poet,
Saw, and, blasted with excess OF light,
Closed his eyes in endless night

law .'Ni 1880
Closed his eyes in endless night
Sir, | believe IN monuments believe IN
them even as works OF ar. TO carve the
speaking marble. to mould the breathing
brur ne. j. one Of the hottest etfnrts Of geniu:
and taste: but II pltriutis monument Is a tAr
nObler work. IL embudies patriotism, truth
and f,i'h; it gives form and expression to the
best feelings OF our uaturC-'nd while the
noble work which you haze this day Inau'
gurated shall brave the SHOWS Of winter and
the heats of summer, that brazen arm shal
point the unerring road to the welfare OF The
country more surely than any arm OF llrlng
flesh: and q iercer thunder than that OF The
elements shall clUthe the neck of the monu'
mental war-horse, and strike terror to the
hearts of the enemies Of the Constitution and
t,e Caiun.
Upon te;ng presented with WAsbington's
Walking Cane, Mr.. Everett replied 70 CJI.
Muuiord's speech, AS follows
Sir want words adequately TO express
the emotions of sat ~stlc,lon and gratitude
with which | receive this most interesting
personal relic of the Father OF his Country
iovaluable in itself, and rendered 1t possible
still more precious, by the circum5tances
under which it comes into my possession. !
shall keep it while | live, as a sacred trust,
and So dispose of it as best to promote the
patriotic intentions with which it has beer
bestowed upon me. | acknowledge myself
under the highest obligations to the LLi'e|'
OF the MJunt Vernon A-sOcIstIUn, who nave
honorei me wiki this must cx Pres>IVe token .!
lneir approval uf my humble c,-JrcTatinn III
the great cause. TO wbiche with such ter"ld
energy and uobie enthusiasm they are deVc-
uiug tncm.else,; aud | pray you, sir, to ac-
c.pt my grateful acknowledgements tor the
very Ublis!us manner In which you have been
pleased to express yourself, In performing
the office Sinuly undertaken by you, on this
dee ply interesting occasion.
feel, sir, that in reference to an honor so
distinguished, so peculiar, there would be a
degree Of arrogance, even IN d~Isclaimlns
any title to it az u reward of merit. Such
a thought is almost TOO absurd to be dlsa-
vowed. nothing tat the most distinguished
service to the Country, IN some Crisis ol i'm
mlnert peril, could turnIsh an adequate 'Uuu-
dtriou COR such Il pFeienslon.
But | may claim, without presumption, TO
have been trained, from my cradle, to the
reverence Of the great ADD hOnored Name, OF
which you now enrich me With this most
desirable personal memorial. | was born
within sight OF Dorchester Heights, where be
achieved une OF the most brilliant and lnI-
po-taut successes Of the war. | was reared
in d community filled with recent personal
recolIectlons Of him, cherished by those who
all but idulized his character. | am old
enough to remember the shock, which struck
20 the very heart Of the land, at the tliinAs
,ha; he was g,ne. My first little decIama'
ton at scnooi was the familiar e.cgy, begiL-
GInS
From VeTnoa's mount behold he hero rise!
Ke>plend,nt icrms attend ann 10 the skies.
[ remember bot as yesterday, the emotion .!
mg father, a. he placed round my neck, with
lis black ribbon, the medal which was worn
ry the school children throughout the coun-
try, bearing the lIkeness OF Washington, With
the inscription "lle is 10 glOry--.hc world 10
10 ~teaIs," and the eulogy pronounced by that
honored parent, 90 the ensuing ~ Ot
February, at the reques! Of his eiIow-cIdzens
of Dorchester, was the first public discourse.
OF a secular character, 10 which L ever lis
tened.
Hal it then been fJretold to me that aft =
a Lapse ui ftty--isht years, filled VITA no III
considerable share II tue iaO.rs and the cares
Of life, should live tO see a day ike this
that | should have the privilege, III 80 many
of the States aud cities OF the Union, TO pro-
nounce an euiogy on that illustrIOus tame,
before crowded and fayorlng audiences, aud
to devote The pecuniary proceeds OF It's de-
livery to the nubIe object Of placing the home
and the tomb of Washington under the 9Lls
of the pubic projections; that as the rlch re-
ward of this service, | should here 10 the
capital of his native Virginia here 10 the
presence Of ;llu-triOus cbIeftalnS, WHO lave
borne the ilag OF the country with hohor,
from the f. zen Mott t tue Tropics VI the
Chief Magistrates OF Virginia AMI Other Els
ter >ntr-; and VI Statesmen VINO have hl,el
and are filing the higne.t places III tue pub
nc counclir; Ot the ladies wno have clothed
themselves with the honor OF originating the
noble enterprise which appeals 80 powerfully
20 the pratrlutlc sentiment OF tue country !,
and of TINS vast and symputhIzing audience;
truly | should have deemed II a vision to-
bright, too wild, To be realIz ID; Or, II realized,
an ample recUmpense tor whatever OF toll or
.f yrIet might Intervene. But il is no rO-
mantle vision. have lived 20 see this proud
and happy day. have been permitted, by Pro-
violence, ~ reallZe what tue mUst ext. aNaS"ht
authorization could not have tUresceu l nave
prunuu. cri the eu!ogy, ii whlcE yJn expect
tue repetition t.-dly, seventy TIN :, ior the
Mount Vernon fund, and | am willing ~ do
il seven hundred and seventy times, 1t Il Is
tue pleasure Of my fellow Cit zeus 10 lear 1t.
Tor the same noble object.
For these eff yrtr aud the labor and time
required by them, | claim no merit; have
asked, expected no reward-least OF all, such
u reward ss | receive this day, Sir, at your
bands. 1t has truly been, as you have been
pleased to say, a LABOR OF love. l have ieit
that | was engaged 10 a pure and honorable
work, tending dIre1lly to a noble end, anu
not unproiuc.ive pernap5 OF lnciienth Z ol.
Com PEELED by illness, a tew years agJ, 10
resign a very nouoraOie post IN tue pubic
,~er,icc, nnd feeling no temptation, slice the
partial rest rat on OF my :i,aitA, ~ returh To
the tnurhy aud thankIeSs pa.h Vi pubic NE;
Weary OF it- cares and more than satislad
" tn The trusts ana hOnJrs winch tue par
tiality Of my iellUH -cItlz-ns has bestowed on
me, AT home and abroad, | ind IN these IL
offensive pursuits, into inch | have been
drawn, consecrated to patriotism and beneSC-
lcnce, a mure cUngenial occupation Tor my
waning years; happy II | call, IN this way,
d. any thing 10 promote this most meritoriou'