Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-02-26
FRIDAY MORNING,

echoed far away over the hills which environ our
beautiful city. And then Gov. WISE arose and spoke
| as follows:
CoUsrRYArs AND FELLOW CITIZENS: Virginia
has called the Nation, ito Elders and Councillors,
her sister States, their gov nors lawyers and Judges
her own people and all the children Of this Confeds.
rate Family of Freedom. TO assemble, this anniver.
ssry birth day. around the Monument she has raised
to the memory of that son whose wisdom, valor and
virtue, won the grandest, proudest, purest Of all
earthly ttles-"FATHER OF HIS Country Iu her
name bid you all-alI welcome to the gathering
around VIRGIsiAs MONUMENT To WAsHINGroN.
Magic name! If none other under Heaven can
draw us to escl ether, that taismsn can touch The
chord of unison and clasp hand in hand and bind
US heart to heart in The kindred heirshp of one Pa
triotio Father Before that august name Feud and
Faction stand abashod-CiviI Discord bushes into
awed silence-Sohisms and Sections are subdued and
vanish; for in the very naming of that name there
is the swes: aonco:d Of Love Vereration Gratitude
Duty. Patriotism and Self volion-ni il thee e :a
harmony of Peace, and the Power only Of victorious
War, and the spell of Order and Liberty and Law
aud the strength aud beauty of NATIONAL UNIoE!-
typfss all that there 10 and ougb to be of Good
ness and Greatness aud m.jesty in that country we
call"Our Conntry"-THE UNITED STATES OF AhERI.
CA And that country 10 the best type of its Father
We will, then, this day gather togsher the Nation
al Affections, and bind them ss American fasces
around this Statue erscted by the Mother State to
the Father Son!
Virsina!-
'Parent of vaor cast away thy fear
Mother OF Men, be proud without tearr'
What atheme!-What scene for men aud angels!
May our Goo in whose bosom he rssts who guarded
him n our counlrys battles, and who guided him 10
our countrys cOuncile, vouchsafe that his spirit ay
continue to hover the land he saved ard perpe
tuate it peaceful powerful, plentiful and free, through
oil the vicissiiudes of storm and sunshine, until
earthiy monuments shall mouldsr into dust, and Hu
manity shall triumph over the Probation of Time,
Time itself shall bs no more
Many are here, but-ons is absent. The Artist
Crawford--has been oalled-away! He worked out
of the olay!-alas his own form has gone back TO it
and he modelled "Revolution" the henry, and "In
dependence" the Jefferson, and he the Equestrian
Statue and mounted the Washington the War
Horse and-laid down his chise Ii was finished
II was enough, aud he was called from his work 10
meet the great original, the hero and the sage him-
SELF In land of spirits wbereimages moulded not
in clay, and monuments not built with hands, "
and are eternal 10 the Heavens"
bis ptdoD 10 here. She sees through her tears OF
the Joy of Grief husbands Masterpiece link his
name perennlaIy, bronze and marble last, to all
the worth of Washington! Gently softly, tenderly,
We bid her welcome, but-not 10 mourn. No! fame
has already sounded:
Crawford! thou art fallen.'.
' And some limbs Of sculpture fell with thee;
But from the ranks OF Virenias chivalry
"A glory has burst forth, and matchlcss powers
shall mako th' eternal grace Of sculpture oura
Ih eternal grave! alasi the date assignd
ITO works, calld dos,hes,, Of creative mind.
10 but speck upon tho sea of days;
And frail mans immortality of praise
"A moment TO the eternity of time,
"Thstis and was and sha be the sublime
The unbeginning, the unsnding sea,
"Dimentionless as Gods inhnlty"
But my part is only to welcome you and introduce
our chosen oards and orator, who will sing and say
this days story in stronger sweetsr srsns than can
sing or say.
Gov. Wise then introduced JOHN K. THoaPsoS
Esq, who proceeded to deliver the opening
ode for the occasion.
OPENING ODE
For .As Inauguration Of Canfo,ds Equestrian Statue q
Huntington.
JOHN r. THOMPSON, ESQ
Virginans here with cannon's deafening roar
Aud joyous throb OF drum,
From mountain gorge aud from Atlandc's shore
This hallowed day come.
Ills one of Freedou's Sabba,hs and we give
The time TO Freedoms praise,
AZ here, In bronze that almost seems to live
Our hero's form raise
it s we'll ,ha, glorious form should grace
Our own Captoline-
ueRceforth TO all a consecrated place
That holds a sacred shrine.
The pomp ofpennous, scarfs and tossing plumss
IL 6tly here displayed,
Scattering tho sints OF summers richest blooms
Upon the bright parade.
And worthy is 1t that with noble speech
Which glows with vital powr,
The laurel crowned orator should teach
The grandeur OF the hour
While yet In reverent mood the poet brings,
Amid the brilliant throug,
What he would never give to hattcr Kings,
His lnodest need Of song.
Not queenly Athens, from the breezy height
Where ivory Pallas stood
A. flowed along her streets in vestuTes who
Tho choral multitude
Not regal Rome when wide her bugles roild
Ffom Tsgus to Cathay,
Az the long triumph rich with orient gold
Went up the Sacred Way
| Not proud bssilica minister dim.
Filled with Wars glittering files,
| As battle fugue or Coronation Hymn
Swept through the bsnnercd aises-
| Saw pageant, solemn, grand or gay to view,
In moral so sublime,
| AZ this which seeks TO crown with homage duo
The fornost man of Time!
| Then lot the gun from out its peaceful smoke
Its thunder speak aloud,
| Az when the rainbow Of our flag hrst broke
| Through battles nfted cloud.
| Peal trumpets; peall your strain triumphant lend
| To stir the wintry air.
! And upward TO the throne Of God ascend
| The frankinconse Of prayer
Not ours but HIS the glory ever be.
While yet :he run,
Who, that His favored people might be fres
Gave Garth WARRINGTON
Yes the 'cupors work is an!,hed and TO life the metal
Token of q poop,eS love and crownux tribute of the