Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-02-25
Address by Governor Wise,
At Richmond, on the 22nd Of February

AT on We ZLHd 81 TeOTudTy.
Countrynen and Fellow Citizens :-Vir-
GINA has called the Nation, its Elders and
Councillors; her sis'er States. their Cover
nors. Lawgivers, and Judges; her own peo-
pie and all the children Vi the confederate
family Of Freedom, t. assemble this ~anuiver-
sary birthday around the Monument she
hss raised to the memory Of that son whose
wisdom, valpr and virtue won the grandeSt,
proudest, purast of all earthly titles, Faith
RR OF HIS COUNTRY" 10 her name | bid
you all! all welcome TO the gathering
around NIRGINIA'S MONUMENT TO WASHING
TON.
Magic pane. II none other under Hea-
ven can draw vs. to each other, that tallsmsn
can touch the chords Of unison, and clasp Us
hand in hand, and bind US heart to heart, in
the kindred heirship Of one Patriot Father !
Before that august name Feud and Faction
stand abashcd; Civil Discord bushes toto
swod silence, schisms and sections are sub
dued and vanish-ior, 10 the very naming OF
that name, there is the sweet concord Of
love, veberstion, gratitude, duty, patriotism,
and self devotion-in it there Is the harmony
Of peace and the power only OF victorious
war, and the spell Of order, and liberty. and
law. and the strength and beauty of Nation
al Union. 1t typifes all that there is and
ought to be of goodness, greatness, and ma
ies,y in that country we call Our Country
the United States of America. Aud that
country is the best type of it, Father.
We will, then. this day, gather together
the National affections and bind them as
American fasces around this Statue erected
BY the Mother State u the Father SJu.
Virginia
parent of valor, cast away tiny fear -
Mother of men, be proud without d tear
What a theme! What a scene for men
and angels! May our God. il whose bosom
he rests, who guarded him in our country's
battles, aud who guided him in our coun-
try's ~counsels, vouchsafe that his spirit may
continue to hover over the land be saved,
and perpe,uate it peaceful, powerful, plenti-
full and free, through all viclssitudei OF
storm and sunshine, until earthly nonu-
ments shall noulder into dust, and human
ty shall triumph over toe probation Of time,
or time itself shall be no more.
Many are here, but one is absent. The
Observation-Disclosures been called away
lie worked out Of the clay-Alas, his own
form has gone back to lt-and he modelled
"Rsvolution," the Henry, and "lndepen-
dence," the Jefferson. and he cast the eques,
,rian statue, and mounted the Washington
90 the war-horss aud laid down his chlseI.
1t was fuished-it was en~ough--and he was
called from his work to meet the great origi-
nal, 1.-THE hero and the sage" himself, IN u
land of spirits, where images are moulded
not in clay, and monuments are not built
with hands" and are eternal in the hea-
vens." His uidOw IS here; she sees through
her tears cf the joy Of grief a husbands
masterpiece link his name percnnlally, a.
bronze and marble last, u all the worth Of
Washington! Gently, softly tenderly, We
bid her welcome, but not TO mourn. No!
anne has already sounded
crawford, thou art fallen,
. . And some limbs Of sculpture fell with
thee
But from the ranks Of Virginia's chivalry
A glory has burst forth, and matchIess powers
Shall make tn eternal grace OF sculpture ours
Tn eternal grace; alas the date assIgn'd
To works csll'd deathless, OF creative mind,
Is but a speck upon the sea OF days,
And frail mans Immortality OF praise
A moment 10 the eternity OF time
That is, and was and shall be the sublime,
The unbeginnlng, the unending sea,
Dimensioniess as Gods infnlty.'
But my part is only to welcome you and
introduce our chosen Bards and OratIr, who
will sing and say this days story III strong
er, sweeter strains than | can sing or say.