Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-02-22

ACCORDING to the best authority, Washington,
"the Father of his country" was born on the
twenty-second of February, seventeen hundred
and thirty-two, consequently. this is the one
hundred and twenty-seventh anniversary of his
birth-and still Fame, tickle goddess though she
is, continues to sound his praise. Indeed, each
revolving year seems only to deepen and pro-
long the echo of his wondrous deeds So much
has been spoken and written upon this subject
that We might well suppose that every epithet
in every known language, siguifying glory, or
honor, had already been exhausted, and thatth
store.house of thought itself, might be search
cd in vain for anything whereof it may be said,
'.Lol this is new" But let us remember that
our subject requires nothing new: that we have
only to keep in mind, and guard religiously the
old things concerning our god.like Washington.
We are even jealous of any alterations, however
slight, in the narratives which have been handed
down to US. If We wished to know something
of his childhood, who would not like to learn it
from Hobby, his first school master? or from the
good old lady who so long resided in his fathers
house; or from old John Fitz Hughes, Esq, who
during his life lived on terms Of great intimacy
with his fathers fanilys The dispositions of
the aforesaid worthless have been taken, and we
rely upon them, as showing the dawnings of
truthful, enquring, and magnanimous soul,
which later years so well developed. To the
great and shining qualities for which we look
in the firm patriot, the fearless soldier the nc.
complished statesmen, were added in our hero,
those for which we often look IN vain in the
characters of the earth's great ones-strong af-
fiction, great modesty and humanity, with equal
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cited to show that he possessed all these. One
incident of his early manhood proves that his
heart was tender as that of little child. His
inclinations prompting him to a seafaring life,
some friend had procured for him the rank of
Midshipman on board British man-ofwar.-
His clothes and trunks were packed and sent
on board. But he has yet to take leave of
fond mother, who, falling before him, with tears
and entreaties beseeches him not leave her. He
yields; he resolves to make any sacrifice rather
than destroy the peace of his widowed mother.
His fraternal love was no less remarkable, and to
it he was indebted for his rich Berkly lands, and
for the far.fnmed Mount Vernon estate, so late
IL sold to the Ladies at such an exorbitant price,
by that Titmouse of the house of Washington.
That this man was transformations in action,
may be seen in his behavior during the session
of the House of Burgesses who had, unknown
to himself, awarded him public vote of thanks
for Almost ssignal service which he had, with
great fidelity, and with imminent peril to him
self, rendered his country. He was then Ma
Tor only. DESTROYS Of making an acknowledge
Tnent to the house for this unlocked for compli-
ment, he arose, but after two or three attempts
could get no farther than-Mr. Speaker-Mr.
Speakcr-when he was kindly relieved by
friend calling out, "Sit down MINOR Washing
toni your modesty is only equaled by your
merit"
He was likewise humane to degree
His tears, it is said mingled with the ink
with which he traced the death-warrant of
Andre His humanity to the family of his be-
trayer and murderer, Arnold-for such in heart
he was-is well known. That he possessed
much selfcontrol, is evident from the many iu-
stances when, although a high.spirited and
ehivalrous young man. he was enabled to sup.
press those feelings Of wounded pride which
must have urged him to resent the personal in
suits which, on several occasions, he received
During the French and Indian war, while he
was Colonel under General Braddock, he ven.
tured in the mildest terms to demonstrate with
that vain-glorions. boastful, wrong headed old
man upon the absurdty of fighting the Indians
after the manner of European warfare. To
whom thus Braddock-" High times-high
times, indsedi when a young Buckskin can
teach British general how to fight" Instead
of Withdrawing his aid, and sitting down to
mediate upon schemes of revenge, Washington
pocketed the insult, keeping firm to his post of
duty and danger-and the event proved terri
bic rebuke to Braddock.
BY figure of speech. gold has been chosen
from among the precious metals to illustrate
the character of the good and great among men.
We affirm, then, that the claims of Washington
10 be presented to his countrymen, and to the
world, under this similitnde are indisputable.-
Truly, his was gold many times purified. This
precious ingot has been submitted to the
6unglius smithy, aud to the erucible Ofthe mad
Chemist, and put through political furnace
which faction hRahsated 10 aseyen fold tempera.