Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-12-16
The Timcs-Evcrett-NNa ash iugton-Fogy-
ism-Nionat Vernon.
''F'nu'hoc VI tno neii""s rams iihes'
SPRINGFIELD, Dec. ), lS5


coupled together, and handed over for ven
Grafton aud commemoration. As for Wash
ington, am entirely willing that all who
wish to worship his memory, or his honor,
or his picture, may do so. He was truly
brave and successful commander, and the
principles he fought for were indeed glori-
ous,-the inalienable right of man to life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But
how far these most glorious principles were
carried out and put in practice by him, as a
chief magistrate of the nation, or as pri,
vate citizen, who in both positions possess
ed TO greater degree than any other man,
the confidence of the nation, and conse-
quent influence over tor by those who /
have been so profusc in ding him homage
for his deeds of valor in the cause of lib
erty, let the three or four millions of poor,
bereft bondmen and the present aspect of
their cause, answer.
Had the fortune of war turned against
Washington, as it seemed many times prob
able it would, and might, even, but for
some trivial circumstance over which he
had no control, his name would have gone
down TO posterity as infamous as that of
Nat Turner or Ossawatamie Brown; and
the question is not a settled one in my
mind, whether for the cause of the OPP
pressed in this country, and perhaps for
the cause of humanity through the world,
it would not have been better had it SO
turned. Washington and his companions
were we'll aware Of what awaited them in
case of failure, and it is not improbable that
this had its influence in nerving their arms
/ for battle, as well as the principles they
promulgated. But feel no disposition to
detract in the least from the pageantry that
rests upon their memory; no doubt they
did what seemed to them best under the
circumstances then existing. And If men
or women can find no better use for their
spare cash than in investing it for the glo-
rification of the fame of Washington, either
;. purchasing his old farm that has ever been
and probably ever will be cultivated by
slaves, where it will be unsafe for them to
90, should they be suspected of holding SEN
timents contained in the Declaration of In
dependence,-or in the purchase of his
picture-I will interpose no objection.
But why such goodly panegyric should
be passed upon Edward Everett to the end
that his picture should adorn every mans
parior, by the side of Washingion's, am
at a loss 10 understand, except that 1t be
for his being one of the biggest and bravest
!. doughfaces that New England ever pro-
duced. But the Times tells us that he has
fame and ,corth, and that he has done
good service for Mount Vernon. All this
in a sense, may be true, and yet not make
his picture a desirable ornament for oui
parlors, even by the side of Washington
, According to my record, his title to fame
: rests mainly in his services in behalf o
Slavery, and in the derogation of Northern
Independence and self-respect. 1t date;
back to speech he made in Congress
J MANY wears ago, in which he said there wa
no cause in which he would sooner shoulder
= his knapsack and take his musket than II
suppressing any attempt among the slave
to gain their freedom; which senilmeh
was so abhorrent and uncalled for that
" extorted from John Randolph that mos
whitening reply, that he envied not the hea
N or heart of the man who could make tina
es declaration. From that time to the pres
lie emf. he has maintained a remarkable cor
IN sistency in the same direction. A mos
nj shameful manifestation of this was atforde
II. in the Brooks affair. Having upon the spt
e. of the occasion signed with several otht
u old conservatives, a sort OF denunciauo
AGAINST the outrage, and being down Soul
soon after, upon his Mount Vernon ente
'' prise. and meeting in southern paper u
sarcastic inquiry whether this was The san
: Edward Everett that signed that documeo
he tOrtnWltH put ipith :"
apology, saying that he only read the nam
. :. attached to it, from which he thought
MS safe TO place his own without much iurth
W" thought, for which he was now very sorf
"U This apology had very happy eject
as soothing their apprehensions, and ne W
ny permitted to deliver his lecture, lou Il
are ns he has ,corth, but how this Is to be es
en- mated we are not told. His claim to inns
" think. must rest upon the same foundati
Guy Of that of his fame, though differing IN o
we nar,;cular, the one extends north as well
ma soptb. the other is compatible only at
nee South; by their standard it may be We
ave Great. But by the scales of humanity
nee freedom. he would be found wanting.
cy As for his Mount Vernon efforts, ne
n indeed done good services. But what
GOOD is to come from all that &! What g
A.. brp,anifv or the arts.