The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-09-14

The following extract from a work enti-
tied "The occasional productions, political,
diplomatic and miscellaneous, by the late
Richard Rush." shows the strong command
which Washington held over his feelings,
even when most intensely aroused:
Towards the close of winters day in
l79l, an officer in uniform hastily arrived
at Washingtons house in Philadelphia, and,
though told by the porter that the President
was at dinner, persisted in desiring to see
him On urgent public business. Mr.. Lear,
the Secretary, came out to receive his mes
sage, but in vain, the officer would only give
it to the President we continue the narra-
tive in Mr.. Rush's words :-"Mr. Lear re-
turned and in whisper impaired to the
President what had passed. There had
been dark rumOrs, as if coming in the wind,
about that army. General Washington
rose from the table and went to the officer.
He was back in a short time, made an
apology for his absence, but no allusion to
the cause of it. He had company that day,
everything went on as usual. Dinner over,
the gentlemen passed on to the drawing
room of Mrs. Washington. The General
spoke courteously to every lady in the room,
as was his custom. His hours were early
and by ten o'clock all the company had
gone. Mrs. Washington and Mr.. Lear re
mained. Soon Mrs. Washington left the
room. The General now walked backward
and forward slowly for some minutes with
out speaking. Then be sat down on sofa
by the fire, telling Mr.. Lear to sit down.
To this moment there had been no change
in his manner since his interruption at the
tIble. Mr.. Lear now perceived emotion.
"It's all over st. Clair's defeated-rOuted
the officers nearly all kiIled-the men by
whOlesale-the rout complete-too shocking
to think of-and a surprise into the bar
gain !"
He uttered all this with great vehemence.
Then he paused, got up from the sofa, and
walked about the room several times, agi-
tated, but saying nothing. Near the door
he stopped short, and stood still few sec
onds, when his wrath became terrible.
"YeS !" he burst forth, "Here on this
very spot | took leave of him. wished
him success and honor. You have your in
structions, l said, from the Secretary of
War; l had strict eye to them, and will
add but one word--beVare of a surprise!
repeat it, beware of a surprise! You know
how the Indians fight US. He went off with
that, as my last solemn warning thrown
into his ears. And yet to suffer that army
to be cut to pieces, hacked, butchered, toma-
hawked by Surprise--the very thing l
guarded him against !! o! God, O! God,
he's worse than a murderer! How can he
answer it to his country-the blood of the
slain is upon him-the curse of widows and
orphans--the curse of Heaven'
This torrent came out in tones appalling.
His very frame shook. 1t was awful, said
MIR. Lear. More than once he threw bis
hands up, as be hurled imprecations upon
st. Clair. Mr.. Lear remained speechless,
awed into breathless silence
The reused chief sat down on the sofa
once more. He seemed conscious of his
passion, and uncomfortable. He was silent.
His warmth beginning to subside, be at
length said in an altered voice, "this must
not 90 beyond this room." Another pause
followed longer one--when he said 10 q
tone quite low--"General St. Clair shall
have justice; looked hastily through the
dispatches, saw the whole disaster, but not
all the particulars, will receive him with>
out dispIeasure, will hear him without
preiudic ice-be shall have justice" rs.
The result is known; the whole case was