Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-02-22


~ Ihe Surviving Onices and Soldiers Of the
leo ~ WIG OF WIN Mex
"a. The on,cers of the Executive. L.y,s,,,,v.
t 1ha judicial Departments not included in
90 The Masonic and other similar Association,
ip s. fscuities and Students Of Colleges and
u. The Trustee. and Male Teachers an. Pupils
lumbia Vi W.
%. Literary, Scientific, Benevolent or cha,itabl.
societies, Fire, Hose, and other Companies.
~. Citizens and Strangers
THE GRAFTON
Tue procession having arrived at the Circle an
aAeh It's position therein. the Hon Thomas q
nbocock, OF va, proceeded to make the Grafton of
He commenced by saying:
W.T.; rresioent, Gentlemen Of the Joiut Commit
S zee Q. ,ne Two Houses Of Congress, and Fellow
years since, In plain but patriarcbal mansion ~
!ne southern bank of the Potomac George Vasb-
lng.on yielded to the power Of death. and gave
ga ' 'P.lu ln'o the hands of his Father and his
4oa: around that death-bed were the usual i'm
uica!ions OF grief, and something more than the
usuat appointments Of respect and reverence The
rm0Gn produced throughout the land by the an
outDurst of sorrow. Meetings were held fnner.7
oratlons We're delivered sorrowino resolnt;ons
were passed. the Congress of the United states
teeso IL nj occasion to call out its best talents
10 SCI Iorth the merits of the deceased and oven
IN England and France appropriate honors Were
onered But even all this did not show the sr.
;ent 70 which the services and character of Wash
country s and nP Ease the public mind of his
great, but knew not half the worth that Law Cow
SsS beneath his modest life His csuntrymen
ioss n Ir imiy to appreciate the extent their
wealth. OF immortality which his name was des
.ineu 10 attain. so strange and difficult Of appre-
clauon during life is the quality that divides be-
tween the man that shall live and the man that
shall die "'"' NAV
But as at the coming on of serene night. one
Sar appears AFTER another, till at length the whole
heavens glow with living sapphires so, since the
close OF this day, one memorial has followed an
other. MI soon the whole land will be studded
win tue monuments Of his fame, and the trophies
OF his immortality 'f-'''
:, Several OF the leading cities of the Union have
already erected, within their limits some suitable
work to commemorate his greatness This CITY
called, as 1t is with his name the seat of Govern
ment OF our country, his country-a country he
loved so well, and served so truly-should not he
behind In this labor of love
Ear 10 tie east keeping steady watch upon the
reoeral Capltoi, stands the colossal statue by
uireenoush: fonder In the south, in lonely sola-
uon, IL structure whose incOmpl-teness We re-
greet, and which is designed to sustain another
colossa statue mat, as is presiding genius, shall
overlook the Executive Manon Of the country.
Here In this appropriate spot where the summer
sunbeams latest lnger, and where the breeze.
from the blue hills of his own native and beloved
Virginia delight to play, we inaugurate this day
a Saa.ae Oh hmerlcas greatest patriot by one Of
Amer!ca,s living artists. an equestrian statue of
George Washington by Clark Mills, a tardy com
Ple'lon OF work resolved on by the Continental
Congress TSa Ss, Immediately after the Revolution
ne delay has perhaps resulted from the fact
that no suitable national artist could beretofo,e he
obtained. If MIR. Mills has been found com petent
20 THIS great work, (and the public voice pro-
nouhGes inat he has been,) then he is most fortu-
Inc historical incident which the work is de-
signed especiallyto illustrate, affords some kew to
the line OF remark which shall pursue.
shall not attempt review and philosophic,l
analysis of the whole conduct and character of
Washington. Were such an atteln pt suited to the
occasion, 1t has been forbidden to me by the short
ness OF me time allowed me for preparation, and
mat, too, in the midst of my conc ressional dntes
When the news of the splendid feat performed
ny ashingtOn, In the surprise and ca ptre of the
Hessldns at Trenton, reached the heado uarters of
inc brush army at New York, it found Cornwall
lis 1ust about to embark for England in the COM
PORTABLE assurance that the conquest of the Colo
MES was already virtually accomplished-a sad
mistake for him, as the future was destined To
Plosec uene1dl howe, the British commander,
arrested his departure, and sent him with a con-
siderable force into New Jersey. to check and
drive back the American army Leaving in his
rear a quantity of stores at Brunswick and
NUMBER OF troops at Princeton, CORVALLIS went
forward to Trenton, near which the American
forces under Washington then were
In consequence Of harassments which he met on
the way, he did not enter Trenton until about
nightfall; and therefore determined to DELAY Till
the IN, following morning his intended attack on
Washington.
The latter finding himself face to face with a
force greatly superior to his own, and knowing
that either to suffer repulse, voluntarily to re-
treat from the Jerseys would at that time exert a
very influence on the patriot cause struck
out one OF those grand maneuvers with which he
occasionally astonished his friends and over.
whelmed his adversaries.
Leaving few men to keep up fires and other
camp operations during the night, thus deceiyin,
the enemy, and then to follow after, he drew of
the body Of his forces in the dead of the night
and made hurried march to Princeton Reac6inp
the vicinity Of that town in the early morninp he
found the troops left there by CORVALLIS IN the
ments under Colonel MANHOOD already on III.
march, intercepted a division of the American
force under Colonel Hugh Mercer, whom Wash
lnSton had sent on to enter Princeton by route
different from his own.
collision ensued, and the troops under Coz
Mercer were repulsed. A division of PennsyI
vania militia coming up to his relief. were also
checked, and Were in danger of being routed
Az this Juncture Washington, himself dashed up
on bis white charger, and seeking by voice and
example to rally the flying troops. and encourage
the hating militia, rushed forward under the
very very mnzzle OF the enemys guns. His soul was
thoroughly hred with determined zeal. The ron.
tglon spread. The American troops, with their
relnforcements, returned to the contest Wash.
ihS'ohS position, between opposing fires was
one OF great danger. terrific discharge from
the enemy's guns at one time enveloped him in
cloud of smoke. He was lost to the view of his
own friends, and his afsctionate aid de-can, n
gave him up in despair. The cloud was. how
ever not charged with ruin. but filed with me;
cy. lie was presently seen to emerge uuhurt
The greatest enthusiasm seized the American
forces. The enemy I'm turn gave wav and as no
saw them breaking into flight, Washington waved
MS nat In enthusiastic and exnltant triumph
At the moment already described when he
dashes forward towards the enemy,s guns. and
draws himself up in calm defiance as tbougb he
would challenge his fate, and was Indifferent To
the result-lt is as he appears at this moment that
the artist seeks to present him in the statue before
us. How firm his resolve, how his great soul is
nplfted by sense Of his noble mission, FEELING
himself an instrument Of Heaven to accomplish ::
nation 8 deliverance, he fears no harm
The quality most conspicuous in this incident
and the one most frequently accorded to Washing
ton, Is that Of high unconq uerable will But that
term very family describes his leading character.
lstlc. here or elsewhere. In mere will there is no
moral quality 1t may be an instrument of evil
not less than an INSTRUMENT of good the attribute
OF tue hlghwayinan or pirate, as well as of the
patriot.
The resolve of George Washington. in the affair
at princeton and elsewhere. was firmly grounded
Oh, and thoroughly imbued with conscientious
conviction Of duty. Duty. duty was the great
controlling Idea with him; and this was his dis
hnguished character Few men ever had so
strong q sense of duty. and Dsrbapc nono NH, IN