The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-03-09

though he was physically indisposed, acquit-
ted himself in manner that ELECTED the
warmest ecomiums on his style of oratory.
MASONIC CEREMONIES.
The Grand Master Of the Grand Lodge
of the District Of Columbia, GEo. @. WHIT
ING, celebrated the Masonic Ceremonies,
addressing the President of the United
States, he said
This gavel was made expressly for the
purpose, and was used by Washington, as
President of the United States, and as
Grand Master of the Free Masons, pro tenn.
pore, in laying the corner stone of the Capt.
toll, on the 18th day of September, 1898, and
/ now have the honor of requesting, in the
name Of the Fraternity, that you, his sue
cessor will now likewise employ it in the
browning act of the dedication of this
statue.
SPEECH OF PRESIDENT BUCHANAN.
The President received the gavel, and,
coming forward, was greeted with general
and prolonged applause, spoke in distinct
and animated tone, as follows:
FELLOW CITIzENs-I accept the auspi-
ciOus omen DOW presented to US in this calm
sunset almost without cloud. The early
part of the day was boisterous. Many &C
cidents also occurred to delay the progress
and the completion of these ceremonies.
But these occurrences have terminated as,
thank God, always has been the case in the
history of our country. If storms and tenn
pests beset us in the morning, the end of the
day is still clear, bright and animating.
Such, trust, will ever be the issue of the
gloom and darkness that for season appear
to envelop us. (Applause.) The honora-
bic and important duty has been assigned
to me of defeating this statue of Washing
ton, which is noble production of native
American genius. This welcome and CRATE
full task now proceed to perform. Stand
ing here on this beautiful and commanding
position, surrounded by the Senators and
Representatives of all the States of the
Confederacy, and by a vast assemblage of
in full view of the noble Potomac, which
Washington loved so well, and of the shores
of the ancient Commonwealth, which gave
him birth, now solemnly dedicate this
statue to the immortal memory of the Father
of his country. (Applause.) I perform
this act of pious devotion, not in the name
of the people of the North, or the South,
the East; or the West not in the name of
those who dwell on the waters of the At
lantic or of the Pacific, but in the name of
the whole American people of the United
States, one and indivisible, now and forever.
loud applause and cries of " Hurrah for
Old Buck.) May the God of our fathers
preserve the constitution and the Union for
ages yet to come. May they stand like the
everlasting hills, against which the tempests
from every quarter of the heavens shall beat
in vain. In a word, may they endure SO
long as the name of Washington shall be
honored and cherished among the children
of men. renewed and prolonged applause
May Washington City. which he founded,
continue throughout many, many genera
tions, to be the seat of government of a
great, powerful and united confederacy.
Should it ever become ruin by the dissO-
luton of the Union, it will not, like the
ruins of Balbeck and Palmyra, be merely a
monument of the vanity ofhuman greatness !;
but it will teach the lesson to all the dwell
ers upon earth that our grand political ex-
pertinent has failed, and that man is incapa
BILE of self government. May such direful
disaster to the human race be averted, and
in the language of Solomon at the dedica-
ton of the Jewish temple, May the Lord
our God be with us, as He was with our
fathers. Let him not leave US or forsake
u.s." (Applause.) May this be the prayer
of all present, and may each one return to
his home in heart more ardently patriotic
loko. <o ID b:o nh I,,kx
to God and his country than when we as.
sembled here to day.
The distinguished speaker took bis seat
amid general and most enthusiastic APP
plause.
UNWILLING THE STATUE.
Clark Mills, the artist, then advanced
giving the order to unveil the statue. In
the hurry to do this the attendants did not
perform the duty perfectly, and only a part
of the statue was revealed. A cry from
some one in the crowd of "Tear the shirt
off," occasioned much laughter. A young
man, agile as monkey, swiftly climbed up
the PEDESTAL and, leaping on the horses
back, removed the section of canvass which
had partially obscured the view of the
statue. Meanwhile, the laundering of can.
non, sounds of music, Understanding cheers
and expressions of wild delight, greeted the
exhibition. The waving OF hats and hand>
kerchefs by persons within aud outside the
enclosure, was noticeable feature; and
these signs of joy were also made by persons
on house-tops, in trees and other elevated
points.
DESCRIPTION OF THE STATUE.
The following is a brief description of the
statue and its pedestal:
The pedestal is of marble, twenty five
feet in height, divided into three stories
illustrating the great epochs in the his
tory of the country. The figures are in
bronze. The first story represents the
country as it appeared on its first discovery
when inhabited by the Indians. The second
story represents its general aspect under the
changes wrought by the still advanced hand
! of civilization. The third, and last story
represents the great Revolutionary struggle
and is surrounded by q colossal statue o.
Washington.
| In the first story the Indians are repre-.
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