Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-02-24
Washington,s BirthdaY.
The Meeting at the Afhsnmnm.

az A4G A64GueSul lls
Speeches OF GOV. PeSFPolna, Genera
seheneL, OF Ohio, General Rose-
eEans, Major MePhaII, ana General
Donvers OF California.
At the meeting At the AthenRum on
Saturday, General Roseeraus and Stan,
Gov. PeirpOint aud Suite, Gen. Robert
sehenet, Of Ohio, Gen. Denver, of Calf
fornia, and several other visitors of dis
tinetiOn, were present. Mayor Sweeney
presided. The Farewell Address Was read
BY Gen. Wheat, Of this city, after which
Gov. Peirpoiut was introduced by the
Mayor, aud said:
GOV. PEIRPoINT's SPEECH
Fellow ClTIzESs: To me this is a
deeply interesting occasion. We are as
sembled here on the birthday of George
Washington, the Father of his country.
If We thought of Washington, as we know
him by history, as child, boy and farmer,
upon the banks of the Potomac, we should
think Of him, perhaps, as We do of a thou.
sand other men who have lived and died
in that region. But it is of Washing
toms public life, in his connection with
the liberties of his country that we think
Of him, and it is for that that he lives in
our memories
Washington eomprehended In Its fullest
extent the inestimable value Of the liber-
ties secured to the people of this country
by the patriots of the Revolution. Wash
ington comprehended the importance of
securing the people Of the States (or col
onies, they were then, from the domina-
ton Of the kings of Europe; to save them
from the oppression, from the taxes, from
the petty insults that are praoticed by po-
tentates for the purpose Of crushing out
the love of liberty in people.
He wanted them to be free to possess
the largest liberty, in order that they
might enjoy the greatest amount of hap
piness; in order that they might enjoy the
products OF their own liberty, of their own
skill, and give scope to the genius Of the
then rising nation, for the development Of
a great nation from one end of the CONT
nent to the other.
1t Is in this connection that we think Of
Washington; and, fellow-citizens, it is
with that view thathe labored in the field
OF battle, and in the councils of the ma
ton with statesmen; and after having
spent, as he says himself, forty-fve years
in the public service of his country, ey.
tho end, was for tho procurement of The
+ liberties of the people of his country. b,
laid down the power he was invested
with;and in doing so, ne gives US this greai
Farewell Address that has been read Il
: you ON the present occasion.
:. There is something delightful in tn,
. contemplation of the life and character o
Wellington, both us a military chief AMI
as civilian and when he laid down hi
Z power as civilian, as If to perpetuate hi
own fame md his own glory, Though h
8 had no other idea in this than to perpetu
I alto the glory and fame of his country, \ h
o left as precious legacy this address, renl
on this occasion, which seems to poin
out the future honor and future glory o
the country, while, at the same time i
: points out with prophetic ken the futur
destruction that would be sought to b
a brought upon it. And, fellow-citizcns
/ lIstenening as you have to this Address
on the present occasion, you SEQ wher
Washington looked to the greatness of tn,
nation rs the home and refuge of the OLE
} world, where they could find liberty, an,
E enjoy the privileges Of a free people. An,
he looked to partisans that were going d
!. rise up in this country for the purpose o
breaking down the liberties Of the noun
try, and pointed them out in name
that designates them wherever you cal
think of them or see them in any part O
the country.
But, tellow.citizcns, did not design
l know that you are all listening ant
D waiting for other speakers to address YOU
I and 1 do not design to extend nv re
marks, but shall give way to other gen
tlemen on this OCCASION Applause.
Calls were made for Rosecrans AMI
scheusk. Mayor Sweeney then intro
duced Gen. Schenck, of Ohio, who CAM
forward amid applause and spoke as fol
lows:
GEN. scHEScK's SPEECH.
FsilO'V-eiti1ens MY friend, your Mayo,
has been guilty of little military impro.
Priety (he would not have violated it in.
/ tentionally think) in not permitting nv
r General commanding TO respond when cali.
ed upon by the people. Thave but little
70 say 10 You on this occasion. am hap.
Py TO be here with you, aud grattfied
l should feel, as every one must, to meet
loyal citizens anywhere within the limit,
OF these United States to commemorate the
: day which gave birth to George Washing.
ton. Applause. The day which gave
not Only to our country but to the world
the greatest man of all time. TApplAuse.
But have been invited-indsed by nv
military commander turning to Gen. Rose.
. Grams communicable be here not for the
/ purpose Of undressing you mysclf, and had
not supposed that ! should be called on 10
40 so. came here TO hear the farewell