Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-01-21

Tho statue OF General Greene
Some time ago Congress passed an "ot
setting apart the old hall OF the house OF
REPRESENTATIVE as depository for statues
of distlppulsbod men Of the nation. The
nIor 1. that each State shall furnish two
statnes Of IL, dead sons. The gallant little
State Of Rhode Itland haa been the first 10
respond, by Furnishing the alatue Of General
Nathaniel Greene. The formal presentation
took place in the Senate yesterday, when
Senator Anthony made the presentation.
Mr.. Anthony addressed the Senate as fol-
lowsi
Mr.. President, l am charged-we
are charged, my colleagues Of the two
Houses OF Congress aud myself-by the
Governor OF the State which we represent
with the honorable duty OF presenting to
Congress, 10 his name and 10 the name OF
the General Assembly and the people OF the
State Of Rhode Island and Providence
Plantations, a marble statue OF Nathaniel
This statue has been placed in the old
Hall Of the House OF Representatives, In
| pursuance OF an act OF Congress, by which
that beautiful Chamber, Itself rich In pre-
cioua memories, Ia dedicated 90 historic
Valor, TO patriotism, 10 statesmanship, TO
learning, 70 couaplcuous excellence In all
the elements that constitute national great
meas. H...r
The historic ago Of our country Is snvcl.
| oped In no fable, and tho historian IL not
driven TO doubtful miracles, % InGrvsis and
portents 70 add 70 the dignity Of Its origin,
nor need he resort 10 fAneiful legends 70 In
/ crease the interest Of bis narration. The
stalwart mon who planted the colonies nom
which these Statea Aroae have len the au-
thentlc memorials Of their principles and
their actions, their trials and their triumphs.
| And the men whose Vaior achieved the In
dependence Of the country, and whose wis
dom founded the Institutions Of the great
republic, are separated from US by so short
period, and one Of such active historical
inquiry, that their lives and character
stand before US, almost a. n they had lived
In our daily presence.
BY the act Of Congress referred 10, each
State Of the Union IL invited 10 place In the
Old Hall Of the House Of Representatives the
statues Of two Of her nlnstrious citizens,
already consented ~ death, Who noqrished
| In any period OF her history. Rhode Island,
which has earliest responded TO the invita-.
lion, has selected for this honor two Of hei
early heroes, one from the colonial and one
from the revolutionary period.
The nrst Il Roger Williams, the great
founder OF the State, who nrst declared and
maintained the principle at the foundation
OF AL true civilization, SOUL LIBRRTr, the
right Of every man 10 worship God accord,
Ing TO his own conscience, responsible 20 nc
| human laws, restrained by no lnterpositlor
OF Church or State. or Roger willlAmi
there eIlata no portralture, nor, 90 far a. ]
am aware, any reliable description Of hlS
person or his features. He lives, not In the
breathing marble or upon the glowing can.
vas, but Immortal, IN the everlasting prlneL
pie which he frst asserted and indicated,
and which, now recognized a. an essential
part Of human society, was then regarded Al
| chievous fananclsm. Tho State, unwilling
that the great name Of her founder shoulI
2 be unrepresented In this solemn assembling
, OF fame, has decreed In its commemorative
an ideal statue, made from such scanty ma
terials as tradition has supplied. She coul
do no more, and she felt that she should d
| no less.
In this respect the memory OF Greene
more fortunate. HIS statue IL from author
tic likenessos, and represents him ain hi
habit as he lived" In the full prime an
ylgor Of his manhood, and In tho height @
bis fame. II was executed by II. K. Browne
whose name, already OF high reputation
will receive fresh honors from his latea
work. As product OF American art It /
confidently submitted 10 the judgment 0
III criticism.
We have Just passed through, not yet al
together through, the seVerest trial In GU
eouutry's history. THE popular heart beat
high with grateful admiration for yalor ant
conduct proved in the field, for wlsdom dis
played In the Cabinet. The country Joy
fully decorates her heroes with her freshes
laurelS, aud heaps upon her soldier ant
statesman her selectest honors.
We, Senators, interpreting the will Of tn
nation, have been prompt TO render, from
this chamber, our contributions TO the ma
tiopal gratitude; and Il Is right that !
, well rs Juster when thus honorlng her de
Tenders, and presenting sueh rewards to III,
emulation Of the Tising generation.
But while We render all due honor 10 lly
ing valOI, while We proudly hand over 10 thu
5 Muse OF History the mighty names tina
D have illustrated our recent annals, Ii Ia vel
to freshen the recollection Of thoss whOa
fame she has long had In her keeping
While we celebrate the praises Of those VIII
have saved the country, let us not forge
those without whom We should not have hat
O country 70 be aaYedi thoee who, In the be
ginning, few in numbers, feeble 10 power
Scant Of resources, but strong In the princi
piles which they had Inherited with thsl
oppressors, armed With the stern vlrtueu
tnat are pOfn OF ullncully Anu nuItuTed II
peril aud prlyatlon, dared TO defy the Nigh
, Of England, who trod the pathway OF vic
tory With hlsedinR feet and tore down thu
banner OF conquest with hands that wer
wasted by famine, ..-... .--
While The names Of vieksburg, Fort Don
elSon, and Roanoke Island, South Mountain
and Antietam, and Gettysburg, and Apo
mRttox, should be kept fresh In the memoir,
, | Of the country, let not the earlier glories o
! Lexington, and Bunker Hill, and OF Prince
ton, and Trenton, and Stony Point, OF Cow
a pens and EutaW Springs, Of Saratoga an
: Yorktown, be ever forgotten nor yet thos
' Of Chippewa, Plattsburg, and New Orleans
Among those who In the TeyotutionAr
period won titles 70 the national grautnd
; nayer disAyuHed, he whose statue we hAV
. placed IL the Capitol stands, In tho judi
!. mantl OF his contemporaries and BY Il
assent Of history, second only 70 the ma
9 Who towers without peer in the annals
America, ,-.........- ~
:, Ishail not attempt m GnalyGis OF his cha
N acter, nor an enumeration ofthe great dec
upon which his fame securely rests; n
. shah discuss that fertility OF resources
4. which be supplied an army from an IL
= poverished country, without dlanecting Il
y population, that marvellous skill and condu
q by which he wrunE the results Of Veto
Al from the very Jaws OF defeat, and With !
u q .IFiu Ii