Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-04-20
ALEXANDRIA, VA. MONDAY. APRIL 90 1874

Christ's Church, Alexandria. He inherited
Belvoir from his father, aud died at Mount
Eagle, near Cameron, in 1902, aged seventy
five years. The last descendant OF the family
bearing the family name IN this country, Dr.
Fairfax, of Fairfax Court House, died during
the rebellion. .s
WASHINGTON AND FAIRFAX
streets, with propriety, cross each other at
right angles, as the TWO families whose names
they perpetuate, were, as we have seen, 10 dl-
rect conflict 10 the great strife which maze us an
independent people. The idea that error 10 opln-
ion on great political questions has Its origin ne
cessariy 10 wickeduess of heart was not an eie-
ment 10 WashiDgtoD's creed. That good men
NAV differ as to their course of duty in the
greatest national emergency was his tolerant
Judgment of human action, and the most dl-
rect opposition 10 political Judgment may exist
with the warmest personal friendship and hom-
age. The intercourse of Washington and the
Fairfaxes before, during, and after the strife
most wonderfully illustrates this large and lofty
magma nimity of mind, and especially 10 the
case Of Bryan Fairfax. They were intimate
during the preliminary controversies which led
the way the the revolutionary strife, and both
attended the earlier meetings 10 Fairfax coun-
ty on that subject. 90 the 18th OF july, l774,
a set OF resolutions was submitted to one
of these county meetings at the courthouse.
Washington was the chairman OF the commit
tee on resolutions, and also the president OF
the meeting Mr.. Fairfax was not present,
but seut long and careful letter, remonstrat-
ing against the tide OF pubic sentiment. Ihe
letter was received after the resolutions were
prepared, and Washington, not thinking 1t bis
duty to read it to the meeting, as tue author
desired, subsequently replied 10 private letter
and the correspondence which he held with MIR:
Fairfax furnishes the most satisfactory and
the fullest exposition of Washlngton's SEN
timents at this period OF the controversy
of any letters which Mr.. Sparks has pre-
served Ia the latter part of the winter
of ITS Washington was surprised by visit OF
MIR. Fairfax at Valley Forge. He had determ-
jped to 20 to England and remain till the war
was over, as his situation among his old
associates, who were nearly all rebels, was un-
comfortable. Washington received him with
warm kindness, and gave him passport to
New York. But when he arrived there bis
heart failed him at the thought of separation
frou bis family, and he returned to Alexandria
again, visiting Washington on his return, at his
camp and his kioduess to him drew from him a
grateful letter after his return to Virginia, to
which Washington replied, expressing himself
gratifed at the sentiments of the letter, and
added, what modern patriots Of radical ideas de-
nominate as
FRANK CoPPERHEADISM,
as follows: THE friendship which ever pro-
fessed and felt for you met With no dimlnutlon
from the difference in our political sentiment
I know the rectitude of my own intentions, and
believing 10 the sincerity of yours, amented,
though I did not condemn, your renunciation
of the creed had adopted" Washington be-
queathed to him an elegant Bible, in three vol
umes, folio.