Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-02-26
GEORGE Mnshington.

-"vyuty--iN years ago. Tuesday. De
''hJcr nth, died George Washington.
first President OF the United States. on
December l2Uh he noted i'm his diary taar
about one o'clock iL began Co SNOW.
soon after 10 hail. and then turned To- "a
settled cold rain lie had gone ont in
the morning mounted on his horse to
make the round of his estate and not
Wi,hstaEdiug the change i'm the weather.
be continued his ride until after three
O'Clock in the afternoon. On the fOFSsi y
iug morning heavy fall Of snow proven
TED him from taking his customary ride,
and he complained of "a sore throat and 4
cold he had taken the previous day. Du-
ring the ensuein@ night he was taken
extremely i'll, and by day break his con-
dit.ou excited the most serious alarm.
Although able at times to SPEAK during
the day Of December l4th, he bTCacugI
- ith difficulty, and continued 10 fail uu-
Ill between ten and eleven o'clock at
night when he calIAly expired.
there was nothing remarkable about
the death of George Washington. The
manner Of his death was like the manner
OF his life, strikingly illustrative of his
character. Other great soldiers have
died IN their beds surrounded by their
families and friends but with tlcirmiufls
nlled with visions of glorious war. or .ile
terrible TecOilcCtiOus Ct defeat: other
great rulers have died in retirement. But
with the fancy that they were still. WELD
inG the rod Of empire shutting our the
Wow OF death. George Washington died
as any Nirginian country gentleman
might die-with his last thoughtc given
10 these who We're dearest 10 MIN. aud to
the settlement of his own temporal and
spiritual affairs. His last act was TO feel
his own pulse, and his last word WAS a
request that he might be decenuy and
unOstentatiOusly buried. y few hours be-
tore his death he requested his wife to
bring him two wills which she would
find III his desk. On being brought to
to him he directed her 10 burn one. as it
had been superseded by the other and
was OF no further use. After this he re-
marked TO his friend Mr.. Lear: = find
/ am going; my breath cannot last long.
| believed from the first that this disorder
would be fatal. DO you arrange and rec
ord all my military letters and papers.
Arrange my accounts and settle my
books, as you know. more about them
than any one else; and let Mr. Rawlings
finish recording my letters which he has
begun Late IN the afternoon he aaid
to his physician: doctor, | die hard
but l am not afraid to go" Still later he
said to the same gentleman Il feel |
am going; l thank you for your atten-
tiOns, but l pray you 10 take no more
L4OuDlc dbouL Llc : let me 20 Oh Quietly, i
cannot last long" \ few moments be-
fore his death he made his request con-
corning his burial, and on receiving the
assurance of his friend that he was un-
derstoOd he simply said, lit is well, ;"
and composed himself for his final de-
parture from this world.
This was the quiet, uueYentful death
sceue in the career of the first President
There was no startling death-bed utter
ance, that men might learn and repeat
as the last words of the Father of his
Country. There was no message sent
out to the people he had loved so well
and served So faithfully. He had done
his whole duty by his countrymau; and
now, in this supreme moment, his
thoughts of earth were confined to his
own domestic circle, or wandered beyond
his home emily TO contemplate his meet
ing with the Divine Ruler of the universe.
Washington died like brave and good
nran, but the example he set before his
country was III his life and not in his
death. His death belonged to his God,
his family and himself; and his life was
his cOuntry's.