National Republican., 1876-02-23
Pilerimsee to Mount Vernon.

The steamboat Arrow, Captain Hollingshead,
left her mooripgs at the foot OF Seventh street,
yesterday morning, with large company Of
gentlemen and ladies on pilgrimage to the tomb
of George Washington.
On the arrival Of the boat at Mount Vernon the
party were met by Col. Hollingsworth, the super
intendent. and conducted to the tomb Of Wash
ington. The whole party gathered around that
nal fidelity to the Union Washington did so
much to establish. Here" said Col. Hollings-
onI Ia,s cT manned ip tatsInaI I'm M
tsrcourse." In the brick tomb, built as Washing
ton directed in his will, In plain sight, are two
marble sarcOphagus containing the remains OF
George and Martha Washington.
Beyond these is an iron vault, containing thirty
bodies. The vault was locked long years ago and
that 1t shall never be opened until the last truu-
pet shall sound. After spending some time at the
fomb, the party were conducted by the superin-
terdent to the mansion, and shown all the rooms.
After spending an hour or two in viewing the
house the garden, the conservatory and grounds
around the mansion, and partaklng OF q bOuntiful
repast in the dining room, the whole company as
sembled in the room formerly used on State occa-
sions to listen to the impromptu remarks Of SEN
ators, Representatives and others.
The meeting was called to order by Prof. W.
b. wedgewoOd, of New York. In calling :he
meeting to order he said:
REMARKS OF PROF wEDGEwooD.
This beautiful spot We have the pleasure and
honor Of visiting to-day is holy ground. Here
reposes In the silent slumber OF death all that is
mortal of our National Father, the Father OF
His Country, George Washington. Around his
sacred L2m0 We renew our pledges OF hdelity to
the principle Of unity, equality, fraternity. The
Of DT iS oSx Sss Il thOa us
getting the aEt. let tbs whole nation in future
keep step to the music ~ union and peace, and
our ceaseess and eteady t. up WIN iead US TO
we may beat our swords into plowshsres %nd our
spears into pruning hooks and the nations
learn war no more" Mr.. Wedgewood then In
troduced
SENATOR NAXEY, OF TEXAS,
who saij:
LADIES AND GENTLEUEE: As the MOhammedan
turns his face toward the East-:oward the tomb
Of the prophet-so the American citizen, proud OF
Incompatible Institutions; proud OF the Federal
Union of coequRl States, of its vast territory and
It's btupdlessr resources extending from the Aroes-
took 10 the Rio Grande. from the lakes OF the
North to the orange groves of Florida, from the
rock bound cliffs OF the Atlantic to the golden
shores OF the Pacific. with its thirty seven States
and forty millions Of people, turns with reve-Ssave
ahef Q( The "FaiEtf ot ffii Country"|Gsofse
Washington The three million or the Revolution
have swelled TO forty million. The thirteen
states, an atlenuated line along the Atlantic
shore, have grown to thirty.seven States, with
ample territory to make many more. Improve.
merits in all the arts sciences and industries have
kept pace with the improvement Of the country.
Felluw-citiZens we have met around the grave
o: :Washington.as citizens Of common country.
Here sround me are men ard women from the
North, South, East and West, actuated by one
common motive. The ground whereOn We stand
is holy ground" Fellow-cItiZens we have the
sad history Of q terrible nternecine war. Our lot
| in that regard has been the lot DG most nations
ancient and modern. 1t was
WAR OF GIANTS
such as no people but Americans could have
| fought. The hecatombs of soldiers who died on
the field of honor attest the sincerity Of the con-
| vctions Of the men who fought that war. l honor
| the man who Is true TO his convictions.
| Fame's canning Rround
| Their silent tents are spread,
And glory guards with solemn round
| The biyOuac Of the dead.
| Happily the war Is over, and peace once more
reigns In all our borders. The man from any sec
| tion who would fan the smOldering embers Of the
| war is but 4 demagogue, political charlatan,
1 seeking personal aggrandizement and loud celeb b.
rIty by scattering the apples of discord- Such
| men never faced the music Of shot and she'll. As
| soldier who fought under the Stars and Bars
desire that the people OF the North should know
| Let US. around the tomb Of Washington, pledge
our devotion to the happy restoration and reunion
Of the States, and that henceforth we are citizens
Of one common country, ready TO battle If need be
| for the nag Of the Union.
| Yesterday the Congress of the United States
honored Itself and the country by making to-day
national holiday. The glad news flashed over
the wires TO every quarter OF the Union. A
country. and Will care not who makes Its laws ,
The action Of yesterday and the meeting here
are the very genius of song. 1t creates spirit O
ished will make our Union as lasting as its eter
nal history. United we stand; divided We fall.
The sentiments here utter are the sentiments o
the soldiers Of the South.
Hon. Mr.. Robbins, Of N q, and Hon. w S
| Raymond, of Ind, followed in briet speeches
after which, on motion Of Col ]. Il. Bachelor, o
Boston, historian Of the battle of Gettysburg,
vote Of thanks was unanimously rendered TO Col
| HolIngsworth. Capt. Almond Barnes was theI
| called upon, and rendered a national hymn. Thi
exercises were concluded with a few remarks BY
| Prof, WedgeWOod.