The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-12-26
A Centennial Christmas.

Centennials have palled on the public
appetite. The piquancy of Concord and
Lexington was long ago lost in the surfeit
of civil and military anniversaries which
followed and which closed recently in
New York on the one hundredth annual
return of memorable evacuation day. Esch
has conveyed its lesson of patriotism and
of heroic devotion. One hundred years
ago yesterday Washington returned TO his
beloved Mount Vernon, the history of the
Revolution behind him, again private
citizen. On the 23d, at Annapolis, in the
presence of the congress of the United
States, he had resigned the commission I'M
der which, through terrible hardships and
amid sore trials and many temptations, he
had wrought out the independence of his
country. After his departure from New
York he had stopped at Philadelphia on
his way to Annapolis to adjust his &C.
counts with the comptroller of the treas
ury, from the commencement of the war
dOWh w OhO IL III VI bOSCnDCi, lfOcs
These accounts were all in his own hand.
writing, clearly and accurately kept, the
occasion and object of each charge clearly
stated. The total amount was fourteen
thousand five hundred pounds sterling.
This was an account of money actually
expended in the progress of the war, not
for arrearages of pay, for Washington had
stipulated that he should serve without
pay. 1t is said that on the final adjust
ment of his accounts he found himself
considerable loser, since in the hurry of
business he had neglected to credit him
self with money he had drawn from his
private purse. OF this account his biog.
rapher says: "The schedule of his pub.
lie account furnishes not the least among
the many noble and impressive lessons
taught by his character and example. 1t
stands touchstone of honesty in Office
and lasting rebuke on that lavish ex.
penditure of the public money too often
needlessly, if not willfully, INDUCED by
military commanders" At Annapolis it
had been arranged that he should offer
his resignation in person on the 23d of
December, and the hall of congress was
appointed for the ceremonial. The gal
leries and great part of the floor of the
hall were filled with ladies, public funo-
tionaries and general officers. Washing
ton entered, conducted by the secretary
of congress. The president of congress,
Gen. Miffiin, intimated that the United
States in congress assembled were pre-
pared to receive his communication" In
dignified and impressive manner Wash
ington delivered a short address. He
congratulated congress upon the achieve
ment of the great events upon which his
resignation depended and announced that
he had presented himself before the men,
bers of that body "to surrender into their
hands the trust committed to him and to
claim the indulgence of retiring from the
service of his country" al consider it,"
he said, ian indispensable duty to close
this last solemn act of my official life, by
commenting the interests of our dearest
country to the protection of Almighty
God, and those who have the superinten-
dence of them, to his holy keeping"
The pathos of the scene and the
affecting tone of the great command
er-in-chief's address strongly stirred
the emotions of his hearers. Few trag-
edies ever drew SO many tears from so
many beautiful eyes," says the editor of
the Maryland Gazette, who was a witness
of the scene, as the moving manner in
which his excellency took his final leave
of congress-" The president of congress
closed his address, which it is said was
written by Jefferson, with the prophetic
words "The glory of your virtues will
not terminate with your military com,
mand; it will continue to animate re
hottest ages" The next morning, "eased
of great load of public care" Washing
ton hastened to Mount Vernon, where he
arrived on Christmas eve Gin frame OF
mind suited to enjoy the sacred and genial
festival" His fame soon drew to his
home great crowds of visitors. The reve
nues of his estate had been greatly re
duced by the want of his prudent man
agement and the entertainment of sc
many guests was severe tax upon his
diminished exchequer. In view of these
: facts it was proposed that congress should
make him some return for his eminent
services. This proposal Washington CRATE
? fully and respectfully declined, jealousy
5 guarding his satisfaction at having served
: his country at the sacrifice of his persona
8 interests. These centennial incidents con
= vey their own moral. They are of them
= selves more suggestive and more eloquen
n eulogists of Washington, more complet,
r in their effective refutstion of the petit,
v attempts which have sometimes beer
s made to cheaper the popular estimate o