Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-10-25

distinguished and impressive a lignre in the
great struggle, and whose patriotic virtues
and abilities brought HIM 20 close III peace
and in war to the heart aud confidence of his
great leader-Maa here i'll command, and by
him wax the action OF Congress made known
to the army, congratulations were rendered
upon the prospect of permanent and hon
urablo peace, and thanks awarded TO the
army fer long, eminent and faithful services.
lts final dlsbandment was announced ill these
words
''lt is our will and pleasure that such part
of the Federal army as stands engaged to
serve during the war, and HI by our acts of
May 10Th, June llth, August 9Th aud Sep
tember 2Gth last We're furloughed, shall from
aud after November 3d next be absolutely
discharged by virtue Of this proclamation
from said service.
And well was it that under the wise recon-
mendatlon of Washington, there recitod,
orders for furloughs had been liberally
granted and that officers and priyates had
Deen freely allowed ever since early spring to
go back to their homes until but compare
lively small body remained here in arms
For upon these brave men had fallen the
chief stress AMI burden of the struggle, It's
sutferings and exposures. The perils of war
had been dreadfully aggravated by want OF
proper supplies, and still more by delusive
system OF paper money. The miseriua brought
by the fiction of an irredeenlable paper cur
rency were equal to all their other WOES COM
blned. Their starving families, their honor
able debts, their daily needs, We're all sub
jected to the curse of a deprecated and
vitlated currency
'What man is there of you when if bis
son asks bread will he give him II stone or
if he asks a fish will he give HIM serpent -"
Yet this WAS done by the Congress to the
brave men, who had 10 fought and bled to
establish their country's liberties and claimed
no more than their stipulated pay, which
they never received, and, despite reiterated
promises and 'tine words" promises, which
were never kept, and words which were mere
breath, mouth honor" the army was dis
banded and melted away not without angry
remonstrances, not without serious threaten
ings not indeed without proposed treason
able organizations which last, Washington
withered with his fiery indignation and
ground to powder under his feet.
Never was the weight of his personal char
acter with the armies he led to victory more
strikinSly manifested, nor its value to the
country proven more importantly, than in
this dangerous crlsiB-when the crown of I'M
chastened power and military ambition was
held out to his grasp-only to be dashed to
the earth by a love of country which never
for moment was obscured by personal
interest or ambition.
If art is ever to preserve in marble or on
canvas true likeness i'll soul and body of this
great man, the occasion of bis thus putting
under his feet the solicitations of unlawful
power and ambition will surely be- selected.
Yet Washington never ceased, 30 long as
he survived, to urge the just claims of his
suffering companonsin arms for Justice, upon
their country and his name at least is with
out reproach for the sins of omission in this
regard. which have never been repaired and
which | fear, now have become irremediable.
Standing here in the sunshine of this Octo-
Der day, with ali the glories of earth and sky
enveloplng a landscape singular in its beauty,
how powerfully do the local features appeal
to US
This ancient mansion built by Huguenot
omigrant one hundred and thirty three years
ago, who sought and found in this land reli-
glous AZ well as civil liberty, was occupied fol
the year next preceding the disbandment OF
the army as the headquarters of the com
mander-ln-chief. And, fortunately, the arm
of public protection aud preservation has
been thrown around 1t by the State of New
York, by whom it was purchased, and since
1850 it has been III the hands of trustees to bt
preserved as nearly as possible in the condi,
ton iii which Washington left it, hundred
years ago.
Faithfully and well this trust has beon ad
ministcrad and the homely and simple fea
lures of the dwelling inside and out hay,
been carefully maintained relics of the wal
have been here collected, and, in pious pill
grimage the generations of this and future
| days, can repair hither TO note with reveren
| tial interests the simple habits of the found
ers of the great Eepublic. The mansion is ii
| Itself an impressive orator, and Its consecra
| tion and cuusci walton as the casket of patri
| otic memories liz q duty which will faithful,
| be fulfilled.
| Ii is also a subject of congratulation that tn,
| Congress of the United States and the Legis
| I.,4 tn4,, l.,,,
| il recognition and qualification of the wishe
| Of the American people by appropratipi
funds for the erection upon thes
grounds Of memorial column, ant
| soon it will arise II conspicuous and attractv
feature to which the inquiring glance o
| every traveller upon the lines of railway o
| the bosom Of the majestic river that flow
past its buse will be lifted; and no may i
stand forever, pointing heayenward, to per
petuate the memory of the courage and de
yotion of the patriotic army whose last head
quarters wero upon this spot.
Standing upon this commanding hight
| what 1t wealth of historic scenery ls spreat
before lis The noble river flows in all tn
serenity of its beauty and calm strength, jus
as il did yearly three centuries ago, when til
hardy and adventurous Dutch navigator
whose name it bears, first cast anchor iii tn
| hay that lies below us. little later and th
ilag Of Holland yielded place to that of Grea
britain Another century passed and th
flag of the American Union of states wa
raised and has now for more than on
hundred years iloated i'll pacidsecurity abov
these watOrs the symbol of the controlln
and unquestioned authority of governmen
truly deriving its power from the consent G
the governed"
Yet,as We cast our eyes down this beautifr
channel of the Hudson until they rest upo
West Point, memories arise Of mingie
shame and honor. Then as now humauit
| exhibited its weakness, AS we'll as its strength
It's scliishness AS we'll as its self sacrifice; il
baseness as we'll az its nobility. The sam
place that reminds liz of George Washington
recalls Benedict Arnold.
The dangers to the cause of America
liberty at that early day were from within q
we'll as from without there were traitors all
peculators and faint and false hearted tim
and sore the distress they caused, and I'll
injuries they inflicted upon the struggliI
patriots.
1t s to be hoped that one result OF th
and other concentrations of the histor
events of the Revolutionary period may IL
duce among our countrymen a more carefl
revision and study of those times and a real
lation of the difficulties aud dangers whiC
our foretathers surmounted i'll their toilsou
} journey to independence and national eXi
toncc In the words of Keys immortal sol
let us be
Ever mindful what it cost"
II we look for the causes of the success
the arms of the United Colonies, of I'll