Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-22

bs;,I;ancy vhiek 6ssss IN Isstaet ~
ruscation across the black brow o. nlgae,
and lhcn ;s not But IL steady ~
iI;ckcring flame, slow rising 70 - 4
lofty sphere. high hang in the heA-
vens Of contemplation. dispensing iss
and wide iss rays. revealing ~
things ON which il shines 10 due prcpos-
tions and in large rotations, making
right. duty, and destiny 80 plain that ~
The vision &c are scarce conscious ~
tho licht--if this be brillisncy. then ths
genius of Washington was a. fnlI-orbd
and luminous as the god Of day IN h's
zenith.
This is genius in rarcst msn'fasts-
ton, and as life n greater than any
theory of living. in so much does no
who points the path OF destiny and
brings great things to pass exceed Tho
mere dreamer Of great dreams.
The work Of Washington filed The
rounded measure Of his splendid fsca'-
ties. Grandly did he illustrate the
Anclo-Saxon trait Of just resistance 70
the abuse Of power--,tanding IN front
Of his Observation-Disclosures in the fields
Of Boston. and telling the general Of
esrth's greatest empire. who stigma
TIED them as rebels p" and threat
ened them with the punishment
of the cord" that ''he could con-
ceive Of no rank more honorable than
that which flows from the uncorruptcd
choice of brave aud free people, the
original and purcSt fountain OF all
power; and that. far from making
il plea for cruelty, mind of true
msguanimty aud enlarged ideas would
comprehend and respect IT," viets-
riously did he yindicste the principle
of the Declaration Of Independence, that
20 secure the inalienable rights Of nan
governments are instituted amongst
men deriving their just powers from the
consent Of the governed. and that
whenever any form Of government be-
comes destructive of these ends. Il 70
the right of the people to alter or abel
| ish il, and to institute new government.
laying its foundation in such principle
| and organizing the power in such forms
as to them shall seem most likely to
effect their safety aud happiness" by
these signs he conquered, and had his
career ended here none other would
have surpassed; whose would have
equalled il?
But where the fame Of 80 many sue
ccssful warriors has found conclusion
or gone beyond only TO be furnished bis
took new flight upward.
IL might venture to discriminate,
would say that it was in the conflicts Of
opinion that succeeded the Revolution
that the greatness Of Washington NEST
displayed itself; for it was then that
peril thiekened in most subtle forms:
that rival passions burned in intestine
flames that crises came demanding
wider-reaching and more constructive
faculties than may be exhibited in war
and higher heroism than may be
avouched in battle.
CIVIL ACHIEVEMENTS.
And it was then that the soldier,
passing from the fields Of martial fame
to the heights of civil achievement still
more reSplcndcnt, became the world
wide statesman the wars of the
Revolution, like Venus in her transit.
sunk the light of his vast exploits only
in the sun of new found glory.
First to perceive and swift TO point
: out the defects in the Articles of Con-
! federation. they became manifest to all
! long before victory crowned the warfare
conducted under them. Charged by
, them with the public defence, Congress
could not PUT a soldier IN the field, aud
charged with dclraying expenses. u
could not lew dollar of imposts or
taxes. Itcould. indeed, borrow money
with the assent of nine States Of the
! thirteen but what mockery OF finance
was that when the borrower could noe
/ command any resource Of payment.
The States had indeed put but a
=, sceptrc Of straw in the legislative hand
y. of the Confederation--what wonder that
-, it soon wore u crown Of thorns Tho
! paper currency ere long dissolved 10
nothingneSs. for four days the army was
without food. and whole regiments
y driftcd from the rank, of our hard
pressed defenders. - see, SAID W ash
p ineton, lone head gradually changing
into thirteen see ole army gradually
branching into thirteen. which, instead
. of looking mp to congress as the supreme
controlling power. are considering
+, themselves as dependent upon their re-
- spcctiyc States" While yet his sword
a, could not >lumber, his busy pen wa'
warning the statesmen of the country
-. that unless Congress were invested with
r. adequate powers, or should assume
a them a. matter of right, We should be
Il come but thirteen States pursuing loca
, interests until annhilated in genera
- crasl-lhc cause would be lost--ln'
=. the fable of the bundle of sticks applle'
u. TO H..
In rapid succession his notes OF alarr
~ and iny0cations for and 10 the imo
- followed each other to the leading me
n of the States North and South. Turn
"a ing to his own State, and appealing 3
n George Mason: where he es
n claimed. where are our men OF abilI
90 ties? Why do they not come forth an
20 save the country" lie compared III
or affairs Of this great continent to the me
;. chanism Of clock. of which each Stat
~, was putting its own small part
20 order, but ncglecting the great whe
H. or spring which was to put the who
y, in motion. lie summoned jefferson
~ Wythc, and Pcndleton TO his asslstanc
.. telling them that the present temper
the States was friendly TO lasting unio
10 that the moment should be improve
al and might never return. and that - att
I'm gloriously and successfully contendu
an against the usurpation Of Britain '
er- may fall pray to our own folly Al
-th disputes
,tb How keen the prophets pen tb
-. through the smoke Of war discerned 4
~, coming evil; how diligent the patriot
an hand that amidst awful responsibility
,a reached futureward to avert il
Rv aimost "A miracle the weak 60