San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-09-17
SAN MARCOS HAYS COUNTY, TEXAS THURSDAY

mented and costly present from The
great Frederick.
At the time of the division among
the nephews, without intimatinl
what his preference was, he jocosel,
remarked, "that inasmuch as he wal
the only one Of them then presen
who had participated in military ser
vice, they ought 10 permit him t
take choice" This suggestion wal
met in the same spirit in which i
/, was made; and, the selection being
awarded him, he chose this, th'
plainest, and, intrinsically, the leas
valuable OF any, simply because i,
was tho "Battle Sword
am also in possession OF the mos,
satisfactory evidence, furnished by
Col. George @. Washington, Of
Georgetown, the nearest male rela
tive now living Of General Washing
ton, as to the identity Of this sword
His information as to its history was
derived from his father, William Au'
gustine Washington, the devisee first
named in the clause Of the will which
/ have just read; from his uncle, the
late Judge Bushrod Washington Of
the Supreme court; and Major Law
renoe Lewis, the acting executor oi
Generrl Washington's will Of
whom concurred in the statement
that the true service sword was that
selected by Captain Samuel Washing
ton.
It remained in this gentlemans
possession until his death, esteemed
by him the most precious memento
of his illustrious kinsman. 1t then
became the property Of his son, who,
animated by that patriotism which
so characterized the "Father of his
Country, has consented that such a
relic ought not to be appropriated by
an individual citizen, and has instruc-
ed me, his representative, to offer it
to the nation, to be preserved in it's
public repositories as the common
property Of all, since its Office has
been to achieve and secure the COM
mon liberty Of all.
He has, in like manner, requested
me to present this cane to the Con-
gress of the United States, deeming
it not unworthy the public accep-
tance.
This was once the property of the
philosopher and patriot, Benjamin.
Franklin.
BY O codicil to his last will and
testament,w we find it thus disposed Of;
my fine crab-tree walking stick, with a
gold-head curously wrought in the form Of
a cnp of Liberty. give to my friend, and
the friend of mankind, General Washing
ton. If it were sceptre, he has merited it,
and would become it."
General Washington, in his will,
devised this cane as follows:
'Item. To my brother. Charles WASH
ington, give and bequeath the gold-head-
ed cane left me by DR.. Franklin in his will. !"
Captain Samuel Washington was
the only surviving son of Charles
Washington, the devisee, by whom he
derived, by Inheritance, this interest
ing memorial; and, having transmit-
ted it to his son, Samuel 7. Washing
ton, the latter thus seeks to bestow
it worthily, by associating it with the
battle sword in o gift to his country
men.
1 cordially concur with Mr.. Wash
ington in the opinion that they each
merit public preservation; and I obey,
with pleasure, his wishes in here pre-
senting them, in his name, to the M
ton.
Let the sword of the Hero and
the staff OF the Philosopher go to-
gether. Let them have a place
among the proudest trophies and
most honored memorials of our na.
national achievements.
Upon that staff once leaned the
sage, of whom it has been said. He
the lightning from heaven
and the sceptre from tyrants.
A mighty arm once welded this
sword in a righteous cause, even unto
the disemberment of empire. In
the hand OF Washington, this was
"the sword of the Lord, and OF
Gideon"
II was never drawn except in de-
fence of public liberty; it was never
sheathed until q glorious and tri-
umphant success returned it TO the
without O stain OF cruelty
or dishonor upon its blade; it was
never surrendered except TO that
which bestowed it.
Mr.. Summers having concluded
his address, delivered the Sword aud
Staff to the sergeant-atarms Of the
House, who bore them to the Speaker,
the latter rising from his seat to re-
ceive them.
Mr.. John Quincy Adams, one Of
The Representatives from the State
Of Massachusetts,, then addressed the
House ss follows
In presenting the resolution which
hold in my hand TO the House. il
may perhaps be expected that i
should accompany it with some re-
marks suitable to the occasion and
ret sir, I never rose TO address this
House under . deeper conviction ct
,f the want Of words 10 express the
emotions thatI feel IL j. precisely
because occasions like this are adapt (
3 10 produce universal sympathy,
nat little can be said by any one,
Dot uhat IN the language q The heart, /