Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-04
the nEmORy OF WASHINGTON.
Hon. william wfrs Henry's Speech a'
the Pennsy lvsnia Historical
Society Banqust.

The commissioners Of the various States
who met IN Philadelphia Thursday to ar
range for the centennial OF the Constitu-
| ton were entertained by the Pennsylvania
| Historical Society. The first toast was the
memory OF George Washington. and was
responded to 10y Hon. William Writ Henry.
| The Philadelphia Press, in its repor! OF
| the entertainment, says:
The dinner was an elaborate one, aud 1t
was 9:4J O'Clock before Mr. MlcVeagh arose
| to set In motion the oratorical portion OF It.
| lie said:
| In the name OF the Historical Society of
| Pennsylvania bid ysu all a welcome to its
| hospitable board. Most OF you are children
| OF Pennsy vanm, but many OF our guests
| tonight are citizens OF other States. whom
we are glad to honor, both on account OF
their own eminence and OF the mission
which has been inirusted to them
| a high mission, which commends it
self to every citizen OF Philadelphia.
| There is nothing more interesting In the
whole history OF politics thln the story Of
the adoption OF the present Constitution.
| William Penn, whose political slgacity has
| never been appreciated, at very early pc
| riod suggested to the Board Of Trade OF
| London union OF the colonies similar 10
| that which was subsequently adopted by
| the States. Subsequently Benjamin Frank
| lin, the wisest OF Americans. advocated
| union OF colonies, and Patrick Henry
| struck the keynote OF constitutional goy-
| ernment when he said, II am not Nr-
| gnian, | am an American. [Applause
| The Congress was a great strlde-the con-
| federation OF States; greater TO the Con-
| ,ention i'm which the Constitution took
| definite shape under the leadership OF the
mother OF states-Virginia. Sde sent great
| men 10 that Convention. She sent Edmund
Randolph, Patrick Henry. and George
Washington. [Appause.l He was met at
| Chester and brought here in triumph, ana
all men recognized In him toe natural
| leader Of the movement. When the dele
| gates assembled, and before the Convention
| assembled, he tShOrted them to keep the
! standard Of their work high. So, gentle
men. with great pleasure | give the first
toast to the memory OF George Washing
ton, and call upon to respond to it VIII
liam Writ Henry, OF Virginia.
Mr.. HENRY SPEAKS OF WASHINGTON.
There was great cheering ~ Mr.. Henry,
slight. smooth haven, elderly gentleman.
arose. After acknowledging the honor II
the toast, he said g do not feel that the
State OF Virginia has particular claim to
George Washington. He belongs to all
| time, and he never gave up 10 party what
belonged TO mankind. Remembering the
name that ! BEAR | cannot forget that when
NV grandfather entered the House OF Bur-
! gcsscs OF Virginia he found George wash
ington there, and that until the close OF
their lives, IN which happily they were but
few months apart, they were the closest
OF personal friends, and in their hearts the
| deepest sentimtn nj was America.
81 know that no eulogy OF Washington
l. required from me. An Eyerell and a
n Winthrop baye already performed thai
task. aud II would now reQdire the geninS
Of one who could paint the lily and add
perfume 10 the rose. Yet Will say that no
man could have so appreciated the perpptu-
alton Of strong government IN this coun-
try a. he, since no man has gone through
| such an agony and bloody sweat as he had.
| Among his first utterInces after the keyO-
! luton was plea for a stronger and better
government. lie wrote to Lafayette, Ny
! great effort now will be 10 get a new Con-
stitution for America In the summer OF
1888 he wrote that letter 10 the Governors
Of the States, IN which he spoke Of the four
! things necessary the first OF which was
the foundation Of an ndissouble Union.
Long, loud, aud continued applause.l
- need not tell YOU that the conference
| at Anngr oils brought out the idea OF con-
yentiou 10 form general government. |
am proud to say that Virginia was one OF
the FIRST states To foster that idea. My
worthy friend told you the names OF the
men whom she sent to The Convention, but
he did not give you the names in the order
which was hXed by the Legislature accord.
| ing to the magnatCs Of the del gates. the
fH.af.u Alssrla
| ingtnn's the second, pardon me for saying,
was Patrick IIenry's. lie did not attend.
although, no was one OF the most sincere
believers IN q strong Federal Government
! TO be found In lis State. 10 was private
matter that kept him ut home. When Wash
ington came there was no question, aS my
friend has said, a. 10 who should be Pre>i'
dent There was opposition to this Con.
>iiiuiion. Governor Edmund Randolph
! opposed it. There was camOr against it.
But be said II we attempt to please the
! people and do what We do not ourselves
l approve, how can we ever hope TO have
cOntent!' Il was at last, through the po-
tent power OF his voce-it was because
Washington had spoken that the instrument
was adopted. Without him the Government
would never have been pat in motion. and he
stands before you as its founder. lie wrote
! at the heginnng OF his term IS President;
i am entering upon sea OF trouble, and
how long the voyage will be ] cannot tell
That solicitude for the perpetuity OF the
| Government lasted until the day OF hi,
death, and in the year 1899 he called upon
his friends, among them Patrick Henry, to
Put down the principles which threat
encd the destruction OF the country. II
I his life and his words to the cOun-
try had been remembered aud needed
there never would have been civil
war. Irhe applause which followed inter
ruptcd SIR. llcnry's speech for several mi
nutes, after which he continued. As look
! back through $50 years to the three little
storm.to>sed vessels which, driven into
| Chesapeake bay, were the means OF rest
| ing ihi. continent from the Latin races,
| and, by giving us the English national
| spirit and the English Protestant religion,
preserved this republic from the fate Of
| those Of Mexico and Central America; ss
| look back through the latter years Of our
| history feel that the greatest gift Of God
to this country was when lie yayeus wash
! ington. the greatest mere man that the
world has ever seem"