Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-04-18
WASHINGTON'S SWORD.
Discussion In the Senate Over the
Proposition TO Purchase the Sword
Worn by Washington.
A Lengthy Debate Pro and Don, and the
Bill Goes Over Without Action.
Reagan's Opposition.
aforementioned OF the Gazette

ate had long discussion yes
terday over the proposition to purchase
for $40, 900 from Mrs. Virginia Taylor
LEWIS, direct descendant Of Washing
ton, the sword worn by him upon tae &C.
casion Of his resigning his commission at
Annsp lis, and at his public reception
while President. The principal speeches
were made by Senators voorhees,, Hoar,
Vest, Reagan and EVarts, and SIS the dis
cussion WAS quite interesting and at times
personal the following copious extracts
from the Congressional Record are
made:
Mr.. Voorhees-Mr. President, 1 would
Just as soon vote to pay 100000
for this sword as any other sum.
1t is not question of money.
The government is not here spec
ula ing or saving money. There is
no question Of price. This is the sword
that General Washington wore upon his
person when, after the close CT such q
career Of glory as no other msn had in the
world, he surrendered his commission
at Annapolis, and bowed his lofty
head to the civil authorities of his
government. II is cheap at any
price, l care not what price. To
talk about drawing the line between
$1,000 or $4,000 or $4,000 has no imean-
ing to nay mind. This is q plain, long
blade of steel, with plain silver handle
and guIrd. have not seen it; but 1t Is
hallowed with such associations as be-
long 10 no other man in human history.
1t WAS worl oy the man to whom Frede-
rick the Great sent his sword inscribed,
"From the Oldest soldier IN Europe to the
greatest general in the world"-a man
who had not only achieved the liberties CT
his own country, but set a pattern for
mankind.
deem Il an honor and privilege with
out question to vote for this sppropris-
ton, and the more SO because this sword
is in the hands of the linesl blood de-
scending from Washing toms veins.
| suppose, Mr.. President, l stand In
critical review all the time of the men who
vote narrowly, and as they say econo-
micsly, bus as I say with mean parsi-
mony, on questions Of this kind. 1t has
never occurred to me that there WAS ex-
travSgauce in preserving the relics OF
those who have done more for human
progress, for civil and religious liberty,
than anybody else.
This government is not q iunk-shop. 1t
is neither buying nor receiving in pawn
things because of their value, but because
of their associated glory in the cause of
the government, in It's progress and its
honor.
l shall, without any hesitation, vote to
sustain the report OF the committee and
pay the sum proposed for this most sacred
relic that know Of coming down from
Washington. We have his clothes, we
have his camp-stools, We have his iron
bedstead, but we lack at last that relic
which represents the very spirit of our
government, the union Of military glory
with obedience TO civil law.
Mr.. H0sr-I suppose that this sword
which Washington wore upon his person
in what is embodied as the greatest act oil
his life, in the laying down his military
character which sppesrs in historical
paintings, is the one single rehc on the
face Of this esrth which all mankind would
agree to recognize as the most valuable,
sacred, and precious. Take the SWORD
of the Black Prince, the sword OF
Napoleon, the crown of every emperor
or king or queen who ever reigned, with
the great KOhiuoor diamond iDHlts front,
and bring them all together in pile, lei
their money value be- measured by mil
lions upon millions, and 5theV have MOI
that sacredness, that true worth, in the
hearts Of the American people or the Low
ers Of popular rights everywhere which
this sirgle relic thst is offered to US now
has.
We proposed to buy this afternoon the
swords of General Shields for the sum o.
$4,000, or Whereabouts. 1t is true We
measured those two swords by their cost
we understood that was the value; ou
did it make particle OF difference II
the vote of any Senator whether those
two swords of that gallant warrior were
adorned with brilliants and cost the
states which presented them to him this
large sum, or whether they were simply
swords which could have been bought fol
two or three dollars apiece? l suggest
to tpe Senator from Missouri to put his
ideas about the value Of this sword into 8
practical shape and to move to amend BY
striking out 1920 900" and inserting
"S7 so" in the bill, which of course
would be according to the Logic Of his
speech.
Mr.. Vest-Mr. President, had not the
slightest ides of causing the bursts of elo
uuence we have heard in regard to this
subject. l thought that had distinctly
ssid l would be willing to go to any rea-
sonable extent to evidence my generation
and that Of the people whom l represent
for the memory of Washington.
But, sir, il there ever was an illustra-
ton of the truth of the Latin maxim tenn
pora mutantur it is given in the lecture
which have received from the Senator
from Massachusetts. Whenever Massa-
chusetts rises to such illimitable height:
of magnificent generosity as we have
heard here this evening, it will change
the estimate the people Of this country
have always had Of the thriftiness ano
csnniness OF her people in the way Of
bargains.
have never said one word here to JUS
tify the rebuke of the Senator from Mas
sachusetts, that should offer $50 fol
this sword. l simply have said that thii
price was enormous. II we propose now
as both the Senator from Indisns and the
Senator from Massachusetts have indi'
cSted, that in our seton we are TO show
our estimate Of the services OF Georgt
WASHINGTON TO this country, let US make
the price OF this sword $4,000, COO; yea
as the Senator from North Csrolins (Mr
R.nsom) suggests TO me, 500, 00O,O 600
- ba ITprTpi StAfpI