Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-15
"ro Mary, the Mother of Washington"

Thanks to Mayor Rowe and eX-COrgress-
man Sener for the information they have
given. There can be little doubt that the
monument ut Fredericksburg Will be COM
pleted. The United States Senate have
twice sanctioned an appropriation OF 500
OOO for that purpose and both Virginia and
Massachusetts, stood eager to catch the eye
OF Speaker Carlisle IN order that the lower
house might be urged to give their con-
currence. 80,
Thefaithful and practical Barbour is still
in Congress. and now ~ that senate ana
by his side is Daniel with ms fine Nebste-
ran pose and eloquent tongue, and doubt
less there will be in the House Of Repre-
sontatives enough liberal and patriotic
men from Virginia and her sister States 70
wipe out the long-pendlng disgrace. II
might be very Justly maintained that II
there be any descendants of Slas J.. Bur
rows who have the ability 10 complete the
work which their ancestor assumed, IT Is
their duty and ought to be their pleasure
10 finish it. Still such a tribute TO WASH
incton's mother Is of sufficient national
concern for the United States to pay It,
From the eminent pTOprlety OF ats inccp-
ton and the fciqi attending the laying of
its cornerstone. the completion ~ the
monument at fredericksburg should be
accomplished a. speedily as possible.
Fiftt-siX years ago. about noon on Non
dav. May 6. 1893. a very distinguished
cayalcadc. civic and military, was approach
inc the even then historic town OF Fred
ericksburg from the opposite side OF the
river. IL halted near Falmouth Tor awhile
that welcome and reIreshment might be cX-
tended TO it. A procession not unworthy
of such visitors crossed over 10 meet them
and to escort them to their hOspltable
homes. There were Andrew Jackson,
President of the United States. and Lis
private secretary. General Lewis Cass, L..
Is. Tanov. W. q. Barry, Silas +. burrows,
and others. George W. BGssctt, Or. Wal
lace. and DR.. +. III. Carmichael were tine
monument committee. and DR.. Wallace
entertained the President 10 his house.
The afternoon and evening were spent IN
marching and in sOcia5ilItv and large hos
pitality.
The next DAY, Tuesday. May Z, 1888, the
President held a reception Of the Mayors
Office until the time for the procession TO
move towards the site of the proposed
monument. The weather was propltious
and the procession imposing and euthu =
astic. Colonel Bankhead. United states
army. was the chief marshal. with nuIne-
rous assistants, and the military portion
was commanded by Major Hugh Mercer
Patton. This consisted of two companies
from Alexandria, one from Washington,
with the United States Marine Band, three
of Fredericksburg, and company ot
cavalry from Fauquler county. Oneoi those
of fredericksburg consisted Of boys
(mostly from Hanson's Classical Academy,
who had been so well drilled by Gen
eral Thomas H. Bolts that they. attract
ed the admiration of the old hero
of New Orleans. When the procession
reached the site of the monument there
was the Revolutionary marquee OF Wash
inoton. which George w. L. Gusts had
brought down and pitched. and was oc-
cupied by the family from Mt. Vernon.
PRAYER was offered by the Rev +. c. Nc
CURE. who was connected by marriage
with the Washington family, and after
wards wrote a work on the "kehgioue
Opinions and Character OF Warrington
The Masonic rites were conducted by
Samuel HowisOn, Esq.
George Washington Bassett, n klnsman
and namesake Of the Father of his COM
try, as chairman of the monument com;
mittee, doliyed a patriotic address, and
presented TO President Jackson the en-
craved plate. which described the object
of this imposing pageantry, that he might
deposit it in its appropriate place. Inc
Presidents able and discriminating reply
referred to bis own personal knowledge
and appreciation of Washington, and con-
! tanned the following passage:
These memorials of affection and graft
tudc are consecrGted 10y the practice of all
aces and nations. They are tributes OF re-
spect to the dead, but they convey practi-
cal lessons of virtue and wisdom 70 the
living. The mother and son are beyond
the reach of human applause, but the
| bright example OF parental and tIal eN-
! collcnce which their conduct turmshe :
cannot but produce the most salutary ell
fects upon our cOuntrymen."
When the solemn ceremonies were ended
| the procession marched proudly back to
| town. In the afternoon there was most
| abundant barbecue at Hazel Hill, IN the
! southeastern suburbs of the town and Tor
merly the residence OF General John Minor,
after whom the celebrated john Minor
| Bolts was complimentary named. But the
ovontiul day was not to close without r.
ceiying even additional honor. There mp
! peared unexpectedly upon the scene Mr..
Livingston, United States Secretary OF
| State; Mr.. McLane. Secretary Of the Urea
sury; Mr.. Campbell. United States Irea-
surer, and Washington Irving. No doubt
| those additional members of the Prs
dents Cabinet were brought thlther by
sympathy for their heroic chief
The news Of the indignity that had been
| offered to the President at Alexandria by
| the misguided and impetuOus Robert Is,
| Randolph had spread and not only had the
! Cifect OF haStenlng 10 MN MS Olner tanl-
net officers but of enhancing the heartiness
| of the popular demonstration towards the
country's Chief Executive.
Shall any enterprise SO laudable es "a
have called forth such a celebration Of il:
beginning ever be allowed permanently to
fail?
In any event pardon Fredericksburg
boy who was one of the military company
of boys in the procession above described
for the part he has taken in stirring up a
matter that has been far too long neglected,