The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-13

uaVb8ances but prfncfplee unfr1onoly 70 Republican government and to the true | and genuine liberties of mankind which thereafter are rarely overcome" He de- | sired to establish a university in the | central part of the United States to which the ''youhts sof fortune and talent | from all parts thereof might be sent for the completion of their education in all the branches of polite literature" For this purpose he bequeathed fifty shares of stock in the Potomac Company for the endowment of such a university. General Washington then proceeded to tell how he came into possession of those shares. Whereas. by law of the com monwealth of Virginia, enacted in the year 17s5, the Legislature thereof was pleased. as an evidence of its approba- tion of the services I had rendered the public during the revolution. to present me with fifty shares of $50 stock in the company for the opening to navigation of the River Potomac. the acceptance of which, although the offer was highly honorable and agreeable to my feelings was refused as inconsistent with a .rin- ciple which I had adopted and had never departed from namely. not to receive pe- cuniary compensation for any service should render my country in it's ardu- ous struggle with Great Britain for its rights, and because I had evaded simi- lar propositions from other States in the Union." This stock had been kept in the name of Washington, and he turned 1t over to the establishment of a national university of learning.
 General Washington made to many of his friends bequests of his personal be- longings. His nephew. Bushrod Wash ington. received all papers relating to his civil and military record. To his brother Charles he gave his gold-headed cane given to him by Dr. Franklin, ex- plaining T add nothing to it because of the ample provision I had made for his issue" 'To the acquaintances and friends of my juvenile years, Lawrence Washington and Robert Washington. give my other two gold-headed canes. and to each I leave one of my spy glass es which constituted part of my equip age durin gthe late war" To General Lafayette II give a pair of finely wrought steel pistols taken from the en- emy in the Revolutionary var" A great many minor bequests were also made. such as releasing relatives from debts and other obligations.
 Another strikingly characteristic will is that of Andrew Jackson. Sr.," as he described himself Old Hickory was re- duced to comparative poverty in his last days. through the extravaganza, or bad business speculations, of his adopted son. Andrew Jackson, Jur.'' This is made apparent in the opening paragraphs of his will. which is decidedly Jackson esque. Being impressed with the great uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, and being desirous to dispose of my temporal affairs so that after my death no contention may arise relative to the same l." etc. It appears that his preceding will was made in 1883 and his last one in 1S43. Since the date of his first will he explained my estate has become greatly involved by my lia- bilities for the debts of my well beloved and adopted son, Andrew Jackson. Jur. :" He continued: T bequeath my body to the dust whence it came. and my soul to God who gave 1t, hoping for a happy immortality through the atoning merits of our Lord Jesus Christ. the Saviour of our world"
 the payment of certain debts of his to his old friend. General J. B. Planche who had advanced money to the hero of New Orleans in times of financial ad- versity. The entire balance was to go to his adopted son to whom he bore no malice or hard feeling because of his extravaganza. The only exceptions to this rule were the distribution of a number of swords and other trophies to personal friends. To each person receiving a sword the fiery Jackson gave injunction not to hesitate to use 1t in the Support and protection of our glorious Union and for the protection of the constitu- tional rights of our beloved country should they be assailed by foreign ene- mics or domestic traitors"
 James Madison had only a small estate to dispose of. He left all his property to his wife. charging her at the same tIr 41 kL.& Madison at the Philadelphia convention in 17S7 should be published