Year: 1873

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Tomorrow is the 141st anniversary
of the birth of GEORGE WASHINGTON.
In the first struggling hours of the
nations existence, he may truthfully
be said to have presided over its desti-
nies. In the darker hours, when it
was striving through disaster and de-
feat to establish Republican Liberty,
he was looked to as the instrument,
under Divine Providence, to work out
that great end. Great were his respon-
sibilities. But fearlessly did he meet
them, and nobly did he discharge them.
Greathas been his reward, for he estands
this day s.frst in the hearts Of his
countrymen.' .


There was a time when the recur-
renee of the anniversary of his birth
was made the occasion of patriotic
display-when citizens of all parts of
the country, laying aside local and
party differences, would meet and rem
der the need of praise to the memory
of this great citizen, and feel refreshed
by this communion of patriotism. But
alas! and we have no heart to say it,
that day has gone by.


The questionsfs not now, are you an
American citizen, attached to the Con-
stitution of your country and the prin-
ciples of republican liberty? But are
you in favor of the Fifteenth Amend
ment, and in favor of the political and
social equality of all men without re-
gard to race or condition? What bet
ter can be expected when Credit Mo
bilier Congresses make our laws and
gift-taking Presidents execute them,
but That the ignorant and barbarous
negro should dominate in the fairest
portion of our land over our brothers
men of the same proud blood and line
age as ourselves. Our heart sickens
at the thought, and We cannot trust
ourself to write on the subject.


But appropriate to the occasion and
as eminently suggestive, we extract the
following from a letter of THOMAS
JEFFERSON, descriptive Of the charac-
ter of WASHINGTON, without gloss or
exaggeration, but showing him as he
was known to those who associated
with him most intimately; and we
commend the portraiture to our read
ers-as perhaps the most exact we have
ever seen delineated- that Of a man
of whom the writer justly says: ellis
integrity was most pure-his justice
the most infexible, no motives Of in
terest or consanguinity, of friendship
or hatred, being able to bias his deci-
sion.' Brothers, look on this picture
and then on him who unworthily fills
now the Presidential chair.


The extract we have made from the
letter we are sure will be interesting
in other respects to our readers, as the
result of the observation Of a man who
was a keen and thoughtful reader of
human character, and who had oppor-
tunities not afforded others.


n5 EXTRACT


His mind was great and powerful,
without being of the very first order
his penetration strong, though not so
accute as that of Newton, Bacon, or
Locke; and as far as he saw, no judg-
ment was ever sounder. It was slow
in operation, being little aided by in
vention or imagination, but sure in
conclusion. Hence the common re-
mark of his officers, of the advantage
he derived from councils Of war, where
hearing all suggestions, he selected
whatever was best; and certainly nc
General ever planned his battles more
iudiciously. But if deranged during
the course Of the action, if any mem.
ber of his plan was dislocated by sud
den circumstances, he was slow in re-
adjustment. The consequence was
that he often failed in the field, and
rarely against an enemy in station, as
at Boston and York. He was incapa
BILE of fear, meeting personal dangers
with the calmest unconcern. Perhaps
the strongest feature in his character
was prudence, never acting until every
circumstance, every consideration wal
maturely weighed; refraining if he saw
adoubt, but, when once decided, going
through with his purpose, whatever
obstacles opposed. His integrity was
most pure, his justice the most inflezi
BILE | have ever known, no motives O
interest or consanguity, of friendship
or hatred, being able to bias his deci
sion. He was, indeed, in every sens
of the words, a wise, a good, and
great man. His temper was natural,
irritable and high toned; but reflection