ized the "Father of his Country," has consented that such a relic ought not to be appropriated by an individual citizen, and has instructed me, his representative, to offer it to the nation, to be preserved in its public depository as the common property of all, since its office has been to achieve and secure the common liberty of all. 15. He has, in like manner, requested me to present this cane to the Congress of the United States, deeming it not unworthy the public acceptance. 16. This was once the property of the philosopher 12 and patriot Benjamin Franklin. 17. By a codicil 13 to his last will and testament, we find it thus disposed of: "My fine crab-tree walking stick, with a gold head curiously wrought in the form of the cap of Liberty, I give to my friend, and the friend of mankind, General Washington. If it were a sceptre 1, he has merited it, and would become it." 18. General Washington, in his will, devises this cane as follows: "Item: To my brother, Charles Washington, I give and bequeath the gold-headed cane left me by Dr Franklin in his will." 19. Captain Samuel Washington was the only son of Charles Washington, the devisee from whom he derived by inheritance this interesting memorial; and having transmitted it to his son, Samuel T. Washington, the latter thus seeks to bestow it worthily, by associating it with the battle sword in a gift to his countrymen. 20. I cordially concur with Mr. Washington in the opinion that they both merit public preservation; and I obey, with pleasure, his wishes in here presenting them, in his name, to the nation. 21. Let the sword of the hero and the staff of the phi losopher go together. Let them have place among the proudest trophies and most honored memorials of our national achievements. 22. Upon that staff once leaned the sage, of whom it has been said, "He snatched the lightning from heaven and the sceptre from tyrants." 23. A mighty arm once wielded this sword in a righteous cause, even unto the dismemberment of empire. In the hand of Washington this was "the sword of the Lord and of Gideon." 24. It was never drawn except in the defence of public liberty; it was never sheathed until a glorious and triumphant success returned it to the scabbard, without a stain of cruelty or dishonor upon its blade; it was never surrendered except to that country which bestowed it. 1 LEG'IS LA-TIVE. That enacts laws; law-making. 8 DE-VĪṢED'. Granted by will; bequeathed. quest has been made. 2 PÄR-LJA-MĚNT'A-RY. Of or pertain- 9 DĚV-I-ŞEE'. One to whom a being to parliament, or a legislative body. 8 CON-STIT'V-ENTS. Those who appoint or elect some one to an office as their representative. 10 IN-TRIN'SI-CAL-LY. In its nature; really. 11 Ex ĚC'Y-TOR. The person appointed to execute a will, or see it carried into effect. 4 A-CHIEVEMENTS. Deeds: exploits. 6 AUTHENTIC. Properly attested; 7 UN-SHEATHE'. sheath. PHI-LŎS'O-PHER. A person profoundly versed in knowledge. 13 CŎD'I-CIL. A writing added to a will. 14 SCEPTRE. A staff borne in the hands of kings as an emblem of their power. X.-MEMORIALS OF WASHINGTON AND [Mr. John Quincy Adams, of Massachusetts, rose and addressed the House as follows.] 1. In presenting this resolution to the house, it may perhaps be expected that I should accompany it with some suitable remarks; and yet, sir, I never rose to address this house under a deeper conviction of the want of words to express the emotions that I feel. It is precisely because occasions like this are adapted to produce universal sympathy, that little can be said by any one, but what, in the language of the heart, in tones not loud, but deep, every one present has silently said to himself. 2. My respected friend from Virginia, by whom this offering of patriotic sentiment has been presented to the representative assembly of the nation, has, it seems to me, already said all that can be said suitable to this occasion. In parting from him, as, after a few short days, we must all do, it will, on my part, be, sorrowing that, in all probability, I shall see his face and hear his voice no more. But his words of this day are planted in my memory, and will there remain till the last pulsation of my heart. 3. The sword of WASHINGTON! The staff of FRANKLIN! O, sir, what associations are linked in adamant' with those names! Washington, the warrior of human freedom Washington, whose sword, as my friend has said, was never drawn but in the cause of his country, and never sheathed when wielded in his country's cause! Franklin, the philosopher of the thunderbolt, the printing press, and the ploughshare! What names are these in the scanty catalogue of the benefactors of human kind! Washington and Franklin! What other two men, whose lives belong to the eighteenth century of Christendom,* have left a deeper impression of themselves upon the age in which they lived, and upon all after time! 4. Washington! the warrior and the legislator; in war, contending by the wager of battle for the independence of his country, and for the freedom of the human race; ever manifesting, amidst its horrors, by precept and example, his reverence for the laws of peace, and for the * CHRISTENDOM. The regions inhabited by Christians; all countries governed by Christian institutions. tenderest sympathies of humanity; in peace, soothing the ferocious spirit of discord, among his own countrymen, into harmony and union, and giving to that very sword now presented to his country a charm more potent than that attributed in ancient times to the lyre of Orpheus.* 5. Franklin! the mechanic of his own fortune, teaching, in early youth, under the shackles of indigence, the way to wealth, and in the shade of obscurity, the path to greatness; in the maturity of manhood, disarming the thunder of its terrors, the lightning of its fatal blast, and wresting from the tyrant's hand the still more afflictive sceptre of oppression; while descending into the vale of years, traversing the Atlantic Ocean, braving in the dead. of winter the battle and the breeze, bearing in his hand. the charter of independence, which he had contributed to form, and tendering, from the self-created nation to the mightiest monarchs of Europe, the olive branch of peace, the mercurial2 wand of commerce, and the amulet of protection and safety, to the man of peace on the pathless ocean, from the inexorable cruelty and merciless rapacity of war. 6. And finally, in the last stage of life, with fourscore winters upon his head, under the torture of an incurable disease, returning to his native land, closing his days as the chief magistrate of his adopted commonwealth, after contributing by his counsels, under the presidency of Washington, and recording his name, under the sanction of devout prayer invoked by him to God, to that constitution under the authority of which we are here assembled, as the representatives of the North American people, to receive in their name, and for them, these venerable relics of the wise, the valiant, and the good founders of our great confederated republic-these sacred symbols of our golden age. * ORPHEUS (ör'fūs). An ancient Grecian poet, who is fabled to have enchanted, with the music of his lyre, not only wild beasts, but even trees and rocks. 7 7. May they be deposited among the archives of out government; and may every American who shall hereafter behold them ejaculate a mingled offering of praise to that Supreme Ruler of the universe by whose tender mercies our Union has been hitherto preserved through all the vicissitudes and revolutions of this turbulent world, and of prayer for the continuance of the blessings, by the dispensations of his providence, to our beloved country, from age to age, till time shall be no more. 8. After passing an appropriate resolution, accepting Mr. Washington's gift, and tendering him the thanks of Congress therefor, the house adjourned'. [Switzerland was once under the power of Austria. Gesler (pronounced Gěs'ler), at the time of these events, in 1307, was the Austrian governor of Switzerland. He was a most cruel tyrant, and even pushed his tyranny so far as to require the Swiss to uncover their heads and bow down to his hat placed upon a pole. William Tell, a brave Swiss, refused to perform this act of servility. He was seized for punishment. Tell's son, Albert, without his father's knowledge, had been taken prisoner on the preceding day by Gesler.] SCENE-A Chamber in the Castle. Enter GESLER, OFFICERS, and SARNEM, with TELL in chains and guarded. Sarnem. Down, slave! Behold the governor. Down! down! and beg for mercy. Gesler. [Seated.] Does he hear? |