.^ * ■
HvC. 1UD*QJTALD
IF.E ARM : ';:
going to have
2,000 Suberic
Authorized Agent
paper,
Christmas,
; : V •
Voi. m.
SATURDAY, MAY 11,1889
ADDRESS OF HON. Z. B. VANCE,
the Battle of Guilford Court House.
IttUvoreii at tho Celebration on Mag 4th,
■ , From time immemorial that por
. tioB of the human robe which has
left any record of Its actions have
: indulged the practice of commemora
‘ ting the notable events of its histo
ry. The method by which this was
done was a good test of their civili
: zatioii. In Genesis it is recorded that
•: Jacob took the stone upon Which his
head had rested, whilst the won
drous vision Was displayed to him,
of the angels ascending and descend
ing, and erected it as a memorial
; pillar. Again, when the Lord ap
peared to 'Jacob when, he came but
■of Padim-aram and blessed him and
renewed the promises which had
" been made unto Abraham, Jacob
, set up a pillar of stone in the plaee
as a memorial and called it Beth-el.
Twelve stones were likewise set, up;
: in commemoration of the crossing of
: the river Jordan .by the tribes dry
shod. Thi Assyrians and the Egyp
tians did likewise, but in more elab
'i orate manner. Inf act, almost the
only history by which we trace the
history of the East is by deciphering
the inscriptions upon' their momu
f merits and memorial structures. So
enduring monuments are the great'
pyramids that mankind has almost
forgotten the purpose for which
i ‘.they ware erected and by whom, they
' have actually outlasted all knowl
edge or tradition,concerning them.
• The Greeks excelled all others per
haps in the number and artistic ex
^ celienee of their commemorating
v, atones. Not only all great events
but nil their great men were thus
; commended to the attention of pos
terity by the erection of temples and
Statutes, which have never yet been
surpassed, if indeed they have been
■ equalled. The Eomana copied. their
r customs and their art in this regard.
To this day they remind, us of the
genius and glory of Greece; In very
v truth 7.-'.;....
•The silent pillars lone and grifj
■ /Hahn kindred witti tlieir sscrea day.”
Much of the profoundest learning of
modern times has'been devoted to
these exhibitions of Greek art and
the Egyptology of the Nile. Thus
the progress of art is traced from the
■-'t rude unhewn stone of Jacob to the
. exquisitely chiselled and proportion
ed column of the Athenian Acropo
• Its, and the wondrous structures^ of
‘ .Egypt, _ _ _ .
In addition to this method of com
memoration the moderns have adopt
ed what may be called the! tradition
al. Great masses of the people meet
together cn anniversary days, and
discourse concerning the events
which are the object of the meeting.
-Tbiswe'^all “celebrating,” It is
■ nothing more than the renewing
and strengthening the remembrance
- ■ at the events which we wish to per
petuate. Perhaps,jof all the west
• % ern people, we in the United ’ States
"'“iexcel in this matter of celebrating
■events in our history. We are not
satisfied with the mere erection of
-monuments or piles of stone, but we
-meet together . in multitudes; we
inarch in procession with ijands of
music, we fire cannon and display
banners; so that the deeds which we
wisii renieiiiDertJU ui»jr- uuii uhij
W fastened in the memory of these ad
' '' juncts, but may serve £o excite the i
■ emulation of tne young; .and train
. ithem to that degree of perfect citi
zenship wh ich leads to the surrender
^ tot all tilings to the common good.
It is well that we do so. There is no
Letter school for our youth than this
*' hero-worship, this exalting of great
deeds! There is no inauguration
■; whieh can conceive the extent of its
influence upon character; and it is
“ always a high and noble influence. A
pathetic story is told of a Scotch girl
- who had been sent to France to be
J.-.educated, she was asked as a part of
■tl the exercises, to give a description
of a highland regiment. She begin
. to read her piece, describing the tall
brawny forms clad in the bonnet and
tartan, with the claymores at their
. aides, the proud, free steps with
which they marched to the music of
their bag-pipes, when the pride of
being the country women of such
“ soldiers overcame her, pausing she_
- Ljbttrst into tears. The feeling she
5- excited and the cheers with which
f'-: her patriotic fervor was appreciated
by strangers, showed that ner educa
tioh in the echo ol of patriotism and
bero-worship was already advanced.
After all that can be done with
marble or granite, the truest mon
- ument by which the memory of auy
can be perpetuated is to be found in
the results. It rarely happens that
an event in people’s history is worth
the perpetuating in stone," which 1s
^ "not already everlastingly embalmed
ff* in the hearts of the people.‘What
. monument is required to keep Blive
the memory of the'man who invent
' ed the mariner’s compass, by which
the trackless paths of tns> sea are
made as familiar to commereeas out
iuter-State highways? What stone
is necessary to the inventor of the
art of printing, when all »cience and
all literature daily, unconsciously
byman his praise? What shaft is
needed by the inventor of the steam
engine, when the whole earth is full
of the works which magnify him?
Or tu the discoverer of the cotton
S'n by which the world is clothed ?
deft the memory of the great physi
cians whose genius has mitigated
human suffering depend upon a-pile
of stones? Or do the great lawyers
to-whose acumen we are indebted for
tho chief liberties of the people need
onr care? For themselves —no; hut
for ourselves, to show our gratitude
and appreciation, to remind us we,
too,can make ourselves gublime-rr
yes.. Their great achievements, are
tlieir-monuments, for, verily, “their
Works do follow, them;". ,and any
shafts we may .erect are rather ourfl
than theirs. \ They testify not so
much of their deals as of what lives
in out hearts. The philosophy of
this is-found in the explanation - of
the Wise aiid Witty Cato, the Censor,
who said that he had rather have the
stranger ask why he had no statue
than to ask why he had one. In
the walls of St. Paul’s, is inserted a
tablet on which is written the name
of Sir Christopher Wren, its archie
tect, with the -words underneath,
“Lector sc monumentum requiris cir
cumspice." The.imposing structure
reaching upward with all its lines of
beauty and strength was his monu
ment! •
v Should the inquiry be made, what
was done at this spot in 1,781, and
where is the monument of results to
commemorate it? the answer might
well be made in the single word,
"Circtmspiee." Beyond question
the foundation ofAmerican liberty
was laid on this spot on -that noted
day in March, 1781. A brief and
philosophical consideration *of the
hrilitary situation of these colonies,
and of the events which immediately
preceded and followed the struggle
herevvrill satisfy any one ? that , the
importance of that day’s work is not
overrated by this statement. *
The British armies havo failed of
success among the Northern portion
of the colonies, owing to the skill
and vigilance of Washington, the
attention of their commander, was
directed to the Southern department.
There, it was believed that owing to
the hold which the British already
had upon the' country, its widely
scattered rural population and the
noted loyalty of a considerable por
tion of it, the prospect of final suc
cess was much better than in any
other quarter. With a picked and
veteran force, therefore, Lord Corn
wallis began his celebrated march
from Charleston through South
C aroli n a an d Nor fch' Carolrna into
Virginia. He calculated upon em
bodying the loyal element wher
ever he went and encouraging it to
join him and swell, his force®- This
was reasonable after the shameful
disaster at Camden, and to a great
extent this expectation was justified
by large numbers of loyalists join
ing him in South Carolina, whilst
qpite a number either did, "or at
tempted the saraein North Carolina,
But his presence And proclamations
were two-edged weapon*; they not
only called opt me ioyy element,
but roused and brought to arms
every patriotic Whig in the region
through which he marched. These
alone proved more-tban sufficient to
deal with their countrymen who
took sides-with the British.
The first great serious check which
his hitherto triumphant advance had
received was at King’s Mountain in
October, 1780, preceding liis advance
into North Carolina, Cornwallis had
sent Major Ferguson with a battal
ion of regular troops to call out and
embody all the Tory element “of the
western part of the two Carolinas.
This he did with considerable suc
cess, and incorporated with his Own
forces a large number of volunteers.
But the effort to do so had alarmed
the Whigs of the mountains of
North Carolina and Virginia. These
gallant Frontiersmen sprang up by
magic, and crossing the great Iron
and Yellow mountains from the val
ues of the Ilolston and Nalichucky
nssemhled in the valley of the Ca
tawba und made their final arrange,
ments to dispose of Ferguson and
his Tories. Advancing by forced
marches, receiving recruits at every
step their array became so formida
ble that Ferguson took the alarm
and retreated to King’s Mountain,
vainly imagining that the faw mili
tia from the wilderness would not
dare toattnek him there. But lit
tle did he know of' the spirit ol
thoseTneri^ ^Iiiko*-mouataiiv ava
lanche they swept onward after then
prey, and like an eagle when found
they seized it in defiance of all mil
itary rules, in its own chosen posi
tion of strength. Authors, orator*
and military critics have dwelt alrkf
exhaustively upon this wonderous
feat of anus, U» timely importance
to the patriotic cause and its unex
ampled heroism. There is Tittle con
cerning it which remainsjto be said.
To me, it appears'^-impossible for
language to over-estimate its impor
tance or to do adequate justice to the
courage, audacity and war-like skill
which, enabled untrained militia,
without artilleij, without bayonets,
without even discipline, with simply
hunting rides and inadequate ammu
nition, to assault fortified mountain
height defended by almost equal
numbers, af*part of whom were train
ed veteran troops—and .carry them
by storm. There is no story in the
annals of war, there is ' no incident
told of the great Hannibal, or of the
retreat of the ten thousand, or of
the Roman legions in any part of
the earth, which excels it for- piire
heroism, grim and sturdy courage,
and as an exhibition of the true fire
of war-like genius. I know that it
is not.perhaps in good taste for citi
zens or a Democratic country to"
boast of the blood which is in their
veins, but I am sure I will be par
doned for indulging in a strain of
filial pride by glorying in the fact
that my grandfather was: one of
those who amidst smoke and fire as
cended those heights on that day.
However, perhaps I need not apolo
gize. If it be proper for us to feel
proud of our ancestors in the mass,
it cannot be improper to boast of
their deeds in the individual. The
Chinese proverb well saysj “To
forget one’s ancestors is to he a
brook without a source—a tree
without a root." - .t,;
The next mOstsenous check which
was given to the royal advance was
inflicted at the Cowpens in Decem
ber, 1780, Furious at the. destruc
tion of Ferguson’s command, Corn
wallis hurried forward to retrieve
the- disaster, the celebrated and
hitherto invincible cavalry com mancL
Colonel Tarleton, with a considerable
force of splendid troops. He was
met at the Cowpens by General Mor
gan with a large force of the patri
otic militia of North and South'
Carolina—many of whom had par
ticipated in the victory at King's
Mountain, and Was signally defeated,
with the loss of a large number of
killed, wounded and prisoners.
Thiw, two'most important detach
ments of the royal invading army
having been defeated—one being
absolutely destroyed—Lord Corn
wallis, being justly alarmed for the
success of the campaign and smart-,
ing from humiliation and defeat,
determined upon a prompt and ag
gressive advance which should sub
due all opposition and restore all lost
prestige or his army. From this time
forward, until fate compelled him to
retreat from the State, it is impossi
ble to withhold'from him our admi
ration of his high military qualities*
as evinced by the discipline of his
troops and the wisdom and modera
tion of his conduct. Gut it was de
creed that he should fail, and on this
spot where we now stand, in 1781,
the finishing blow was given to all
his prospects for subjugating the
Southern Colonies, and which drove
him to his ships at Wilmington and
finally to the end at Yorktown. ^
From this day dates the real free
dom and independence of North
Carolina. Had he not here been
successfully resisted—had the army
of Gen. Greene been destroyed as
Ferguson’s 'had- been at King’s
Mountuin, beyond alf questions'
the independency of these' colonies
would have been indefinitely post
poned.
now Lius uhluic was auu^iil uuu
successfuly won, and the part ' our
North Carolina ancestors took there
in, I will hot attempt to describe to
day. It has been done again and
again by onr historians and orators
—by Hawks, Graham, Swain Caru
thers, butneverso well and com
pletely done as by that honorabbe
gentleman, David Scbenok, who dis
coursed to you at your last celebra
tion and to whose untiring and ’pa
triotic exertions wo are innebted to
keep alive the memory of our liber
ty-loving forefathers. For one I
unhesitatingly accept the 'conclu
sion of his laborious researches, and
believe thorn to bo the truth of his-,
tory. I believe that the regular and
volunteer troops of North Carolina
did their duty that day as well os
any men upon that'field, and that
the lines of raw, undisciplined mili
tia did as well that day as was ex
pected of them by their comman
der, been expected of them by any
critic with sufficient military knowl
edge to judge of the capacity of
such forces, so armed, agamBt such
trained and disciplined and perfectly
armed, troops. -
W hat then is their work P What
is the monument that they that day
erected to themselves as seen in the
result? Suppose an intelligent
stanger were here and he were hold
to look that monument by inching
; least twenty*
able and two
m# which are
^extends east
red, miles in
around, what would he see? He
would behold a free and indepen
dent commonwealth, which for
more than a hundred years has en
joyed the blessings of liberty and
which has advanced steadily without
retrogreeion and anarchy in all the
Rof prosperityfand civilization.
fifty-thousand square miles of
territory contuining thirty-two mill
ion acres, of which ;!11-1|
nine millions are :
thousand square mih
island seas. This ail
and west for six hund
length with ait average breath of a
hundred and forty. In it is found a
general elevation from tide water to
the mountain tops of six, thousand
feet, giving the varieties of climate
which are to be found within twenty
degress of latitude Northand South.
The varieties of productions are
abundantly commensurate with
these varieties of soil and climate.
Her forest have always been remark
able, and still are, for their greatex
tentand value, and the treasures
within her bosom have bugun to be
explored and exposed., Not to men
tion the smaller streams, this erea is
traversed by three thousand miles
of water courses of the dignity of
rivers, furnishing in their gradual
fall from the western highlands in
to the sea, water power sufficient to
turn all the machinery of the world.
This happily located land at—once
profitable, pleasant and picturesque,
containing ell the'best gifts of Hod
to his creatures, in the home of""the
children of the men who-made it free
and establishined its institutions and
laws with a view to the happiness of
its people. So well did they, build that
after more than a century' of trial,
no flaw has been found in its struct
ures, no weakenening, no evidence
of decay. Straight forward it has
grown in population and wealth, in
intelligence without pause or decay,
save on;y in the ever memoriable
©never-damnable days of recon
struction. In 1870 the number of
UUt pcupie t)UO,WU, 1U JVW
was.l,400,000; it the ratio increase
which obtained from 1870 to 1880
be preserved ill 1890 our population
will be at least 1,750,000, and
whether it may be a matter of boast
ing or a matter of regret, it is equal
ly the truth, this steady and heath
increase has been aided very little
by emigration. The statistics show
that no American State has been
so little indebted to foreigners, for
either population or wealth. Em
phatically our progress is our own,
find whatever may We maybe that
we have become by our own efforts.
Let us lave it accordingly. The
Germans say “OneV own straw is
better than an enemy’s wool.” and
the Latins, “The smoke of our own
country is brighter than fires
abroad/1-v-• ’ j-j
So much do we'»lfea<ly see of the
resultA’of their.wisdom and valor.
But what of the things in the future
which we do not see? What poetic
vision, though reaching ‘‘far as
angles’ ken” can picture that future
! which awaits this people, or point
[out where the influence of the deeds
done on this spot in' 1781 shall cease
to affect their destinies? One of the
itnost curions questions of metapys
ics' is that of the dependance of one
pvpnf, iinmi annf.htsr. ttAanista
and theologians of the world have in
ali times disputed concerning its
effects upon the free will of man
and the decrees of God. The cause
and effect can be more obviously
traced in the material than in the
moral world, and yet without refin
ing too much, we can resonably
trace moral effects from great events
over vast stretches'oftime. In 1883
the island of Krakatpr in the straits
of Sun da was litteraily ejected from
its place in the seas land blown into
spiice. The effect was recognized
tidal' disturbances upon every shore
mote or less, where observation
were mode, throughout the. earth,
Rou all remember the red skies
which gave even additional beauty
and glory to our celestial scenery at
the settings of the sun, in 1883341
The men of science have now deter
ruined,without dissent, that those
red skies were directly the results of
that volcanic eruption which had
shatered the masses of obsidian of
which the island was composed, into
impalpable dust. The force of the
explosion had hurled this obsidian
dust into those regions of the upper
air which are far bey'ond the influenoe
of the circulation near the surface;
and by the operatiou' of those lofty
currents of which we know little, it
had been diffused throughout the
world, oausing the beauteous phe
nomena at which we gazed with so
much rapture. Who can say then
what, commonwealths, a thousand
years from now, may not be inspired
by our exampleras our prosperity and
beppiness were secured by** these
same deeds of our ancestors? Who
ean say that the unseen and lofty
rCurrehtsof human affection may not
waft and diffuse the ennobling les
sons and inspirations emanating
from Guilford Court House in 1781,
to the remotest quarters of the earth
and to the most distant times, bright*
ening .the sky with crimson glory
for mrny faint hearted and strug
gling people.
T hare said that the fruit of their
labors constituted the true monu-:
ment of our ancestors; that for them
selves no other was needed, but that
others were needed for us. That for
ourown sakes we should $elebrate;
and erect shafts, .in order to demon
strate what was in our own hearts.
It has long been a matter of reproach
that North Carolina has done so lit
tle to petpetuate in stone her love for
her sages and heroes. The day when
the foot of the first Anglo Saxon was
placed upon American soil is known
historically, but the spot where-the
colony of the great and splendid
Raleigh landed is unmarked by a sin
gle memento. This genesis of the
mightiest revolution in the history
of nations, was upon North Caroli
na soil, yet we nave left neglected
both the time and place. The mew
of the Mecklenburg- Declaration have
as yet no monument. Until .the
patriotic impulse inspired, ohe mail,
whose enthusiasm inspired yon, this
sacred spot had not commenoration.
Cross’ Creek and MooreV Creek are
iye#without a stone. The Battle of
the Regulators, where the first blood
was shed for real liberty in America,
is uumarked and unsignified to the
traveller. Davie and Davidson and
Shelby, Severe, Cleveland, McDowell
Lillinton Harnett, Moere nil sleep
in graves hallowed by patriotism, but
unknown save only to private affec
tion. We do net even sufficiently
guard the traditions of their reputa
tion, bat leave incompetent orpar
tial historians to si or their deeds or
scandalize their memories. This
criminal negligence continues to
this day. Some of the storiesandmis
representations concerning JNortn
Carolina troops in the late civil war
are sufficiently scandalous to make
the blood of every truth loving man
in the State boil with indignant
heat. We should not, in silence^
permit those misrepresentations.
The honor of those who died for
North Carolina should be as sacred
to us as the virtue of our mothers.
The thanks of our people are due to
all those who have come forward to
defend our countrymen and secure
for them justice in history. No
table among those who have thus
earned [our gratitude I am glad
to mention Judge David
Schenck, Capt. W. R. Bond,
and Col. W. L. Saunders. The re
search and labor of these patriotic
gentlemen have already visibly af
fected the tone of contemporary au
thors; and I beg to assure them of
the appreciation of their conntrv
meu. Of our abundance we should
everywhere erect those lasting testi
monials of all our great and patriot
it citizens I repeat, it is due not
so much to them as as to our-,
selves.
cat there is hope for North Caro
lina yet. Sixteen years before the
birth of our Saviour there was
born in Germany a child who
was called Arminius, or the German
peasants loved to term him, Herman
Prince of Cherusci. He conceived
the idea of delivering his country
from the dominion of the Romans,
then in the zenith of their power.
Not far from the time when our Sa
viour was teaching upon the shores
of Galilee and healing the sick, this
patriotic German decoyed a Roman
army into the morasses of his native
country and slaughtered it with such
an overwhilming elaugeter as ren
dered it impossible for the great Au
gustus ever again to reconquer his
countrv. Nig teen hund.ed years
thereafter the German people erect
ed a statue in his honor. His ex
ample demonstrates that there is
gratititude in mankind, though the
proof was undoubtedly slow in
coining. I trust that the people
will not wait so long to do honor
to those who served them and
died for them in their hour of
peed.
The tent for the Pearson meeting
in Greensboro has arrived and will
be erected on Washington street,
opposite the Baptist Church, in that
city this week. The area inclosed
will be 100 by 120 feet, and the
tent will oomfortahly seat 8,000 peo
ple.
Franklin Press: The family of
Jennings living in this eountry and
Jackson can boast of what fey(
families cau. There are seven
brothers and sisters all living, and
the youngest is 83 years old.
, On. Thursday last, the annual
meeting of the C. F. & Y. Y. Rail
road, at Mt, Airy, was well attend
ed. The reports were satisfacto
ry, and the old officers were re-elect
'«d. .
AN ELOQUENT PR8BUCTI0N.
Speech Delivered by Mr. Chauncey
M. Depew at the New York Centeu
I nisi. - - -
»« World Xtporfr
It was now the tarn of the orator,
and what a handsome orator he is!
How hie keen eye glistened, and
with what sonorous utterance his
line voice rolled off the rounded pe
riods of his oration. It was a treat
to hear him, and for those who
could not hear it was a treat to see
his fine gestures. Every time his
eloquent fingers came down in em
phasis, distant onlookers cheered
lustily. Dr. Depew spoke under the
protection of a black-silk skull cap,
gnd among other things he said:
“We celebrate to-day the centen
ary of our nationality. One hun
dred yews ago the Unite! States be
gan their existence. The powers of
the government were assumed by
the people of the Republic, and they
became the sole source of authority;
The solemn ceremony of the first in
auguration, the reverent oath .of
Washington, the acclaim of the
multitude greeting their President,
'marked the most unique event of
modern times in the development of
free institutions. The occasion was
not an accident, but a result. It was
the culmination of the working out
of mighty forces through many cen
turies of the problem of self-gov
ernment. It was not the- triumph
of • system, the application of a
theory or tbe reduction to practice
of the abstractions of philosophy.
l ne time, me country, tne Heredity,
and environment of the people, the.
lolly of the enemies, and the noble
courage of the people, gave to liber
ty, after ages of defeat, a trial, , of
experiment, of partial sneceaa and
substantial success this immortal
victory. Henceforth it had a .ref
uge and recreating station. The
oppressed found free homes in this
favored land, and invisible armies
marched from it by mail and tele
graph, by speech and song,' by pre
cept and example, to regenerate the
world,’'' - -j:;—
Mr. Depew then devoted some
time to the early history of the
Union and Washington’s elec
tion and his triumphant, journey to
New York and continued:
‘‘Washington was never dram
matic, but on great occasions he not
only rose to the full ideal of the
event, he became himself the event.
One hundred years ago to-day the
procession of foreign abassadors, of
statesmen and generals, of civil so
cieties and military,companies whichI
escorted him marched from Frank
Imbquare to Jr'earl street, through
Pearl to Broad, and up Broad to
this spot, but the people saw only
Washington. He he stood upon the
steps of the old Government build
ing hire, the thought must have oc
curred to him that this was a cradle
of liberty, and as such given a bright
omen to the future. In these halls,
in 1735, in the trial of John fencer,
had been established for the first
time in its history the liberty of . the
press. Here the New York Assem
bly in 1704, made the protest against
the State act, and proposed the Gen
eral Conference, which was the be
ginning of inited Colonial action. In
this old State House in 1705, the
Stamp Act Congress, the first and
the Father of American Congresses,
assembled and presented to the En
glish Government that vigorous
protest, which caused the repeal of
the act, and checked the first step
towards the usurpation which lost
the America! Colonies in the British
Empire. Within these walls the
pongress of Confederation had com
missioned its Ambassadors abroad,
and in ineffectual eforts at govern
ment had created the necessity for
the concentration of Federal author*’
ity, .now to be consumated.
“The first Congress of the United
States gathered in this temple of
liberty, greeted Washington and
accompanied him to the balcony.
The famous men visible about him
were Chancellor, Livingston, Vice
President^ John Adams, Alexander
Hamilton, Gov, Cliutou, Roger Sher
man, Richard Henry Lee, Gen.
Knox and Baron Stuben. But we
believe that mmoug the invisible
hosts above him at this supreme mo
ment of the culmination in pernm
is. i
nent triumph of the thousands of ;
years of struggle for. self-govern
ment, were the spirits of; the sol
diers of the revolution, who had died
that their countrymen might enjoy
this blesseddny, and with them were
the Barons of Rnnnymede and Wil- ■
ham the Silent, : and Sidney
and Russell, and - Cromwell;
mid Hampden, and : the heroes and;
martyrs of every race and age. '
“As he came forward the multi
tude in the streets, in the window*
and on the house roofs sent up such
a rapturous Bhout that Washington p
sat down overcome with emotion* *
As he slowly rose, and his tail and •
mejestic form appeared again, the :
people, deeply affected, in awed si
lence, viewed the scene. The' Chan
cellor solemly read to him the oath
of office, and Washington, repeat-,
ing, said:. “I do solemnly swear
that I will faithfully execute the of- .
flee of the United States, and will,
to the best of my ability, preserve,
protect and defend. the Constitution
ofthe United States.” Theta he rever
ently bent lowand kissed the Bible,
uttering with profound emotion.
‘So help me God.’ The Chancellor, \
waived his robes and shouted,* *It is .
done: long live George Washington,
President, of the United States P
Longlive George Washington, our
first President P was the answering
cheer of the people,’ and from the
belfries rang the bells,- and from
forts and ships thundered the can
non, echoing and repeating the Cry
with responding aclafm alTover the
land, ’Long live George Washing
ton, first President of the United
States P '
x uo biiu|Hu mm imposing cere*
mony over the inaugural read, the
blessing of God prayerfully peti
tioned m old St. Paul’s, the festivi
ties passed and Washington stood'
alone. No one else could take the
helm of state, and enthusiast and
doubter alike trusted' only him. ■
The teachings and habits of the past
has educated the people to faith in
the independence of their States, and *
for the Supreme authority Of the :
new Government there stood against
the precedent of a century and the
passions of an hour little beside the
arguments of Hamilton* Madison
and Jay in the Federalist and the - :
judgement of Washington. With
the first attempt to exercise Nation
al power began the duel to the
death between- State sovereignty,
claiming the rights to nullify^ Fed
eral Taws or secede from the Union,
and the power of the Republic to.
command the resources of the conn- ••
try, to enforce its authority and
protect its life. Then was the begin
ning of the sixty years war for the
Constitution and the Nation. It
scared ’ consciences, degraded poli
ties, destroyed parties, ruined states- '
tmdfcfetarded the advance and devel-_
opmfent of the country; it sacrificed
hundreds of thousands of precious
lives, and squandered thousands i.{ '
millions of money; it desolated the.
faiest portion of the land carried
mourning into every home North *
and South, but it ended at Appo
mattox in the absolute triumph of
the Republic. -
"rrosperity owes to Washington •
Administration the policy and meas-^_
urea, the form and Erection, which
made possible the glorious result.
In giving the organization of the
Department of State andForeign Re
lations to Jefferson, the Treasury to
Hamilton and the Supreme Court to
Jay,he selected for his Cabinet and
called to his assistance the ablest
and most eminent men of his time.
Hamilton’s marvelous versatility
and genius designed the armories
and weapons for the promotion of
National power and greatness^ but
Washington’s steady support car
ried them through. Parties ciys
talized and party passions intense,
debates were intemperate, and the
Union openly threatened and secret
ly plotted against, as the firm pres
sure of this mighty personality fun- '
ded the debt and established
credit, assumed the State debt in
curred in the war of the Revolution
and superceded the local by the Na
tional obligation, imposed duties up
on imports ond excise upon spirits
and created revenue and resources,
urganized a National Banking sys
tem for public needs and private
business, and called out nn army to
put down by force of arms any re
jistence to the Federal laws impos
ing unpopular taxes. Upon the
plau marked out by the Constitu
tion, the great architect with-un
failing faith and unfaltering cour
age, builded the Hepublic. He gave
m the Government the principles of
action and surces of power which
serried it successfully through the
wars with Great Brijijinjn 1812 and II
and Mexico ip 1848, and which ena
bled Jackeoii to defeat nullification,
and recruited and equipped millions
of men f tr Lincoln, and justified sad
sustained his proclamation of gmaa
TSiJ? g iafelZS
x Vxid'