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From the Intelligencer of the th. ‘The Presentation of the Sword of Washington. _ The scene presented in the House of Repre sentatives yesterday was one of those brief mo ments of refreshing, which, few and far between, occur to the weary, way-worn, heart-sick travel ler across the sandy Zahara, where he comes upon a cluster of palms, and beneath their grate ful shade finds a welling spring worthy to be called ‘the Diamond of the Desert.” It was an hour when the remembrance of better days, rushed with power upon the heart, and bore it away, for the time, from surrounding hearth, and transported it, as in vision, to a happier clime.— it was a moral mirage, in which, while gazing in thought upon what “that old man eloquent” well denominated “ our Golden Age,” one for got that there are such things as dem and can be such things, neither able not Fae Washington, our own Wastington, 1e imagined, for a moment, to have ** burst his cerements,” and to be present in the Legislative Halls of the land he loved; and both the man who offered, and the man who received, the dherified memorials of the dead Patriot seemed to have felt, while they spoke, the inspiration of a greater presence than that which was visible about them. A fanciful observer might have be lieved that the mere ho’.ou. .. +1 G ¥ ON'S Sword had a sort of moral electricity about 1, and that he who did but handle the staff on which Frankuin had so often leaned, caught by the contact something of his elevating wisdom. Mr. Summers, as we well know, is esteemed at home as a lawyer of high standing, and a man of great strength and purity of character, but his warmest friends could not have desired that his parting speech (if it were his last) as a member of Congress should have been more worthy of the place and of the man. He treated a subject on which it is no easy task to speak without triteness, in a manner at once simple, appropri ate and dignified, saying just enough and no more, and saying it with a warmth of feeling too sincere to be counterfeited. His brief account of the relics he presented was clear and succinct, and yet had enough of particularly to give it the highest interest. As he proceeded, the crowded hall and galleries were mute as the grave, and while every eye gazed, and many an eye over flowed, every ear listened with the eagerest at tention to the close. The response of Mr. Adams was every way is might have been expected from him; one who only read it, must lose more than the impression with which it was received. associations of the occasion were such as d not fail to reach a mind like his, and awe within it those deep and powerful feelings sh, when unaroused, slumber beneath an as and a manner which give no token of their ence. His intonations were deep and im toned; his voice faltered—the eloquent blood and in torrents to his countenance—and his sole figure, attitude and gesture were those : one of Nature’s orators strongly moved. The whole transaction was in a high degree creditable to our country, and its record on our archives will mark at least one bright day in the contemporaneous history of Congress. As soon as the speeches were ended, and the resolution moved by Mr. Anas had been adopt ed, Mr. Tamarerno, himself a Virginian, (and we may add with truth a fine specimen of the Virginia gentleman,) acting as the “ Father @ the House,” which the date of his commission entitles him to do, moved that both the address of Mr. Summers and the response of Mr. Adams be inserted at length on the Journal, which hav ing been ordered, Mr. McKennan, a Pennsyl vanian, closed the scene in a dignified and most appropriate manner by moving, in honor of the occasion, that the House adjourn. And now occurred a spectacle true to Nature. The decorum of the House had kept every man in his seat while the addresses were in delivery and the votes being taken; but, no sooner had the adjournment been announced, and the Speaker left the chair, than there was a simultaneous rush from all quarters to obtain a nearer view of the interesting memorials of our great lost Pa triots. Nor was the eye satisfied with seeing. Every hand was outstretched to touch them.— It was like Homer's scene of the bending of Ulysses’ bow, and many a puny hand now grasp ed the sword of Washinetron that would have trembled in the scenes where it once gleamed in the eyes of the foes to American Independ ence. Demand after demand was made for a pleasure so grateful and so rare, and it was long before the Sergeant-at-Arms could rescue staff and fal chion from still eager hands that reluctantly gave them up to his custody. They were ordered to be deposited in the Department of State, but we presume they will eventually accompany the military commission, his uniform, and other pre cious memorials of Wasnixeron, which have been transferred from that Department to the halls of the National Institute. ADDRESS OF THE HON. G. W. SUMMERS. Mr. Speaker: I rise for the purpose of dis charging an office, not connected with the ordi nary business of a legislative assembly. Yet, in asking permission to interrupt, for a moment, the regular order of parliamentary proceedings, I cannot doubt that the proposition which I have to submit will prove as gratifying as it may be unusual. Mr. Samuel T. Washington, a citizen of Ka nawha county, in the Commonwealth of Virgin ia, and one of my constituents, has honored me with the commission of presenting, in his name, and on his behalf, to the Congress of the United States, and, through that body, to the people of the United States, two most interesting and valua ble relics, connected with the past history of our country, and with men whose achievements, both in the field and in the cabinet, best illustrate and adorn our annals. One is the sword worn by General Washing ton, first as a colonel in the colonial service of Virginia, in Forbes’ campaign against the French and Indians; and afterwards, during the whole period of the war of Independence, as comman der-in-chief of the American army. Tr is a plain couteau, or hanger, with a green hilt and silver guard. On the upper ward of the scabbard is engraved “J. Bailey, Fishkill. It is accompanied by a buckskin belt, which is se cured by a silver buckle and clasp, whereon are engraven the letters * G. W.” and the figures “© 1757.” These are all of the plainest work manship, but substantial, and in keeping with the man and with the times to which they be longed. The history of this sword is perfectly authen tic, and leaves no shadow of doubt as to its identity. The last will and testament of General Wash ington, bearing date on the 9th day of February, 1799, contains, among a great variety of bequests, the following clause: *‘to each of my nephews, William Augustine Washington, George Lewis, George Steptoe Washington, Bushrod Wash ington, and Samuel Washington, [ give one of the swords or couteaux of which I may be pos sessed; and they are to choose in the order they are named, these swords are accompanied with an injunction, not to unsheath them for the purpose of shedding blood, except it be or self defence, or in defence of their country and its rights; and, in the latter case, to keep them un sheathed, and prefer falling with them in their hands, to the relinquishment thereof.” In the distribution of the swords, hereby de vised, among the five nephews therein enumera ted, the one now presented fell to the share of Samuel Washington, the devisee last named in the clause of the will which I have just read. This gentleman, who died a few years since, in the county of Kanawha, and who was the fa ther of Samuel T. Washington, the donor, I knew well. I have often seen this sword in his son, and received from himself the follow ing account of the manner in which it became his property, in the division made among the de visees. He said that he knew it to have been the side arms of General Washington during the revolu tionary war—not that used on occasions of pa rade and review, but the constant service sword t chief, that he had himself seen ington wear this identical sword, (he presumed for the last time,) when, in 1794 h e reviewed the Virginia and Maryland forces, then concentrated at Cumberland, under com mand of General Lee, and destined to co-operate with the Pennsylvania and New Jersey troops, then assembled at Bedford, in suppressing what has been called * the whiskey insurrection.” General Washington was at that time Presi dent of the United States, and, as such, was com mander-in-chief of the army. It is known that it was his intention to lead the army in person on that occasion, had he found it necessary; and he went to Bedford and Cumberland prepared for that event. The condition of things did not require it, and he returned to his civil duties at Philadelphia. _ Mr. Samuel Washington held the commission of a captain at that time himself, and served in that campaign, many of the incidents of which he has related to me. He was anxious to obtain this particular sword, and preferred it to all the others, among which was the ornamented and costly present from the cat Frederick. at the tire of the division among the nephews, without intimating what his preference was, he socusely remarked, ‘that, inasmuch as he was the only one of them who had participated in military service, they ought to permit him to take choice.” This suggestion was met in the same spirit in which it was made; and the choice be ing awarded him, he chose this, the plainest and intrinsically the least valuable of any, simply be cause it was “ the battle sword.” I am also in possession of the most satisfactory evidence, furnished by Col. George Washing ton, of Georgetown, the nearest male relative of Gen. Washington now living, as to the identity of the sword. His information was derived from his father, William Augustine Washington, the devisee first named in the clause of the will which I have read, from his uncle, the late Judge Bush rod Washington, of the Supreme Court, and Major Lawrence Lewis, the acting executor of General Washington's will, all of whom ccn curred in the statement, that the true service sword was that selected by Capt. Samuel Wash ington. It remained in that gentleman‘s posses sion until his death, esteemed by him the most precious memento of his illustrious kinsman.— It then became the property of his son, who, ani mated by the patriotism which so characterized the “ father of his country,” has consented that such a relic ought not to be appropriated by any individual citizen, and has instructed me, his representative, to offer it to the nation, to be pre served in its public depositories, as the common property of all, since its office has been to achieve and defend the common liberty of all. He has, in like manner, requested me to pre sent this cane to the Congress of the United States, deeming it not unworthy the public ac ceptance. This was once the property of the philosopher and patriot, Benjamin Franklin. By a codicil to his last will and testament, we find it thus disposed of : * My fine crab-tree walkiestick, with a gold head, curiously wrought in the form of the cap of liberty, L ive to my friend, and the friend of mankind, General Washington. If it were a sceptre, he has merited it, and would become it.” General Washington, in his will, devises this cane as follows: “Trem. To my brother Charles Washington, I give and bequeath the gold-headed cane left me by Dr. Franklin, in his will.” Captain Samuel Washington was the only son of Charles Washington, the devisee, from whom he derived, by inheritance, this interesting me morial ; and having transmitted it to his son, Samuel T. Washington, the inter thus seeks to bestow it worthily,by associating it with the battle-sword, in a gift to his countrymen. T cordially concur with Mr. Washington in the opinion that they each merit public preserva tion; and obey, with pleasure, his wishes in here presenting them, in his name, to the nation. Let the sword of the hero and the staff of the philosopher go together. Let them have place among the proudest trophies and most honored memorials of our national achievements. Upon that staff once leaned the sage of whom it has been said, ** He snatched the lightning from Heaven, and the scevire from tyrants.” 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.” — It was never drawn, except in defence of the public liberty. It was never sheathed until a glorious and triumphant success returned it to the scabbard, without a stain of cruelty or dis honor upon its blade. It was never surrendered, except to that country which bestowed it. Loud and long-continued plaudits followed the delivery of this address.] The Serceant-at-Arms advanced to the seat of the honorable gentleman, and received into his custody the interesting relics. Washington, in the military career of his early youth, in the seven years’ war, and throughout the war of our national independence; and of the staff bequeathed by the patriot, statesman, and sage, Benjamin Franklin, to the same leader of the armies of freedom in the revolutionary war, George Washington. That these precious relics are hereby accept ed, in the name of the nation, that they be de posited for safe keeping in the Department of State of the United States; and that a copy of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representa tives, be transmitted to the said Samuel T. Washington. The resolution was adopted unanimously, with loud acclamation and the House adjourned. IN TIE SENATE. On the th, this resolution, was communicated to the Senate, with the interesting relics to which it referred—when Mr. Arcuer, one of the Vir ginia Senators, accompanied a motion of con currence with some brief but eloquent remarks, of which the following is the conclusion: Wasmixetonx the only name requiring no eulogy, for the name itself comprehended all eu logy. It had been said by one of the most emi nent public men of the age, himself the subject of a monarchy, (Lord Brougham,) that * of un inspired men Washington was to be esteemed incomparably the greatest.” Nor was this to be regarded as exaggerated praise, when it was re collected that greatness was to be measured, not by virtue only, but a combined consideration of its effects; and this same consideration proved that no man great as Washington could perhaps now live. Men, not the inferiors of Washington in virtue and in wisdom, might come into ex istence, but to the fullest developement of gran deur of character, circumstances must conspire and form no unimportant part, and no man could again be placed in circumstances such as mark ed the situation of Washington. Many amen, it was to be hoped, were destined, in that progress of free institutions which marked the character of the age, to be the founders of liberty for their own countries and times; but what was the pe culiarity of the position and office of Washing ton! He was, probably, appointed by the ordi nation of Providence, to prove the founder of liberty for the human race in all times From the germ which he had planted, promised to spread the influence which was destined, it might be hoped, to gather nation after nation under its shadow, and to yield the life-sustaining fruit to all periods in succession. And Frankaix, whose name was associated with Washington's in the presentation of the relics! How curious the coincidence that they should have been associated by such symbols! Franklin, second only to Washington as one of the founders of our Republic, in science a foun der greater still! Recent developements made it not improbable that the power of which Frank lin had been the first to make us acquainted with its laws, was the one the most efficient and dif fused through the entire processes of physical nature; the thorough knowledge of which was’ to produce results the most imposing and most important which had ever been unlocked to hu man vision? ‘These were the men associated with the relics now presented to us, and which, as emblems, these relics were appropriate to re call to memory whenever they were viewed , to inspire admiration of the wisdom they had dis played, gratitude for the benefits they had ren dered, veneration for the virtue which had adorn ed them! We had been accustomed to call these illustrious new ours. But the time would come when they would equally be exalted as benefactors of human kind as they had been ours, and their fame the property of their whole race, Doctor Franklin, in the bequest of the cane to General Washington which was now exhibit ed to us, had said that ** he gave it to his friend, and the friend of mankind, who, had it been a‘ sceptre, would have deserved it.’ And the sceptre that friend has attained which he deserv ed. It had been an expression in the ceremonial offices which occurred on the death of Wash ington, that he was throned in the hearts of his countrymen. The expression fell far short of the full extent of his destiny. It was to be throwed in the homage—in the admiration—no! these did not convey the just phrase—in the boundless veneration of mankind! Mr. A. said he would no longer be an impe diment to the expression of the acclaiming senti ment which he knew beat in the bosom of every Senator to respond, even by the fbure of this humble resolution, in the great titles of Wash ington and Franklin to our affection, gratitude, and reverence. The resolution was unanimously adopted, and the Senate then adjourned. The annexed letters properly belong to the interesting scene which took place in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. Copy of a letter from Samue. T. Wasitinerox, accompanying the Sword and Cane presented to Congress. Coau'’s Mourn, Kaxawia Co. (Va.) January 9, 1243. My Dear Sir: With this, you will receive the war-sword of my grand-uncle, Gen. George Washington, and the gold headed cane bequeath ed to him by Dr. Benjamin Franklin. These interesting relics I wish to be presented, through you, my dear sir, to the Congress of the United States, on behalf of the nation. Congress can dispose of them in such manner as shall seem most appropriate, and best calcu lated to keep in memory the character and ser vices of those two illustrious founders of our Republic. Sam, with esteem, yours, SAMUEL T. WASHINGTON, To Hon. George W. Saxmens, House of Representatives. Copy of a letter from Col. Gro. C. Washindton, Grorcetown, January 31, 1843. Dean Sir, I have before me your letter of the 30th inst., requesting me to give you any in formation in my possession in relation to the sword placed in your hands by Mr. Samuel T. Washington, (alleged to have been the service sword of General Washington during the Revo lutionary War,) and which he has instructed you, in his name, to present to the Congress of the United States. General Washington, by his will, made dispo sition of his swords in the following words: *'To “each of my nephews, William Augustine “ Washington, George Lewis, George Steptoe Washington, Bushrod Washington, and Samu *el Washington, I give one of the swords, or * couteaux, of which [ may be possessed ; and “they are to choose in the order they are nam [ed. These swords are accompanied with an “injuction not to unsheath them for the purpose ** of shedding blood, except it be for self-defence, “or in defence of their country and its rights; ‘and in the latter case, to keep then unsheath *ed, and prefer falling with them in their hands “to the relinquishment thereof.” Two of these swords are in my possession, being devised to me, one by my father, William Augustine Washington, and the other by my uncle, the late Judge Bushrod Washington.— The descendants of George Lewis and George Steptoe Washington, have two other of these swords, and that in your charge is without doubt the one which was selected by Colonel Samuel Washington. My father was entitled to the first choice under the will, but was prevented by indisposition from attending at Mount Vernon when the distribu tion took place, and Judge Washington selected for him the most finished and costly sword, with which associations were connected highly com plimentary to General Washington; but I often heard my father say that he would have pre ferred the sword selected by Col. Samuel Wash ington, from the fact that it was used by the General during the Revolutionary war. I have at different times heard similar statements as to this fact made by Colonel Samuel Washington, Judge Washington, and Major Lawrence Lewis, and I am not aware that it has been questioned by any member of the family. The sword was represented to me as being a couteau, with a plain green ivory handle. I entertain no doubt whatever as to the identi ty of this sword, and hope that the information I have given may prove satisfactory. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. C. WASHINGTON. Hon. George W. Summers, House of Representatives. Growth of the Churches in Virginia.—It ap pears from statistics recently published, that about twenty thousand members were added to the Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and Episco pal Churches in Virginia, during the year 1842, From the Baltimore American, Great Britain and the rest of the World. The recent successes of the British in China and India have excited to a high pitch the self esteem of a people who have never been re markable for undervaluing themselves. The leading article in Blackwood indulges in much self-complacent glorification, and declares that Great Britain, at the present moment, occupies a position of dignity, of grandeur, and of respon sibility, unparalleled in either her own history, or that of any other nation, ancient or modern. The saying of Archimedes is paraphrased to this wise: * Give the genius of Great Britain but where she may place her foot—some mere point peeping above the waves of the sea—and she shall move the world.” There is no doubt but the career of England is well calculated to raise astonishment in the mind that duly considers it. Nor can one con template without admiration many of those ele ments of hardihood, firmness, daring, indomita ble energy, and other qualities of the high mas culine stamp which distinguish the British char acter. We take no exceptions to the vaunting style which the flash of recent success may prompt, and to some extent excuse. The pride which thus exalts itself will be likely to meet its rebuke and downfall in due time from the do mestic evils which its own career has generated and brought to the last degree of aggravation. While the external show of British power and grandeur is imposing to the eye—while the re sults of her system, as exhibited in the steady enlargement of her empire, give indications of energy and of resources astonishingly expansive, it cannot be concealed that each successive step in the progress of her aggrandizement has been attained at a most fearful cost—that her acquisi tions have been obtained not by temporary sacri fices which ceased in their oppressiveness as soon as made—but by desperate pledges which stand, stern and inexorable, for redemption, and which cannot be canceiled by the empty names of glory or the baubles of foreign conquest. Like a man plunging into all kinds of excitement to drive away the troubling consciousness of his private embarrassments which he knows must ultimate ly overwhelm him in ruin, the government of Great Britain is disturbing the ends of the earth for the sake of a temporary respite from the anx ious forebodings which its own internal affairs must create. But it was not so much to speak of these things as to refer to our own position in relation to this overgrown and still increasing nation, that we have alluded to the course of Great Britain. If it be humiliating to one obligations which it is difficult to redeem, how greatly is the poignancy of this unpleasant feeling increased when they are due to an arrogant creditor and a watchful rival! The pain of death to the Scottish cham pion was heightened by the consciousness that Earl Percy saw his fall. The following from the Montreal Comet is a specimen of the taunts and bitter insults to which we have subjected ourselves at the hands of those whose coarseness of spirit may prompt them to give their worst of thoughts the worst of words. * At no period in her history was the position of Eng land more imposing than at the present moment. The means she has at her disposal are so enormous—her moral and physical strength so far beyond what the world ever saw before, as to render her arms invinci ble. Wherever she concentrates her strength to strike a blow, the experience of the past assures us she will be triumphant; and wherever she is toiurephant the wisdom and justice of her policy confirm the sentence which placed the victory in her hands. The termination of the Chinese and Indian wars leaves England comparatively unoccupied, with a large military and naval force at her disposal. After fight ing the battles of the world in the East, it is a favora ble time for her to ask the question whether she has any quarrels of her own which require to be adjusted. * * + * + * Communities may become so corrupt as to render it absolutely necessary for the welfare of mankind that they should be punished with a strong arm. A spirit of licentiousness and immorality may have so affected a Government as to convert Its shdesmen into mere sharpers, and ie body of its people into pirates, fin gers, swindlers and robbers. Such a community and such a Government do we believe the United States to be at the present moment, and it becomes a very seri ous question whether, after the recent examples that have been afforded, Great Britain would not be doing a service to the world and justice to her own interests by taking a firm and decided stand against the insolent pretensions and most listonest practices of that Re public. = € * bs * From a“ shrewd,” * calculating,” “ smart”’ nation they have gradually grown worse and worse till hones ty has become a weakness, and the first merchants in the land figure as forgers, felons, and defaulters. Rome in its worst days never presented so loathsome as pwe ticle, and we do not hesitate to state it as our firm opinion that very little is required to render the Ameri can nation a nation of outlaws, whose hand is against every one and every one against them, and the Ameri can flag a piratical way supported by plunder and ra pine. 7 7 = This is one great proof of the i,famous character which attaches to the American government, and ren ders it necessary all Great Britain should hesitate before she throws away the advantage she now po ses to an army and navy flushed with victory, and eager to support the glory and homer of the British arms . There are, it is well known, other questions which are bing brought forward, and which the present is, we say, is time to arrange. In defiance of a treaty, and one more protest set up by the American people, Congress is encouraging the invasion of an important territory to the Northwest, known as the Oregon ter ritory.”’ Stytistics of the Methodist Episcopal Church.— According to the general inmates of the An nual Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church, for the past year, terminating with the Georgia Conference, it appears that the aggre gate membership of this denomination, including local, avelling and superannuated Preachers, amount to one million thirty-three thousand two hundred and sixty-four. Considering that this Church has been organ ized only about seventy-five years, it shows a tremendous increase of numbers. We subjoin the recapitulation of the several Conferences :—Saw. Republican. Trav. and Local Total. Preachers Alabama........ 34,516. 22222254. 422 Georgia BBs Local4 463 South Carolina... 55,580. .......... 356 Baltimore. .......- 60,370. .22 2.... 446 Philadelphia... .... 48,107..........381 New Jersey... 2... -25,964....022.... 2R4 New York. .--- BOGS eds actos 445 Bad eyed einicts 309 pounds see 160 BE. oh cee 5528S WDG1Sis aces eee 201 ee pee Beds 370 JA rjactanar: se aT bento fanfare abe 270 Solkhase's ep oee Oneida......- 26,139...........383 Michigan.....--.-. -..312 Red River Genesee_.....-.. ROW ca SRB TB wee das. Kentucky Illinois. ......-.--+ Ohio. .......... Missouri.....-.-- 20,612... Holston...-.--.--. 39.2 Tennesee......---- 32,176... 22,861.......-...2 Memphis. ...... BEAT Woic vee Virginia. .......-- 29,659... Arkansas. .......- P Mississippi. S88 Tews sells OXbS2 2 no one B96 5207. eet Libera Mission. . --- BBW tends 33 1,021,323 Trav. local Preachers 11,635 Superannuated do--. 301 11,635 Total. . 1,033,264 Revivals.—It is said that the additions to the Methodist church in this city, Covington, and neighboring places, is at least one thousand. [Cincinnati Chron. Wealth of the State of New York.—According to the Comptroller's Report, the valuation of real and personal estate in New York, and the sums levied for County and State taxes, are as follows : Total value of real estate, $504,254,029 00 Total value of personal estate, 116,595,223 00 Aggregate valuation, $620,849,262 00 Amount of county and state taxes, 3,283,400 00 Amount of town taxes, 963,087, 39 Aggregate of taxes, The state tax amounts to Amount of town and county th e number of acres of far whole state is 27,176,934 246,487 78 620,676 34 ixes $3,625,811 44 id assessed in the
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Milledgeville Southern Recorder
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