Again at White Plains, 1778.* At Middlebrook, New Jersey, and New Windsor, 1779. * On the return of Washington to White Plains, after an absence of two years, he took occasion to contrast the two periods thus, writing, "The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligation." THE MOUNT VERNON TRIBUTE. Washington, THE DEFENDER OF HIS COUNTRY, THE FOUNDER OF LIBERTY, THE FRIEND OF MAN. HISTORY AND TRADITION ARE EXPLORED IN VAIN FOR A PARALLEL TO HIS CHARACTER. IN THE ANNALS OF MODERN GREATNESS, LOSE AND THE NOBLEST NAMES OF ANTIQUITY THEIR LUSTRE IN HIS PRESENCE. HE UNITED ALL THE QUALITIES NECESSARY NATURE MADE HIM GREAT; HE MADE HIMSELF VIRTUOUS. CALLED BY HIS COUNTRY TO THE DEFENCE OF HER LIBERTIES, HE TRIUMPHANTLY VINDICATED THE RIGHTS OF HUMANITY, AND ON THE PILLARS OF NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE LAID THE FOUNDATIONS OF A GREAT REPUBLIC. TWICE INVESTED WITH THE SUPREME MAGISTRACY, BY THE UNANIMOUS VOICE OF A FREE PEOPLE, HE SURPASSED IN THE CABINET THE GLORIES OF THE FIELD, AND VOLUNTARILY RESIGNING THE SCEPTRE AND THE SWORD, RETIRED TO THE SHADES OF PRIVATE LIFE. A SPECTACLE SO NEW AND SO SUBLIME WAS CONTEMPLATED WITH THE PROFOUNDEST ADMIRATION ;' AND THE NAME OF WASHINGTON, ADDING NEW LUSTRE TO HUMANITY, RESOUNDED TO THE REMOTEST REGIONS OF THE EARTH. GLORIOUS THROUGH LIFE, HIS HIGHEST AMBITION THE HAPPINESS OF MANKIND, The author of this inscription is not known. It has been transcribed from a manuscript copy written on the back of a picture-frame, in which is set a miniature likeness of Washington, and which hangs in one of the rooms of the mansion at Mount Vernon, where it was left some time after Washington's death. PART IV. MONUMENTAL MEMORIALS HONORED. INTRODUCTION. On the 1st of January, 1801, an appropriation was made of two hundred thousand dollars for the erection of a Washington Monument. An equestrian statue to his memory had been ordered on the 9th of August, 1783, and Major L'Enfant, a gallant French officer who had served under Washington, selected for a site the very place now occupied by the completed obelisk. Both projects were neglected until James Buchanan, then "a young man, something of a sophomore, with all the ardor of youth," as he described himself, appealed to Congress to redeem its pledge. In 1833, Chief-Justice John Marshall became president of "The Washington Monument Society," and President John Madison succeeded him. On the 3d of January, 1848, Congress secured the present grounds, of more than thirty acres; Mr. Robert Mills completed an accepted design; Mr. Thomas Symonton, of Baltimore, donated a massive corner-stone block, of more than twelve tons' weight, and on the 4th of July, following, the corner-stone was placed in position, with imposing ceremonies suited to the occasion. It was not until 1876 that Congress deliberately entered upon the completion of the monument, under the immediate direction of Colonel Thomas Lincoln Casey, of the United States Engineer Corps. Previously, the Bunker Hill and Groton Monuments had been the highest of American memorial structures. The Perry Monument was dedicated at Cleveland, Ohio, on the 10th of September, 1860; the State authorities of Rhode Island, the Providence Light Infantry and Marine Artillery (both historical organizations) acting as escort to survivors of the Perry family from New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, who, with the surviving sailors of Perry's fleet, attended the dedication ceremonies. Governor William Dennison and staff, of Ohio, Ex-Governor Salmon Portland Chase, the militia of the State, civic societies in great numbers, and public men from many States, participated. A sham battle on the lake, within near view from the bluffs, between vessels as nearly as possible similar to those that took part in the battle of Lake Erie, made the occasion memorable. The corner-stone of the Saratoga Monument was laid October 17, 1877; the Ancient Company of Governor's Foot Guards, of Hartford, Connecticut, and the Park Guards, of Bennington, Vermont, uniting with the New York National Guard, Knights Templar, and other civic orders in the ceremonies at Schuylerville. Governor Robinson was absent on account of illness. William L. Stone, Secretary of the Monument Association, delivered an historical address. Generals James Grant Wilson and J. Watts De Peyster, with others, as well as the orators of the day, took part. The corner-stone of the Monmouth Monument was laid June 28, 1878, at Freehold, New Jersey, Governor George B. Mc Clellan and staff, Ex-Governors Parker, Bedell, and Newell, the entire militia of the State, the Masonic Order, officially, and all the leading civic societies of New Jersey, being in attendance. The corner-stone ceremonies at Yorktown, Virginia, October 18, 1881, were officially endorsed by the United States, after an appropriation of one hundred thousand dollars for the monument and twenty thousand dollars for the contingent expenses of entertaining the guests of the nation. The President of the French republic; its army and navy; the families of Lafayette, Rochambeau, and of others who served with Washington; each of the States and Territories; the American army and navy; and the militia and benevolent societies of many States, were represented in the great military and civil pageant of the day. The initiative of the celebration was taken by Governor Frank W. M. Holliday, of Virginia, who called a meeting of the governors of the "Original Thirteen States," for October 18, 1879, at Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia, where arrangements were consum mated for the event; John Goode, of Virginia, President of the Yorktown Monument Association, lending his aid in the full development of the design. All the States invited were represented; and the Legislatures of other States made appropriations to secure proper representation. Vermont, the first State admitted to the Union under the Constitution, was also the first, by her Legislature, to provide for the presence of her governor and a fitting escort. The corner-stone of the Bennington Monument was laid August 17, 1887, at Bennington, Vermont; Governor Ebenezer J. Ormsbee and staff, Governor Charles H. Sawyer and Ex-Governor B. F. Prescott, of New Hampshire, Governor Oliver Ames, of Massachusetts, and large numbers from adjoining States, imparting spirit to the occasion, which called together delegations from every town in the Commonwealth, in addition to its militia and civic societies. The Fort Moultrie Centennial, June 28, 1876, was the occasion of a very earnest appeal to all the States to share the hospitality of Charleston and renew a common devotion to the republic. The Jasper Monument was dedicated at Savannah, Georgia, February 22, 1888, Governor John Brown Gordon and staff, Colonel J. H. Estill, Chairman of the Monument Association, Mayor Lester, and numerous military, civic, and benevolent associations, participating, as well as Federal and State authorities generally. The concurrent visit of the President of the United States, and a memorable Industrial Exposition, added dignity to patriotic observances which occupied three days. The Putnam Monument, erected by the State of Connecticut, was dedicated June 14, 1888, at Brooklyn, Windham County, where General Israel Putnam was buried, June 14, 1790. Governor Phineas C. Lounsbury, the Third Regiment of the Connecticut National Guard, the Putnam Phalanx, the First Ancient Company of Governor's Foot Guards, and military delegations from Boston, Providence, and New York, were present. The tablets on the monument bear the original inscriptions of Putnam's tombstone, which were written by President Timothy Dwight, of Yale College, grandfather of the present President Timothy Dwight, who offered prayer on the occasion. |