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Is THE House of Representatives of the United States. Washingtox, FehriLCiry 7, 1S43. Mr. Summers, one of the Representatives from the State of Virginia, rose, and addressed the House as follows : Mr. Speaker : I rise for the purpose of discharging aa office not connecte^d with the ordinary business of a legisla- tive 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 Kanawha coun- ty, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and one of my constit- uents, 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 valuable relics connected with the past history of our country, and with men whose achievements, both in the field and in the cabinet, best illus- trate and adorn our annals. One is the Sword worn by George Washington, first as a Colonel in the Colonial service of Virginia, in Forbes's campaign against the French and Indians, and afterwards during the whole period of the war of Independence as Com- mander-in-chief of the American army. It is a plain couteau, or hanger, with a green hilt and silver guard. On the upper ward of the scabbard is engraven, " J. 'Bailey, Fish Kill." It is accompanied by a buckskin belt, which is secured 'by a silver buckle and clasp, whereon are engraven the letters " G. W." and the figures " 1757.'* These are all of the plainest workmanship, but substantial^, and in keeping with the man and with the times to which they belonged. The history of this sword is perfectly authentic, and leaves no shadow of doubt as to its identity. The last will and tes- tament of General Washington, bearing date on the 9th day of February, 1799, contains, among a great variety of be- quests, the following clause : •'To each of my nephews, William Augu.siine Washington, George Lewis, " George Steptoe Washington, Bushrod Washington, and Samuel Washington, " I give one of the swords or couteaux of which I may die possessed; and they ♦* are to choose in the order they are named. These swords are accompanied *' with an injunction not to unshealh them for the purpose of shedding blood, ex- *' cept it be for self-defence, or in defence of their country and its rights ; and, •' in the latter case, to keep tlicm unsheathed, and prefer failing with them in " their hands to the relinquishment thereof." In the distribution of the swords hereby devised among the live nephews therein enumerated, 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 father of Samuel T. Wash- ington, the donor, I knew well. I have often seen this sword in his possession, and received from himself the follow- ing account of the manner in which it became his property in the division made among the devisees : He said that he knew it to have been the side-arm of Gen- eral Washington diu'ing the Revolutionary war ; not that used on occasions of parade and review, but the constant ser- vice sicord of the great cliief ; that he had himself seen Gen- eral WASHiNtiTON wear this identical sword, he presumed, for the JHSt time, when, in 1794, he reviewed the Virginia and Marylai d forces, then concentrated at Cumberland under the command of General Lee, and destined to co-operate with the Fenusylvania and New Jersey troops, then assembled at Bedford, in sup]ncssing what lias been called the '-Whiskey Insurrection." Gei eral Washington was then President of the United States, and as such was commander-in-chief of the army. It is known that it was his intention to lead the army in person upon that occasion iiad he foimd it necessary, and he went to Bedford and Cnmberland prepared for that event. The condiiion of things did not require it, and he returned to his civil duties at Philadelphia. " Mr. Samuel Washington held the commission of a cap- tain 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 pre- ferred it to all the others, among which was the ornamented and costly present from the great Frederick.^ At the time of the division among the nephews, without intimating what his preference was, he jocosely remarked, "that inasmuch as he was ihe onlj'' one of them then present 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 selection being awarded him, he chose this, the plainest, and, intrinsically, the least valuable of any, simply because it was the " Battle Sword." I am also in possession of the most satisfactory evidence^ furnished by Colonel George C. Washington, of Georgetown, the nearest male relative now living of General Washington, as to the identity of this sword. His information, as to its history, 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 Law- rence Lewis, the acting executor of General Washington's will — all of whom concurred in the statement that the true service siuord was that selected by Captain Samuel Wash- ington. It remained in this gentleman's possession until his death, esteemed by him the most precious memento of liis illustrious kinsman. It then became the property of his son, who, ani- mated by that patriotism which so characterized the " Father of his Country," has consented that such a relic ought not to be appropriated by an indivi^fe,! citizen, and has instructed' me, his representative, to offer it to the nation, to be preserv- ed in its public depositories as the common property of ally- since its oflice has been to achieve and secure the common liberty of all. He has, in like mdnner, requested me to present this Cane to the Congress of the United Spates, deeming it not unwor- thy the public acceptance. 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 diposed of : ** My fine crab-tree walking slick, 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, he has merited it, and would «« become it." General Washington, in his will, devises this cane as fol- lows : "Item. To my brother, Chaiiles Washixgtox, I give and bequeath the •' gold-beaded cane left me by Dr. Franklin in his will." Captain Samuel Washington was the only surviving son- of Charles Washington, the devisee from whom he derived, by inheritance, this interesting memorial ; and, having trans- mitted 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. I cordially concur with Mr. Washington in the opinion that they each merit public preservation ; and I obey, with pleasure, his wishes in here presenting them, in his name, to the nation. Let the sword of the Hero and the statf of the Philosopher go tog€ther. Let them have place among the proudest tro- phies and most honored memorials of our national achieve- ments. Upon that staff once leaned the sage, of whom it has beeu said, " He snatched the lightning from heaven, and the scep-^ tre from tyrants." / A mighty arm once wielded this sword in a righteous cause, even imto 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 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 dis- honor upon its blade ; it was never surrendered except to that country which bestowed it. y Mr. Summers, having concluded his address, delivered the Sword and Staff to the Sergeant-at-arms of the House, who bore them to the Speaker, the latter rising from his seat to re- ceive them. Mr. John Quincy Ada:ms, one of the Representatives from the State of Massachusetts, then addressed the House as fol- lows : In presenting the resolution which I hold in my hand to the House, it may perhaps be expected that I should accompany it with some remarks suitable to the occasion ; 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. My respected friend from Virginia, by whom this offering of patriotic senti- ment 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 sor- rowing 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. Tlic sword of WAsiiiNGToln Tlic stall of Franklin ! Oh, sir, what associations are Uiikcd in adamant with tliose names! Washington, the warrior of human freedom — Washington. Avhose sword, as my friend has said, was never drawn but in the cause of his countrj^, and never sheathed when needed in his country's cause ! Fuanklin, the philosopher of the thun- dcrboh, tlic 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, Avhose 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 ! Washington, the warrior and the legislator ! In War, contending by the wager of battle for the independence of his country,. and for the free- dom of the human race ; ever manifesting, amidst it horrors, by precept and example, his reverence for the laws of Peace, and for the tenderest sympathies of humanity : in Peace, soothing the ferocious spirit of discord, among his own country- men, into harmony and union, and giving to that very sword now presented to his country a charm more potent tlian that attributed in ancient times to the lyre of Orpheus. Franklin! the mechanic of his own fortune, teaching, in early youth, ^imder the shackles of indigence, the way to wealtli, and in the shade of obscurity the path to greatness; in tlie 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 peac§, the mercurial 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. And, finally, in the last stage of life, with four score winters upon his head, under the torture of an incurable disease, returning 9 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. May they be deposited among the archives of our Govern- ment! 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 con- tinuance of these blessings, by the dispensations of his Provi- dence, to our beloved country, from age to age, till Time shall be no more ! The resolution moved by Mr. Adams is as follows : "Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States "of America in Congress assembled. That the thanks of this Congress be pre- "sented to Samuel T. Washisgtox, of Kanawha county, Virginia, for the "present of the sword used by liis illustrious relative, Geouce Wasuixgtox, "in the military career of his early youth in the seven years' war and throughout " the war of the National Independence, and of the staff bequeatiied by the pa- " triot, statesman, and r^age, Besjamin Franklin, to the same leader of the "armies of Freedom in the Revolutionary war, George Washington. That "these precious rehcs aie hereby accepted in the name of the Nation; that they "be deposited for safe keeping in the Depaitment of State of the United States, "and that a copy of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and "the Speaker of the House of Representatives, be transmitted to the said Sam- •"uEL T. Washington." The said resolution was read ; and the question was put, Shall it pass ? And passed in the affirmative, unanimously. 10 It was then, on motion of JN^Taliaferro, Ordered, That the addresses of Mr. Summers and Mr. Adams be entered on the Journal; that the resolution be taken to the Senate by the Clerk, accompanied by the sword and staff, with a request that the Senate will concur in the said resolution. The House then adjourned until to-morrow. The following are the letters referred to in the address of Mr. Summers : Coal's Mouth, Kanawha Couxtt, (Va.,) January 9, 184?. Mr Dear Sir : With this you will receive the war sword of my grand uncle^ General George Washington, and the gold-headed cane bequeathed 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 calculated to keep in memory the character and services of those (wo illustrious founders of our republic. I am, with esteem, yours, SA.MUEL T. WASHINGTON. Hon. George W. Summers, House of Representatives. Georgetown, January .31, 1843. Dear Sir : I have before me your letter of the 30th instant, requesting me to give you any information in my possession in lelation to the sword placed in your hands by Mr. Samuel T. Washington, (alleged to have been the service sword ef General Washington during the revolutionary war,) and which he has in- structed you, in his name, to present to the Congress of the United States. General Washington, by his will, made disposition of his swords in the fol- lowing words: "To each of my nephews, William Augustine Washington, •' George Lewis, George Steptoe Washington, Bushrod Washingtox, '• and Samuel Washington, I give one of the swords, or couteaux, of which ♦' I may die possessed ; and they are to choose in the order they are named'. " These swords are accompanied with an injunction not to unshcath 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 them unsheathed, and " prefer falling with them in their Hands to the relinquishment thereof." 11 Two of these swords are in my possession, being devised to me, the one by my father, William Augustixe Washington, and the other by my uncle, the Jate Judge Bcsiirod 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 Sasicel Washington. My father was entitled to the first choice under the will, but was prevented by indisposition from attending at Mount Vernon when the distribution took place, and Judge Washington selected for him the most finished and costly sword, with which associations were connected highly complimentary to General Wash- ington ; but I often heard my father say that he would have preferred the sword selected by Colonel Samuel Washington, from the fact that it was used by the General during the revolutionarjf war. I have at different times heard similar statements as to this fact made by Colonel Samuel Washington, Judge Wash- ington, and Major Lawhence IjEwis, and am not aware that it has been ques- tioned 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 identity 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. A P P E N I) I X {At the request of gentlemen, tlie proceedings in the Senate Qn this subject are here ap[)€ii(lej. ] ly Senate of the United States, February 8, 1S43. A message from the House of Representatives, bv Mr. Clarke, their Clerk : Mr. President : The House of Representatives have passed a resolution presenting the thanks of Congress to Samuel T. Washington, for the service sword of George Washington and the staff of Benjamin Franklin ; in which they request the concurrence of the Senate. The sword and stafl' accom- pany the resolution. The Senate proceeded, by unanimous consent, to consider the resolution ; when Mr. Archer rose, and said that, as the grounds of a pro- ceeding sent from the other House of Congress to this, for con- currence, could not be assumed to be known necessarily, and the resolution before the Senate imparted a distinguished com- pliment to a native of his own State, he had been advised, and had yielded to the admonition, that a i^iw words from one ■of the Senators of Virginia might be regarded as not inappro- priate, and perhaps be expected, in explanation of the resolu- tion. It was known to every member of the Senate that General Washington, by his will, had bequeathed swords to five of his nephews. One of these swords, plain and the least valuable according to ordinary estimates of value, the gentleman to whom the first choice had been permitted had had the just taste to prefer, as that which his glorious ancestor 13 had invariably worn, in real service, from the period of earl7 \\ie, when he had, in the cause of his country, then in a colo-' nial condition, first commended himself to honor, and through the entire progress of that great conflict which had resulted in the establishment of our liberties and of his immortal renown. There was not room for a question that the weapon which had just been laid on the table of the President was the identical one to which these interesting associations attached. It might have been proper for him to have stated the evidences of this fact, but the task had already been discharged by his colleague and friend in the other House, who had yesterday, in fulfilling the office of presenting these relics to the nation, added another wreath to the honor of being selected for the function, by the chaste, appropriate, and beautiful address — in entire keeping with the simplicity of the memorial and of the character of its illustrious proprietor — with which he had gratified that body. There might be persons, Mr. Archer said, disposed to re- gard the reception of memorials so slight as a sword and a cane as not in keeping with the dignity of a Senatorial body. If such there were, he (Mr. A.) was not to be included in the number of them. The disposition he indulged was widely different. Nor was such the thought of our great precursors in the love and maintenance of liberty in the ancient Repub- lics. They had the practice, and regarded it as inestimable, of erecting statues to great departed worth. And why ? Could the reason be any other but the eflect to keep alive the principle of generous virtue, by presenting and keeping per- petually before the eyes the symbols of its authors ? Mr. Archer said that, for his own part, he thought that slighter memorials than statues and mausoleums were far more conducive to this effect, where they had appertained to the common use — been connected with the offices of service — shed a light on the peculiarities of temper or habitude or achievement of the persons to which they related. If this remark were Just, how applicable, above all others, to Wash- ington, and this symbol, his sword, the type in its simplicity of his character, in its office of his achievements ! Washing- r4 WON ! the only name requiring no eulogy, for the name itself comprehended all eulogy. It had heen said by one of the most eminent public men of the age, himself the subject of a Monarchy, (Lord Brougham,) that "of uninspired men Wash- ington was to be esteemed incomparably the greatest." Nor was this to be regarded as exaggerated praise, when it was recollected that greatness was to be measured, not by virtue only, but a combined consideration of its eflects; and this same consideration proved that no man great as Washington could perhaps now live. Men, not the inferiors of Washing- ton in virtue and in wisdom, might come into existence, but to the fullest development of grandeur of character, circum- stances must conspire, and form no unimportant part •, and no man could again be placed in circumstances such as marked the situation of Washington. Many men, 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 peculiarity of the position and office of Washington ? He was probably appointed, by the ordination 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-sus- taining fruit to all periods in succession. And Franklin, whose name Avas associated with Wash- ington's in the presentation of these 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 founder greater still ! Recent developments made it not improbable that the power of which Franklin liad been the first to bring us ac- quainted with its laws, was the one the most efficient and diffused 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 human vision I These were the men associated with the 15 relics now presented to us, and which, as emblems, these relics were appropriate to recall to memory whenever they were viewed ; to inspire admiration of the wisdom they had displayed, gratitude for the benefits they had rendered, vene- ration for the virtue which had adorned them I We had been accustomed to call these illustrious men ours. * But the time would come when they would equally be exalted as benefac- tors of human kind, as they had been ours, and their fame the property of their whole race. Dr. FuANKLiN, in the bequest of the cane to General Washtngton, which was now exhibited 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 deserved. It had been an expression, in the ceremonial offices which occurred on the death of Washington, 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 throned in the homage — in the admiration — no ! these did not convey the just phrase — in the boundless veneration of mankind ! Mr. Archer said he would no longer be the impediment to the expression of the acclaiming sentiment which he knew beat in the bosom of every Senator, to respond, even by the tribute of this humble resolution, to the great titles of Wash- ington and Franklin to our aifection, gratitude, and rever- ence. Mr. Archer having concluded, the question was put, and it v^as Resolved, unanimously. That the Senate concur in the resolution. On motion of Mr. Archer, the Senate then adjourned. \ 'c ^. '^ff < ^ *c c ^ c