Washington and the American Republic Part 46

"If, sir, it had even not been usual openly to testify respect for the memory of those whom Heaven has selected as its instruments for dispensing good to man, yet such has been the uncommon worth and such the extraordinary incidents which have marked the life of him whose loss we all deplore, that the whole American nation, impelled by the same feelings, would call with one voice for a public manifestation of that sorrow which is so deep and so universal.

"More than any other individual, and as much as to one individual was possible, has he contributed to found this our wide-spreading empire, and to give to the western world independence and freedom.

"Having effected the great object for which he was placed at the head of our armies, we have seen him convert the sword into the ploughshare, and sink the soldier in the citizen.

"When the debility of our federal system had become manifest, and the bonds which connected this vast continent were dissolving, we have seen him the chief of those patriots who formed for us a const.i.tution, which, by preserving the Union, will, I trust, substantiate and perpetuate those blessings which our Revolution had promised to bestow.

"In obedience to the general voice of his country, calling him to preside over a great people, we have seen him once more quit the retirement he loved, and, in a season more stormy and tempestuous than war itself, with calm and wise determination pursue the true interests of the nation, and contribute, more than any other could contribute, to the establishment of that system of policy which will, I trust, yet preserve our peace, our honor, and our independence.

"Having been twice unanimously chosen the chief magistrate of a free people, we have seen him, at a time when his re-election with universal suffrage could not be doubted, afford to the world a rare instance of moderation, by withdrawing from his station to the peaceful walks of private life.

"However the public confidence may change, and the public affections fluctuate with respect to others, with respect to him they have, in war and in peace, in public and in private life, been as steady as his own firm mind, and as constant as his own exalted virtues.

"Let us, then, Mr. Speaker, pay the last tribute of respect and affection to our departed friend. Let the grand council of the nation display those sentiments which the nation feels. For this purpose I hold in my hand some resolutions, which I take the liberty of offering to the house.

"_Resolved_, That this house will wait on the president of the United States, in condolence of this national calamity.

"_Resolved_, That the speaker's chair be shrouded with black, and that the members and officers of the house wear mourning during the session.

"_Resolved_, That a joint committee of both houses be appointed, to report measures suitable to the occasion; and expressive of the profound sorrow with which Congress is penetrated on the loss of a citizen, first in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen."[144]

The house proceeded to appoint a committee of sixteen, with Marshall at their head, to act conjointly with a corresponding senate committee in carrying out the last resolution. A message was soon afterward received from the president, communicating a letter from Mr. Lear that announced the death of Was.h.i.+ngton. He sent the same to the senate; and that body, on the twenty-third, adopted an appropriate address to the executive, and received from him a response.[145]

The secretary of war issued an order on the nineteenth, requesting General Hamilton to carry into effect the directions of Congress concerning funeral honors to the commander-in-chief, and the wearing of c.r.a.pe in token of mourning. For that purpose, Hamilton issued general orders, prefaced by a most touching eulogy of the dead. "The voice of praise," he said, "would in vain endeavor to exalt a character unrivalled on the lists of true glory. Words would in vain attempt to give utterance to that profound and reverential grief which will penetrate every American bosom, and engage the sympathy of an admiring world."

The secretary of the navy also issued orders in accordance with the resolutions of Congress and the direction of the president. Vessels in domestic and foreign ports were ordered to "be put in mourning for one week, by wearing their colors half-mast high," and the officers and marines were directed to wear c.r.a.pe on the left arm for six months.

On the twenty-third, both houses of Congress adopted the following joint resolutions:--

"_Resolved_, by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America, in Congress a.s.sembled. That a marble monument be erected by the United States at the capitol of the city of Was.h.i.+ngton, and that the family of General Was.h.i.+ngton be requested to permit his body to be deposited under it; and that the monument be so designed as to commemorate the great events of his military and political life.

"_And be it further resolved_, That there be a funeral procession from Congress Hall to the German Lutheran church, in memory of General GEORGE WAs.h.i.+NGTON, on Thursday, the twenty-sixth instant, and that an oration be prepared, at the request of Congress, to be delivered before both houses that day; and that the president of the senate and speaker of the house of representatives be desired to request one of the members of Congress to prepare and deliver the same.

"_And be it further resolved_, That it be recommended to the people of the United States to wear c.r.a.pe on their left arm, as mourning, for thirty days.

"_And be it further resolved_, That the president of the United States be requested to direct a copy of these resolutions to be transmitted to Mrs. Was.h.i.+ngton, a.s.suring her of the profound respect Congress will ever bear for her person and character, of their condolence on the late afflicting dispensation of Providence; and entreating her a.s.sent to the interment of the remains of General Was.h.i.+ngton in the manner expressed in the first resolution.[146]

"_Resolved_, That the president of the United States be requested to issue his proclamation, notifying to the people throughout the United States the recommendation contained in the third resolution."

In accordance with the second of the foregoing resolutions. General Henry Lee, of Virginia, then a member of Congress, and one of the committee of sixteen, was invited to p.r.o.nounce the funeral oration. He was one of Was.h.i.+ngton's favorites. Throughout the war for independence, he had been admired and beloved by the commander-in-chief for his manly and soldierly qualities, and he had ever been a welcome guest at Mount Vernon.

The choice of orator was an appropriate one. Both houses of Congress went in a body to the German Lutheran church, in Fourth street, above Arch, to listen to the oration.[147] A vast concourse of citizens was also in attendance; and the M'Pherson Blues, a corps of about three hundred young men, mostly from the best families of Philadelphia, attended as a guard of honor on that occasion. Only six of that corps are known to be alive at this time.[148]

On the thirtieth of December, the Congress resolved "that it be recommended to the people of the United States to a.s.semble on the twenty-second day of February next, in such numbers and manner as may be convenient, publicly to testify their grief for the death of General GEORGE WAs.h.i.+NGTON, by suitable eulogies, orations, and discourses, or by public prayers."

The president was requested to issue his proclamation in accordance with this resolution, which he did on the sixth of January; and the birthday of the ill.u.s.trious Was.h.i.+ngton, usually celebrated with gayety and festivity, was made, in the year 1800, an occasion of funeral solemnities.

The death of Was.h.i.+ngton produced a profound sensation in Europe. The English newspapers were filled with eulogies on his character. On hearing of his death, Lord Bridport, who was in command of a British fleet of almost sixty sail, at Torbay, on the coast of Devon, ordered every s.h.i.+p to lower her flag to half-mast; and Bonaparte, then First Consul of France, announced his death to his army, and ordered black c.r.a.pe to be suspended from all the flags and standards in the French service for ten days. In Paris, the citizens showed many demonstrations of respect; and on the "20th Pluviose" (eighth of February, 1800), Louis de Fontanes p.r.o.nounced an impa.s.sioned funeral oration in his honor, in the Temple of Mars.[149]

FOOTNOTES:

[138] In a letter to General Hamilton, written a month afterward, Mr.

Lear says: "To Judge Was.h.i.+ngton the general left by will all his public and private papers. A few hours before his death he observed to him--'I am about to change the scene. I can not last long. I believed from the first the attack would be fatal. Do you arrange all my papers and accounts, as you know more about these things than any one else.'"--_Works of Hamilton_, vi. 424. There must have been a change of the word _me_ to _him_, in transcribing this letter for the press, because in no account is the judge mentioned as having been present during Was.h.i.+ngton's last sickness.

[139] Mrs. Was.h.i.+ngton died at Mount Vernon, on the twenty-second of May, 1802, in the seventy-first year of her age.

[140] A picture of the room in which Was.h.i.+ngton died, and the bed on which he expired, may be seen in Lossing's _Mount Vernon and its a.s.sociations_.

[141] Custis's Recollections, &c., p. 477.

[142] At the head of the coffin was placed an ornament, inscribed SURGE AD JUDIc.u.m. At about the middle were the words GLORIA DEO; and upon a silver plate was the record--

GENERAL

GEORGE WAs.h.i.+NGTON,

DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE 14TH DECEMBER,

1799, aeT. 68.

The coffin was lined with lead: and upon a cover of the same material, to be put on after the coffin was laid in the vault, was a silver s.h.i.+eld, nearly three inches in length, inscribed--

GEORGE WAs.h.i.+NGTON,

BORN FEB. 22, 1732.

DIED DECEMBER 14, 1799.

[143] _Mount Vernon and its a.s.sociations._

[144] These resolutions were drawn by General Henry Lee, who was not present at the time.

[145] The following is a copy of the senate's address, and the president's reply:--

_To the President of the United States:_

"The senate of the United States respectfully take leave, sir, to express to you their deep regret for the loss their country sustains in the death of General George Was.h.i.+ngton. This event, so distressing to all our fellow-citizens, must be peculiarly heavy to you, who have long been a.s.sociated with him in deeds of patriotism.

Permit us, sir, to mingle our tears with yours.

"On this occasion it is manly to weep. To lose such a man, at such a crisis, is no common calamity to the world. Our country mourns a father. The Almighty Disposer of human events has taken from us our greatest benefactor and ornament. It becomes us to submit with reverence to him 'who maketh darkness his pavilion.'

"With patriotic pride we review the life of our Was.h.i.+ngton, and compare him with those of other countries who have been pre-eminent in fame. Ancient and modern times are diminished before him.

Greatness and guilt have too often been allied; but his fame is whiter than it is brilliant. The destroyers of nations stood abashed at the majesty of his virtues. It reproved the intemperance of their ambition, and darkened the splendor of victory. The scene is closed, and we are no longer anxious lest misfortune should sully his glory. He has travelled on to the end of his journey, and carried with him an increasing weight of honor; he has deposited it safely, where misfortune can not tarnish it, where malice can not blast it. Favored of Heaven, he departed without exhibiting the weakness of humanity. Magnanimous in death, the darkness of the grave could not obscure his brightness.

"Such was the man whom we deplore. Thanks to G.o.d, his glory is consummated! Was.h.i.+ngton yet lives on earth in his spotless example; his spirit is in heaven.

"Let his countrymen consecrate the memory of the heroic general, the patriotic statesman, and the virtuous sage. Let them teach their children never to forget that the fruits of his labors and his example are their inheritance."