H. OF R.] Washington's Remains. [FEB. 13, 1832. We must, with deep and anxious regret, have perceived place. No man could be better qualified rightly to conthat Virginia prefers her separate and exclusive claim to strue such an instrument than the late Judge Washington. these venerated remains. It will never be forgotten that From a conscientious regard to the dictates of duty, that Washington was a son of that distinguished State. Is not gentleman had refused permission to have the remains this honor enough to fill the ambition of any people, of any disturbed; and such were the principles of George Washregion of our earth? Why so avaricious of his glory, ington himself, that Mr. C. was satisfied his relative did which, like that of the sun, falls with no diminished bright- but speak what he would himself have desired. ness on one region, because it shines on a thousand others? Mr. C. appealed to every gentleman on that floor, who She needs it not. She will still have sons enough warmed held dear the land that gave him birth, and which had with noble ambition, to perfect and preserve the fabric of long been his residence, to say whether, if asked where her glory. Washington was born and lived for his coun- his remains should be deposited, his answer would not try. Let the mighty base of his fame extend to his coun- be, deposite them among my native trees, amidst the try, his united country, and to every part of it. Then shall scenes of my early remembrance, on the spot where the the young and the aspiring, in every region of our land, bones of my ancestors were laid. Mr. C. said he reand throughout all after generations, no matter whether of membered the time when he had been afflicted with danhumble or elevated origin, read the history of the great gerous illness, and when he had been deeply indebted to and the good; here they shall see by what monumental the presiding officer whom he addressed, and who was at honors his country has consecrated his name; and thus he, that time his messmate, for those assiduous attentions who lived the most perfect man of one age, shall become which had greatly contributed to his recovery. He had the great and enduring model for all future time. at that time been brought to reflect that he was himself Let me, then, in behalf of our common country, im-mortal: he had often witnessed the pageantry of a conplore Virginia, and the distinguished sons of Virginia, gressional funeral: he had seen in the public burying now in this Hall, to look to a consummation of the great ground the tombs of many who had once occupied a place arrangement of 1799. I do entreat them now to recol- on that floor, and he knew that, should his sickness have a lect, and regard the unanimity of a no less distinguished fatal termination, the same mark of respect would be paid delegation than as worthy of all imitation. Let Virginia, to himself. But what, under such circumstances, had been "the fruitful mother of herocs and statesmen," not dis- his secret feelings? If there was one wish, which regard the memory of her most illustrious matron, who, above all others predominated in his breast, it was that at the call of her country, surrendered her own indivi- he might be permitted by God to die at home, and be dual and peculiar affection to the feelings of a glorious buried in that grave yard which was associated with his patriotism. most tender recollections. Could gentlemen believe that the burial place at Mount Vernon had not been equally dear to the heart of Washington? Surely not. No. Could the spirit of the departed patriot witness the discussion which was then going on in that Hall, sure he was that its sentence would be--let my mortal remains continue undisturbed where they were deposited by my family. At first, I confess it did appear to me that there might be something, in the removal of these remains, inappropriate to a birthday celebration. It is not so. These two days, that of his birth, and that of this celebration, are separated by the whole duration of a hundred years. Between these two points, what a tide of events has rolled over the world! When the eye of recollection looks back Mr. CAMBRELENG, of New York, said that, when towards that birthday morning, what a succession of bene- this measure had been proposed in the committee of fits, blessings, glories, seem to have been lighted up by twenty-four, he had regretted it, because he well knew that auspicious sun! Our independence, institutions, Go- that it would lead to such a debate as had taken place. vernment, with all their concomitant excellencies, we be- But having now had the debate, since it could not be hold; and in all, the mighty agency of Washington! He avoided, he felt, although he had voted for the measure, seems to stand on earth among us, in the midst of his that were he in the situation of the gentlemen from Virachievements, to receive our gratitude, and to witness his ginia, he should, like them, struggle to the last against it. own fame. Nothing, unless we carry in procession these Great consideration was certainly due to the feelings of mouldering remains, can bring us back to a perception of those gentlemen. If the House were now passing a resoour common allotment, and teach us to realize his and lution, the effect of which would be to remove the reour own mortality. In the midst of our gratulations that mains of John Hancock from their resting place in Boston, such a man was born, we shall have before our eyes the was there a single member from Massachusetts who would memorial that such a man has died; and the joys of this not rise in his place and oppose it? Would the people of centennial birthday shall be chastened by those teach- Boston suffer it? Would they endure the thought for a ings of wisdom which remind us that no human life, no moment? They would not. He considered the present sublunary good, can endure forever. as a noble struggle, as well on the part of the members Let us then be permitted to hope that this nation may from Virginia, as on that of the House. He thought now, at last, discharge its high obligation to that venerat- there was a measure by which the purposes of both might ed family, by doing appropriate honors to the remains of be accomplished, and in a better way than that now prothis most illustrious man; so that, hereafter, the filial piety posed-a measure which would save the high feelings of no son or daughter of America may be agitated with and the proud rights of Virginia, and at the same time do the anxious fear that some felonious hand may violate the justice to the patriotic wishes of gentlemen on the other sanctuary of his tomb, and give to a foreign land the side. The debate had taken place. The House had had glory of being the mausoleum of Washington. a full discussion on the subject of a monument. Let them Mr. CARSON, of North Carolina, said that he had been then resolve at once to erect it. He cared not whether a member of the House during six successive sessions, in it was on the spot where the remains of Washington now the course of which time he had heard many subjects de- slept, or on some wild and lonely heath, where it might bated, which had caused him deep regret, but never any stand as much alone as Washington had done among his which had given more serious affliction than that which fellow-men. There let it remain a monument to all manhe now witnessed. He had hoped that the House would kind, a place for the pilgrimage of patriots of all nations have been spared such a debate, and the nation such a-a second Mecca. disreputable contest. If the will of Washington should be attentively read, it seemed to him that there could be but one unanimous voice for permitting his remains to lie undisturbed where he had himself designated their resting Mr. C. then proposed an amendment to the resolution appropriating $200,000 for the erection of a monument over the tomb at Mount Vernon. Mr. ROOT observed that at so late an hour it was very FEB. 13, 1832.] Washington's Remains. [H. OF R. unpleasant to address a House which he knew to be im-grief, and make this holy ground, by putting in it the patient. He had endeavored to get the floor earlier, precious mortality of Washington. but younger and nimbler men had been beforehand with But Virginia, by a majority of her representatives in him. He should not detain the House on the general sub- this House, objects and protests in language tender, pasject of the fitness of removing, at the instance of the nation's sionate, and imploring. We respect the feelings of her representatives, the mortal remains of the Chief of the sons--admit it to be natural that her people shall be sornation, and, he might say, of the world. His objection to rowful in parting with the remains of our nation's chief; the measure was on a different ground from any which but it will be a mournful sorrow not unmingled with this had been stated. It related to the unfitness of the oc- great consolatory pride, that the claims which the nativity casion. It appeared incongruous to him to propose the of Washington gave to Virginia were cancelled by Proremoval of the remains of Washington upon his natal day, vidence having raised him to be the father of his country. when through every city, every town, village, and hamlet Does the accident of his birth, honorable as it is to Virof this extended country, they were celebrating the re-ginia, reflect upon her alone his glory? Had Virginia a turn of the day as a joyful occasion, by military and civic stronger agency in the mighty incidents of our revoluballs and fetes. It was proposed, that while the nation was tion and present confederacy, which made Washington glad, their representatives should be clothed in the ha- illustrious, without a rival, than the other States of this biliments of wo, and should march in slow procession to Union? Do her people revere his memory more than do the sepulchre. Thus, while they were preparing mourn the rest of America? And if not, why yield to one State ful obsequies, through all other parts of the country the exclusive honor of keeping those relics, which are the their fellow-citizens would be threading the mazy dance. property of all, and which may find a burial place in the Whilst others were pledging their mutual joy amidst the common domain of the nation? Sir, the remains of Washroar of a hundred cannon, here nothing would be heard ington belong to this nation, by all those associations which but the solemn sound of minute guns, in mournful echoes identify him with its existence as a united people--they from the surrounding hills. The natal day of the belong to it, by the contract made by our predecessors with Saviour of the world was celebrated as a joyous anniver- Washington's venerable consort, whose feelings of sorrow sary. His disciples greeted each other with gladness, did not permit her griefs and affections to obscure her judgand the harp added its melody to that of human voices, to ment of what was her duty to her country. The time, the give expression to the feelings of rejoicing. And was appropriate time, has come for us to redeem the oblinot this held to be a suitable observance? But the committee propose to introduce the services of Good Friday upon Christmas morn. The thing was so revolting to all his notions of propriety, that he must be excused from voting in favor of the resolution. gation which this nation imposed upon itself by that contract. If not done now, a national reproach for violated faith, given almost over the unburied body of its father, will remain for another century. Let Virginia's representatives here then yield their opposition to our intenheart of one of her children, all, all of her sons will be consoled by the reflection, that the remains of Washington were torn from Virginia soil by the violence of a nation's reverence, and for a nation's good. Mr. WAYNE, of Georgia, regretted that the gentle-tions; and if its execution shall give one pang to the man from New York [Mr. CAMBRELENG] had proposed an amendment to the resolution under discussion, which was calculated to cause a debate more extended and of a very different kind from that which we have heard. He hoped the amendment would be withdrawn. Any pro- Gentlemen, too, in the warmth of debate, have spoken position to take from the treasury, at this crisis of our of disturbing his grave--of sacrilege, and of the unsuitahistory, a large sum for any purpose other than national bleness of all pomp and pageantry in honor of Washingexigencies may absolutely require, must be met by dif- ton. They do injustice to the feelings of those who ferences of opinion, even between those who would be reported and those who advocate the resolution. Disturb happy to unite with the gentleman at a proper time to the grave! Sacrilege! When before has been, or can do what he proposes. Besides, sir, there will be a divided again such pious sacrilege be done! Pomp and pageantry! sentiment here, and among the people of this Union, if We seek, sir, in the modest manner of the country, withthe remains of Washington shall be interred at the base out other retinue than a voluntary assemblage of our citi of this capitol--whether it will not be his most splendid zens, and without any of the preparations or attendants of and appropriate mausoleum. Other honors may be paid an European spectacle, to take from the tenement of the to his memory-our hearts may pour out testimonials of dead its most precious remains, and to lay them in the veneration for the man; but all that may hereafter be done sepulchre already prepared for them by the consent of the by genius and art, either in admiration of his virtues or people of this nation. Our pomp will be the heaving gratitude for his services, even though we should raise a hearts of a multitude witnessing the ceremony, without thousand cenotaphs, in rivalry of the pyramids, will excite distinction of persons--the pageantry, a free people, inweak impressions compared with the emotions with which dulging in all the glorious reminiscences of our revolution. all hearts will heave, if this edifice of our republic shall Nor, sir, do I regret, as other gentlemen have done, be made his tomb. Our veneration asks for no empty that this debate has been had. Ours has been a filial conmonument, but it pleads for his ashes, that, resting in this tention concerning the most appropriate honors to be paid building, they may even now, at this moment, still into to the memory of our greatest benefactor, and how it quiet those jarring sectional discontents, hovering over might be done to produce the greatest national benefit. the harmony of this Union, which his spirit foresaw, and Differences of opinion were to have been expected upon so tenderly rebuked in his last legacy to his children. such a subject; but how beautiful has been the harmony Here, sir, here, where the representatives of millions now, in the intense devotion of every speaker to the dead, and and millions to be born, shall meet for ages to come, to though composed of different materials, the monument to legislate in the spirit of freedom for freemen, free institu- his memory, made by this day's discussion, shall go to the tions, and free States, is the proper covering for the ashes world and to posterity, as another proof that Americans of our great patriot, warrior, and sage; the honored se- are not ungrateful, and have not degenerated from the pulchre was prepared by the hands of those who marked virtues of their ancestors. upon the earth the heart's sorrow of a nation for his death; Mr. COLLIER, of New York, expressed his sorrow his remains are ours by the gift of her who only had a that, upon a subject in which, of all others, it was most right to bestow them upon her country, and can never be desirable that the House should be unanimous, there recalled by her successors. Let us, therefore, redeem the should have been manifested so great a diversity of sentipledge given to the world, in the first moments of our ment. He considered the want of unanimity as presenting H. OF R.] Washington's Remains. [FEB. 13, 1832. of itself a sufficient reason why the resolution ought what an engine of appeal to avert their worst effects! On not to pass. But he had an additional objection. The another continent, a great and venerable patriot, who had feelings of Virginia had been strongly manifested in op- devoted his life in warfare for the liberty of his country, position to the measure, (for the House was bound to pre-directed his skin at his decease to be made into a drum sume that the gentlemen from that State spoke the voice to arouse his countrymen in the same cause. Like this of Virginia,) and he thought those feelings ought to be was the spirit which animated Washington. If he had any regarded. It was surely an ill compliment to the memory election or wish as regarded the disposal of his remains, of Washington to insist upon removing his remains against he would have been prompt to renounce it for the least the strongest wishes of a majority of the citizens of his prospect of benefit to his country. In this confidence, own State. Besides, there was a sanctity about the name he [Mr. A.] should vote, in the belief that he manifested of Mount Vernon, which he did not feel himself at liberty the truest homage, in fulfilling what would have been the to violate. It was impossible to transfer the same associa- first wish of Washington's own great heart, that, as his tions to any other spot. In addition to this, Mr. C. denied life had been devoted to his country, so his body might be the right of Congress to meddle with those remains. The useful to it in death. last will of the departed hero presented a conclusive ob- Mr. CAMBRELENG said that he felt entirely indifferjection. The place where his ashes reposed was sacred ent on what spot a monument should be erected to Washground: he might say, it was hallowed ground. Were ington. He had offered his amendment in the hope of gentlemen prepared to invade the sanctity of the tomb? attaining to greater unanimity; but as, from the few reWho, he asked, would be willing to be the first to open marks which had since been offered, he was led to apthe door of the sepulchre, and separate the body of Wash- prehend that such would not be the result, he had conington from his kindred? He put it to each member of cluded to withdraw it. But while he did so, he gave the the House to answer whether he would be the first to do House distinctly to understand that he should bring it this-whether he would not shrink back in conscious hor- forward as a distinct proposition at some other time. ror at such a task. Mr. C. concluded that if there was Mr. CLAY, of Alabama, said he had been one of the no measure in which the House could concur with perfect committee of twenty-four, and that when this proposition unanimity, it was better they should do nothing. had been introduced there, the present difficulty had been Mr. ADAMS, of Massachusetts, rose to make a single distinctly anticipated. If any thing was to be deprecated, observation, and that only in consequence of an objection it was a diversity of opinion, and every thing like controwhich he considered as really the strongest which had versy, on such a subject. Respect ought to be paid to the been urged, and which had been repeated in several opinions and feelings of others, and he for one could not quarters of the House. It was, that the execution of this consent to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the resolve would be a violation of the will of George Wash- birthday of Washington in a manner openly at war with ington himself. Mr. A. said, that could he consider it as the wishes of Washington's own State. He should thereany violation of that will, anxiously as he desired that the fore be compelled to vote against the resolution. resolution might pass, he should himself vote against it. Mr. HOWARD, of Maryland, said, that having been a But General Washington, at the time he was making the member of the committee who brought in this resolution, disposition of his body, had not, and could not have the and voted for its introduction, he had listened with great question before him, which was now under discussion in interest to the various opinions expressed. If he could that House. Was it for him to provide for the erection have thought that the proposed ceremony would have of his own monument? Did it comport with his charac- been viewed as idle pageantry, nothing would have been ter to resist the wishes of his universal country? Such more revolting to his feelings than to have been instruwas not the character of his mind. Approaching the end mental in its creation. But he thought differently. No of life, it became a part of his duty to dispose of his body. spectacle ever exhibited in this nation would awaken more It was true he had apprehended that there would be some profound feelings of respect for the mighty dead, or a attempt at ceremony, that some oration might be propos- more lively thrill of patriotic ardor, than that of a whole ed at his funeral, and his natural modesty led him to object nation performing a pilgrimage to the hallowed tomb, and to it. He made the usual provision for his interment. with filial reverence removing the ashes of WashingWhat else could he have done? But had the idea been ton to their appropriate resting place. The idea that we presented to his mind, of thirteen millions of freemen were removing the remains of that illustrious man, would uniting to perform an act of veneration, such as was now of itself banish every idle thought. To illustrate this, proposed, it was not to be believed that he would have he begged leave to relate an historical anecdote. When made any provision in his will to prevent it. He would the British fleet was passing up the Potomac during the have left this, as he did all other things respecting himself, late war, with hostile intent, the commander directed that to the decision of his country. And if, said Mr. A., from that place in the skies, where I firmly believe he now abides, he were capable of looking down upon us, I am confident he would be gratified by the execution of this resolve. when he arrived opposite to Mount Vernon he should be informed of the fact. When he was told that his ship was passing the tomb of Washington, the officers assembled upon deck, and passed by uncovered and in silence. With what feelings, then, he would ask, must an American approach that tomb, or witness the removal of those remains? Mr. ARCHER, of Virginia, like the gentleman who had preceded him, [Mr. ADAMS,] rose to express a single thought. From some of his colleagues, with whom he was most in the habit of acting, with regret he found him- It had been asked why the committee did not agree self differing in opinion. It was this which would induce upon some measure that would have met with the conhis momentary trespass on the House. He should vote currence of all. They might have done so, it is true, if against the amendment, and for the resolution. He had a they had stopped with the two first branches of their prosingle reason. His colleague had expressed the opinion position, viz. an adjournment of the Houses, and perthat the deposite of the remains of Washington here formance of divine service in the capitol; but then they would be a cement to union, from its appeasing influence would have stopped very far short of conformity with the on the distractions of excitement. The opinion had been feelings of the nation. It had been remarked by one stated perhaps too strongly. In his [Mr. A.'s] judgment, deeply read in philosophical history, that, from the first however, it was not without justice. Almost in the images of the world, the records of all time furnished only mediate presence of this awe-inspiring deposite, the ut-two instances of birthdays being commemorated after the most fury and tempest of excitement must stand in some death of the individual: those two were the 22d of Fedegree subdued, In the hands of a powerful orator, [bruary and the 25th of December. The observation FEB. 14, 1832.] Portrait of Washington.-Statue of Washington.--Washington's Remains. [H. OF R. was correct, and the fact exhibited an honorable evidence of Washington, to be placed in the centre of the rotundo of the depth of feeling that was impressed upon the of the capitol; the head to be a copy of Houdon's WashAmerican nation. In many parts of the country prepa- ington, and the accessories to be left to the judgment of rations were making for the solemn observance of the ap- the artist. proaching anniversary, and he, for one, would contribute all in his power to add to a feeling which, originating in respect to the memory of an individual, would terminate in enlarged patriotism. He would vote, therefore, for the resolution, here as he had done in the committee. WASHINGTON'S REMAINS. Mr. ADAIR moved the following resolution: Resolved, That the President of the United States, the Secretaries of State, of the Treasury, of War, and of the Navy, and the Postmaster General, be invited to attend at the ceremonies to be performed on the 22d of February instant, in honor of the memory of George Washington; and that the President be requested to superintend the deposite of the remains of the deceased in the place which has been selected for that purpose. After a few additional observations from Mr. McCOY, of Virginia, the question was taken on the resolutions, and decided in the affirmative, yeas 109, nays 76, as follows: YEAS.--Messrs. Adams, Chilton Allan, Anderson, Appleton, Archer, Armstrong, Arnold, Ashley, Babcock, Banks, N. Barber, Barringer, I. C. Bates, Beardsley, Bell, Boon, Briggs, John C. Brodhead, Bucher, Bullard, Burd, Mr. THOMAS observed that the gentleman had not Burges, Cahoon, Cambreleng, Choate, Condict, Condit, yesterday been in the House, having been detained from Conner, Eleutheros Cooke, Bates Cooke, Corwin, Coul- it by indisposition, and was not probably aware that the ter, Craig, Crane, Crawford, Creighton, John Davis, arrangement proposed in his resolution was already within Dearborn, Denny, Dickson, Doddridge, Drayton, Ells- the power of the President of the Senate and Speaker of worth, George Evans, Edward Everett, Fitzgerald, Gil- the House, who had been entrusted with a discretion as to more, Grennell, Harper, Heister, Hodges, Hogan, Hol- the details of the removal of the remains. There could land, Howard, Hughes, Hunt, Huntington, Ihrie, Inger- not be a doubt that those gentlemen would adopt a course soll, Jarvis, Richard M. Johnson, Kavanagh, Kendall, similar to that now proposed; and therefore it would be Henry King, Kerr, Leavitt, Letcher, Marshall, McKen- unnecessary and improper to pass a separate resolution on nan, Mercer, Milligan, Thomas R. Mitchell, Muhlenberg, the subject. Newton, Pearce, Pendleton, Potts, John Reed, Russel, Mr. ADAIR, considering it more respectful to adopt William B. Shepard, Slade, Smith, Southard, Spence, the course he had designated, insisted on the propriety of Stanberry, Stephens, Stewart, Sutherland, Taylor, Fran- the resolution. cis Thomas, Philemon Thomas, Tompkins, Tracy, Vance, Mr. ADAMS concurred in the sentiment expressed by NAYS.-Messrs. Alexander, Robert Allen, Angel, John So the House concurred with the joint committee in their report and resolutions. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14. PORTRAIT OF WASHINGTON. Mr. THOMAS said he withdrew all objections to it. Mr. THOMAS accepted the modification; whereupon, Mr. JARVIS, from the Committee on the Public Build-adding the name of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, which ings, reported the following resolution, the consideration of which was postponed until to-morrow: was accepted in like manner. Resolved, That the Clerk of this House be directed to limits of the resolution still further, and include the name Mr. ADAMS thought it might be proper to extend the employ John Vanderlyn, of New York, to paint a full of James Madison. He was not sure that it would be in length portrait of Washington, to be placed in the Hall the power of Mr. Madison to comply with the invitation; of Representatives opposite to the portrait of Lafayette; but, as the House was about to do honor to itself and to the head to be a copy of Stuart's Washington, and the the nation, it was a mark of respect due to this distinaccessories to be left to the judgment of the artist; and guished citizen, to include him among those specially that the sum of one thousand dollars be appropriated from invited by its authority. the contingent fund of the House, for the purpose of carrying this resolution into effect. STATUE OF WASHINGTON. Mr. CARSON inquired whether it would not be proper, before inviting these individuals, to have a distinct understanding whether the survivor and heir of General Washington would consent to the removal of his body. Mr. JARVIS, from the same committee, reported the following resolution, which laid one day for consideration: The CHAIR stated, in reply to this inquiry, that letters Resolved, That the President of the United States be had been written that morning by the presiding officer of authorized to employ Horatio Greenough, of Massachu- the Senate and himself, to ascertain whether such consent setts, to execute, in marble, a full length pedestrian statue would be given. VOL. VIII.-114 H. OF R.] Mrs. Washington's Remains. [FEB. 14, 1832. Mr. ELLSWORTH thought there was no need of wait- A desultory debate now arose. ing on that account, since the fact itself, that such invita- Mr. BELL, one of the committee of twenty-four, stated tions had been given, might have an effect in rendering the express understanding of that committee that the the survivor of the Washington family the more willing to remains of Mrs. Washington should accompany those of consent to the removal. her husband. Mr. E. EVERETT observed that the specification of certain individuals in this resolution might be supposed as intended to exclude all other persons. To prevent this, he thought it would be proper to give a discretion to the presiding officers, by the addition of some such clause as this," together with such other persons as the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House may think proper." Mr. DRAYTON said that he understood such a discretion to have been already vested by the resolution formerly passed. Mr. KERR suggested that it would be more proper to specify the relatives of the family. Mr. WICKLIFFE, another member of the committee, confirmed this statement, and thought that part of the arrangements had best be left to the presiding officers. Mr. MERCER, though he would have been contented with such a reference, thought, as the resolution had been brought forward, it ought to be adopted. Mr. GRENNELL thought so too, but still hoped the mover would consent to withdraw it. He Mr. ADAMS hoped the resolution would pass. confirmed the statement as to the understanding in the committee, and expressed his hope that, as the committee had been perfectly unanimous on this point, the House would be so likewise. The same reasons which had in Mr. EVERETT thought it would, and moved it accord-duced him to vote in favor of the former resolution, iningly. Mr. ADAIR accepted the modification. Mr. CAMBRELENG said that he hoped he should not, in the motion he was about to make, violate the obligations of decorum, or be considered wanting in delicacy, when he suggested the propriety of extending the invitation in the resolution to the late President of the United States. Mr. ADAIR made some remarks in reply, but in so feeble a voice, that not one word could be heard. Mr. ADAMS said, that while he was grateful to the gentleman from New York for the motion which he had made, he must be permitted to request that he would withdraw it. He was sufficiently honored in the fact that such an invitation had been proposed; whatever he might have been, he held at present what he considered the most honorable station that could be conferred on him as one of the representatives of the people of the United States. He repeated his request that the motion might be withdrawn; whereupon, clined him to support this, that respect might be shown, first to the illustrious individual himself, and then to all that surrounded and was most dear to him. Mr. CRAWFORD thought the resolution ought to pass, as it would remove all doubt from the minds of the presiding officers as to the extent of their authority and duty. Mr. ARNOLD was not opposed to the object of the resolution, but strongly in favor of it; yet he thought it ought to be incorporated in the same resolution which referred to the body of General Washington; that object, he hoped, might yet be effected by a reconsideration. Mr. ADAMS observed, in reply, that the former resolution only went to carry into effect the resolve of Congress in 1799, and therefore it would be improper to include in it a reference to the remains of Mrs. Washington. Mr. ARNOLD, hoping that if the former resolution were reconsidered, not only the second would be included, but that a unanimous vote might be obtained in favor of both, moved the reconsideration accordingly. As the resolution had not been sent to the Senate, the Mr. CAMBRELENG said that if such was the gentle-motion was entertained by the Chair. man's wish, he should withdraw the motion, and he withdrew it accordingly. The resolution, as modified, was then agreed to. MRS. WASHINGTON'S REMAINS. Mr. THOMAS opposed the motion to reconsider as being not only needless, but improper. The two resolutions ought not to be blended, but very properly followed each other. Mr. BATES, of Maine, said that when the subject of of what passed in the committee of twenty-four, answered Mr. THOMPSON, of Georgia, after some explanation removing the remains of Washington had yesterday been the gentleman from Tennessee, [Mr. ARNOLD,] that he under discussion, such had been his feelings that he could not have spoken one word. He had felt as if it was wrong He for one should vote to-day as he had voted yesterday, was mistaken, if he expected to obtain a unanimous vote. to remove those relics; and one of the strongest objections and for the same reasons. in his mind was the idea of separating the dust of Washington from that of his beloved consort. He had since discovered, from records which he then held in his hand, that when Mrs. Washington consented to the removal of her husband's body, it was the distinct understanding, between her and the then President of the United States, that if his remains should be removed, her own should be laid beside them. He had opposed the motion yesterday, but since it had passed, he would to-day offer a resolution, the effect of which would be to prevent the separation to which he had alluded. He hoped it would receive the unanimous consent of the House. Mr. A. H. SHEPPERD expressed his surprise at the difference of opinions entertained by the members of the committee. If not improper, it would be highly desirable to learn the views which the Vice President and Speaker entertained of the powers given them by the resolutions. The SPEAKER said, as far as his own opinion was concerned, he had no hesitation in saying that the resolutions of yesterday were confined distinctly to the object of the resolutions of 1799, which related to the body of George Washington, and to that alone. Mr. SHEPPERD urged this reply to show that the committee of twenty-four had been mistaken in their understanding of the matter, and he urged unanimity either in reconsidering the former resolution or adopting the present. Mr. BATES then offered the following: Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives, That the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives be hereby authorized to make Mr. DEARBORN was opposed to the reconsideration, application to John A. Washington, of Mount Vernon, for the object stated by the gentleman from Tennessee, and to George W. P. Custis, grandson of Mrs. Washing- [Mr. ARNOLD.] A separate resolution like this would ton, for the remains of Martha Washington, to be remov- confer a higher honor on the remains of Mrs. Washinged, and deposited in the capitol at Washington city, at ton, than had ever, in the history of the world, been conthe same time with those of her late consort George ferred on any female. Washington, and, if leave be obtained, to take measures accordingly. Mr. WILLIAMS said he hoped the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. ARNOLD] would withdraw his motion. |