H. OF R.] Bank of the United States. [FEB. 10, 1832 The question was than put on Mr. ASHLEY's amend- H. Shepperd, Slade, Soule, Southard, Spence, Stanber ment, and negatived without a count. Mr. CLAY, of Alabama, now moved to amend the amendment by striking out 4 and inserting 7, so as to read 47,300. Mr. MERCER, went into a statement of the votes yesterday on the ratio of 44,400, and of the known sentiments of certain of the absentees, to show that a majority of the whole House was in favor of that ratio, and that it was not fair, therefore, to press the ratio of 47,300 to-day, when from various causes the House might be differently composed, and not express its true sense. Mr. POLK argued to show the fallacy of endeavoring to satisfy every State, as it was now plain that as fast as one State after another was yielded to, it held out inducements to others to attempt still further changes to accommodate them, and thus removed each successive decision as far as ever from satisfying all. ry, Storrs, Francis Thomas, John Thomson, Tompkins Mr. MITCHELL, of South Carolina, now moved an Mr. CLAYTON, of Georgia, stated his desire to offer adjournment; but the motion was negatived. an amendment, the substance of which was that each Mr. ADAMS submitted briefly the reasons why, although State which, under the ratio adopted, should have a frac- he had voted against Mr. ASHLEY'S motion for forty-three tion equal to half the number of the ratio, should, for thousand three hundred, he should vote for the amend such fraction, be entitled to an additional member. He ment of Mr. EVANS. He himself was originally in favor was confident he could show to the House that such a of a ratio of forty-two thousand; but, as he found, from provision was not forbidden by the constitution; and he the whole proceeding on the subject, that any hope of gothought it would reconcile all the existing difficulties in ing below forty-four thousand was, after repeated attempts, fixing the ratio; but utterly desperate, he considered it useless to persist. -Mr. CLAY moved to amend the amendment by making the number forty-two thousand three hundred. The SPEAKER decided the proposition to be not now in order. Mr. WICKLIFFE admitted that the ratio moved by Mr. CLAY would suit his State, and he should have gladly taken it at first; yet he would not now desert those who had joined Kentucky in rejecting 48,000, and he would stick to them who had stuck to her. Mr. PATTON, of Virginia, wished to know of the Chair if it would be in order, after the decision of the present motion, to move another number. The SPEAKER said he could not tell till the number should be stated. Mr. CARR, of Indiana, supported this motion. He also had been in favor of a high ratio; but, as the House had decided in favor of a low one, he preferred this to any other. Mr. BOON said it was now half after three o'clock, and he moved that the House adjourn. Negatived. Mr. THOMAS, of Louisiana, went at considerable length into an argument in favor of Mr. CLAY's motion, not because he was in favor of a low ratio--he was friendly to a high one; but because, if a low one were adopted, the one now moved was preferable to him, as being more just The question was then put on Mr. CLAY's amendment to his State. for 47,500, and was decided in the negative, as follows: The question was then put on Mr. CLAY's amendment YEAS.-Messrs. Alexander, Chilton Allan, Robert for forty-two thousand three hundred, and negatived-Allen, Archer, Ashley, Banks, John S. Barbour, Barnwell, yeas 48, nays 129. Mr. POLK moved a call of the House. Refused. Barstow, Bell, James Blair, John Blair, Boon, Bucher, Mr. CLAYTON then moved a reconsideration of the Mr. CLAY supported the motion to reconsider, and con cluded with a motion to adjourn. Carried--yeas 101; and The House adjourned. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10. Mr. McDUFFIE, from the Committee of Ways and Means, to which was referred the memorial of the Presi NAYS.--Messrs. Adams, Anderson, Angel, Appleton, dent, Directors, and Company of the Bank of the United Armstrong, Babcock, Noyes Barber, Barringer, Isaac C. States; also, sundry memorials from other sources, relaBates, James Bates, Beardsley, Bergen, Bethune, Bouck, tive to the renewal of the charter of the said bank, made Bouldin, Branch, Briggs, John Brodhead, John C. Brod- a report thereon, accompanied by the following bill to head, Cahoon, Cambreleng, Carson, Chandler, Choate, renew and modify the charter of the Bank of the United Coke, Collier, Lewis Condict, Silas Condit, Bates Cooke, Cooper, Corwin, Crane, Crawford, Creighton, John Da- A bill to renew and modify the charter of the Bank of the vis, Warren R. Davis, Dayan, Dearborn, Denny, Dewart, United States. States: Dickson, Doddridge, Doubleday, Ellsworth, George Evans, Be it enacted, &c. That the act entitled "An act to in Edward Everett, Horace Everett, Grennell, Hammons, corporate the subscribers to the Bank of the United States," Harper, Hawkins, Hodges, Hoffman, Hogan, Holland, approved the 10th day of April, 1816, shall be continued Howard, Hubbard, Hughes, Hunt, Huntington, Ingersoll, in force for the period of twenty years from the 3d of Irvin, Jarvis, Jewett, Richard M. Johnson, Charles C. March, 1836, and that the power shall be reserved to ConJohnston, Kavanagh, Kendall, Kennon, Kerr, Leavitt, Le-gress to repeal this act at any time after ten years from compte, Letcher, Marshall, McIntire, Mercer, Newton, the 3d of March, 1836, upon giving three years' notice of Nuckolls, Pearce, Pendleton, Pitcher, Randolph, John such intended repeal to the president and directors of the Reed, Edward C. Reed, Rencher, Russel, Augustine said bank. FEB. 13, 1832.] Chickasaw Treaty.—Washington's Remains. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States, after the 3d day of March, 1836, shall appoint one of the directors of each of the branches of said bank, in the same manner as he now appoints a portion of the directors of the mother bank, and with the same limitations as to their eligibility and term of service. [H. OF R. Mr. FITZGERALD said there was no unimproved land in the district where the reservation was located worth more than one dollar per acre. Mr. HOGAN then argued at considerable length against the resolution. Mr. WILDE said that as it seemed to be conceded that And be it further enacted, That any officers of the mo- the subject was proper to be investigated, he would move ther bank who may be selected by the board of directors, that it should be referred to the Committee of the Whole and designated to the Secretary of the Treasury of the on the state of the Union, to which the whole mass of subUnited States, shall be authorized to sign and countersign|jects relating to Indian affairs had been referred, and notes, which shall be binding and obligatory on the said where there would be a fair field and space enough for corporation, in like manner as if the same were signed and every one who chose to break a lance. The continued countersigned by the president and principal cashier or discussion of the question in the House, as at present, defeated or obstructed much public business which required the attention of the House. treasurer. And be it further enacted, That the said bank is hereby prohibited from issuing any notes which are not upon the face of them declared to be payable at the office from which they may be issued; and, also, from drawing any drafts or checks for twenty dollars, or any smaller sum. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the bank to furnish annually, on the 1st day of January, to the chief officer of the treasury of each State, a list of the holders of stock in said bank who are residents in such State, with the amount of the stock held by each stockholder; and nothing contained in the charter of the said bank, or in this act, shall be deemed to restrain the several States from taxing the real estate of the said bank situ. ated therein, respectively, or the proprietary interest of their respective citizens in the stock of the said bank, to the same extent that they may tax other real estate within their jurisdiction, and like interests in the stock of other corporations, or money lent at interest. The yeas and nays were ordered on Mr. WILDE'S motion; but, before they were taken, Mr. CARSON moved the orders of the day; which motion prevailed. Mr. POLK moved the House to suspend the rule appointing Fridays and Saturdays for private business, with a view to take up the apportionment bill; but the motion was not sustained by two-thirds, and was negatived. The bill for the relief of J. R. Knight was then taken up, and, after being debated for the greater part of the day, was ordered to a third reading; and The House adjourned to Monday. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13. WASHINGTON'S REMAINS. Mr. THOMAS, of Louisiana, from the joint committee of And be it further enacted, That, in consideration of the the two Houses, appointed to report on the subject of the exclusive privileges and benefits conferred by this act centennial anniversary of the birthday of George Washingupon the said bank, the president, directors, and company ton, made a report, (the same as that made to the Senate on thereof shall pay to the United States, out of the corpo- the same day,) accompanied by the following resolutions: rate funds thereof, on the 3d day of March, 1837, and on Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the same day of each year thereafter, during the continu- the United States of America in Congress assembled, That ance of the charter, an interest at the rate of per the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of centum upon the deposites, from time to time, to the cre- Representatives be hereby authorized to make application dit of the Treasurer of the United States in the said bank, to John A. Washington, of Mount Vernon, for the body and its branches, during the preceding year. of George Washington, to be removed and deposited in And be it further enacted, That, after the 3d day of the capitol, at Washington city, in conformity with the March, 1836, the said bank shall not establish any addi-resolution of Congress of the 24th December, 1799; and tional branch thereof, without the consent of Congress. that, if they obtain the requisite consent to the removal thereof, they be further authorized to cause it to be removed and deposited in the capitol, on the 22d day of February, 1832. Mr. WAYNE said he understood that there was a counter report to be presented by the members in the minority on the committee. He wished the second reading of the bill to be postponed until Monday next, that both reports might be printed together. After some explanation, Mr. McDUFFIE moved that the bill be referred to a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, and that the bill and report be printed. Ordered. And, On motion of Mr. INGERSOLL, an additional number, viz. five thousand copies, was ordered to be printed. Mr. ALEXANDER, from the minority of the Committee of Ways and Means, on the question, in that committee, of a renewal of the charter of the Bank of the United States, then made a counter report containing the views of the said minority in relation to a renewal of the charter of said bank. Ordered, That five thousand copies of said report of the minority be printed for the use of this House. CHICKASAW TREATY. Mr. EVERETT's resolution for the production of the fourth article of this treaty, came up for the consideration of the House. Mr. HOGAN inquired of the member from Tennessee [Mr. FITZGERALD] the value of the reservation leased to Mr. Lewis under the sanction of the commissioners who made the treaty. Resolved, That the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives be also authorized to prescribe the order of such ceremonies as they may deem suitable to the occasion, of the interment of the body of George Washington, in the capitol, on the day above mentioned; and that the two Houses of Congress will attend and assist in the performance of those ceremonies. Mr. THOMAS observed that, according to the ordinary rules of the House, the resolution was required to lie for one day upon the table; but as the time remaining for its execution was short, it would be proper, if the House acted upon it at all, to do so immediately, and he therefore hoped that, by unanimous consent, the resolution would now be taken up, and acted upon. The suggestion of Mr. THOMAS being agreed to by the House, the resolution was thereupon read; and the question being on the House concurring therewith, Mr. McCOY, of Virginia, addressed the House in some remarks, which, owing to his remote situation, and the feebleness of his voice, were very imperfectly heard. It. had been his misfortune to be placed upon the committee who had made this report, and to disagree with the majority as to its propriety, and the more he reflected upon the subject, the more he was confirmed in his dissent. For what purpose but that of a vain show were the re H. OF R.] Washington's Remains. [FEB. 13, 1832, Then mains of General Washington to be removed from the the House, by their joint act, requested from his widow place which he had himself selected to receive them? the treasure of his remains, that excellent lady wilSurely if there was Was it that the capitol would be in the place of a vast lingly acquiesced in their removal. monument over his bones? This vast monument had any person who, better than all others, might be sup. nearly been destroyed during the last war. That was one posed to have known the wishes and feelings of General reason why he should be opposed to placing them here. Washington, it was the partner of his bosom. The resoHe had another reason. If the good people of Virginia lution, therefore, must be acquitted on that score. had wished that those remains should be removed, they the only additional objection was confined to the unfortu would have done it by the authority of their own State nate event which had once wrapped this capitol in flames. Legislature. It had been said that Congress was called None could deplore such a national calamity more heartily to redeem the pledge which they had given in 1799; but than he did. Yet it was his firm belief that excited as if that pledge was binding, why had it never been re- was the hostile feeling of the foe, had the venerated redeemed before now? And he would ask, where was the mains of Washington been entombed in this building, the stopping place should Congress commence with celebrat-capitol would have been spared; and he believed further, ing the birthday of this distinguished individual? It that, by placing those remains at the base of this edifice, would be manifest that there could be no stopping place. Congress would perform an act which, next to our beloved It would, he supposed, be insisted that Congress were constitution itself, would tend to consolidate the Union of Consecrated by the ashes of Washington, bound to carry the resolution of 1799 into full effect. these States. But the Congress of 1799 had set many precedents which none would be so barbarous as to lay a hostile hand upon he did not hold himself bound to follow. Among others, an edifice which, while it enclosed the representatives of the sedition law and alien law, and divers others which the people, held, at the same time, the sepulchre of him the good people of the United States were not well pleas- whom all civilized men united to honor. Long as he ed with. These were the reasons for which he was op- trusted that capitol would stand, he felt assured that it posed to disturbing the remains of the venerable patriot. would stand many centuries longer for being known to all Mr. MERCER, of Virginia, rose in reply, and said, the world as the tomb of Washington. Mr. GORDON, of Virginia, expressed his deep regret that, as to the precedents which had been set in 1798 and 1799, he was not responsible; for so far as he was con- that, on an occasion like this, there should be any division cerned, he had been adverse to both the obnoxious laws of sentiment amongst those who were called to celebrate referred to by his respected colleague; but the connexion the birthday of the most illustrious of our citizens; and of those precedents with the resolution which it was pro- he could not but think that there would have been a posed to carry into effect, was quite too remote, to make unanimity more worthy of the occasion, had not the select it proper to refer to them on the present occasion. A committee thought proper to introduce a resolution, calmore proper reference would have been to the unanimity culated in its very nature to produce division. The quesof the vote which passed without a dissenting voice at tion it involved had from the beginning been an exciting that mournful period which bedewed this land with the and a dividing question. General Washington had died tears of the children of Washington. Such was the uni- in the bosom of his family, after a long life, glorious to He had been versal grief, that every individual in the country sought himself, to his country, and to mankind. some way of giving expression to it. It was expressed buried upon his own estate, amidst his own connexions, publicly, in solemn assemblies of the people, and in pri- by his family and his neighbors; and what was now provate, by the almost universal adoption of some outward posed to be done? To violate the sanctity of the grave; token of mourning in the dress of both sexes. All were to take his bones from their honored deposite, and transunanimous in declaring their sorrow for the loss of him of late them to another spot. Mr. G. said he knew it had been common, when our whom it had justly been said that he was "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." heroes had perished in foreign lands, to redeem their Mr. M. earnestly protested against all reference to the bones by a national act from the estrangement into which politics of the day, which was marked by his untimely they had been accidentally thrown. But he suspected death. He called it so, for it was untimely, whether re- that the present was the first instance, when it had been gard was had to the age, strength, and health of his proposed or was thought of, to take their remains from frame, or to the interests and fondest wishes of his coun- the home of the deceased, and from his native soil. And try. Mr. M., however, had not risen, he said, for the for what? For a monument to his memory? Had it not purpose of making these remarks, but to correct his been once said of an illustrious foreigner that all Flocolleague in another respect-in a statement which, if it rence was his monument?" And might it not with equal had been correct, would induce him to agree in opposing truth and force be asked, is not this city a monument to the resolution. His colleague had referred to the wishes Washington? Nay, we might ask, was not the entire of the people of Virginia; but Virginia had not been country his monument? and her liberty and happiness unmindful of what she owed to the memory of the great. his best, his noblest memorial? He must disagree with est of her sons. In the year 1816, a proposition had one of his colleagues [Mr. MERCER] in the sentiment that passed both branches of her Legislature, to remove the the removal of the ex-animated bones of the patriot would venerated remains of Washington, and to deposite them have any great efficiency towards cementing the union of beneath a suitable monument in Richmond; but when the the States. The way to cement the Union was to imitate resolution to that effect had been submitted to the surviv- the virtues of Washington; to remove not his body, but, ing head of the family, the late Judge Bushrod Washing-if possible, to transfer his spirit to these Halls. ton, that gentleman entertained the opinion that the re-men could not suppose that the mere removal of his dust moval was inhibited by the disposition which Washington would infuse into their breast any higher veneration for had made of his own remains. his virtues. Let it rather be their part, instead of disturbMr. M. said that he must confess he had regarded with ing his bones, each to go to the altar of his country, and great astonishment the conclusion to which that highly swear to imitate the example of Washington. Besides, respected citizen had brought his mind in reference to the there was another aspect of the subject, which, though will of his relative. The clause on which his objection he was sorry to advert to, yet, as a Virginian, he could not was founded was one found in almost all wills, and was not for his soul repress; Congress had no right to remove that! intended as any special direction forbidding the removal dust. Washington had given his life to the United States, of his remains. His colleague must remember, nor could and Virginia rejoiced to remember it. But his bones Gentle the Speaker have forgotten, that when the Senate and belonged to her soil. Her sons honored the spot where FEB. 13, 1832.] Washington's Remains. [H. of R. they reposed, and they thought that that was a spot where, a Virginia Legislature had provided for this event, and a if any where, union and peace should ever dwell. The fund had been accumulated to carry her resolutions into act proposed in the resolution was but a vulgar honor. It effect. Why should Congress anticipate the wishes of degraded Washington to the measure of little men, who those who knew him best, who most appreciated his needed a monument to preserve their name. Since the worth, and who were, above all others, disposed to pay art of printing had been invented, pillars and monuments honor to him as one of themselves? It was, he repeated, were but idle records. Letters were the best, the endur- the first wish of Virginia to enshrine his remains in her ing monument. They held the name and the deeds of own capitol. Washington, and would hold them forever; and it was Mr. C. went on to observe that the wish of Virginia, in vain to attempt, by an empty pageant, unchristian in its this respect, was not all that could be adduced in opposicharacter, and every way in bad taste, to add any thing to tion to the resolution. The will of George Washington Washington's immortality. Such a celebration would be itself gave the most explicit direction as to his own partisure to dissatisfy the people of his native State. In a cular wish on the subject of his interment. He desired great association of republics such as ours, the best and to have no ostentatious funeral-no pomp or parade in fairest competition was this: who should furnish citizens ceremonial observances were to be had over his grave. most devoted to their country; who should be farthest He specified the spot where his body was to be returned from that selfishness which degrades a patriot. Let such to its mother earth, and had already marked out its limits. be our emulation, and let the virtues of Washington be Would the House then violate his known and expressed set before us as our model. If we practise these, then wishes? Would they intrude upon the sanctity of the grave? will our Union be immortal. But let not the House, by Perhaps, however, as it had been said, and might be reseparating the remains of Washington from his own belov-lied upon as an argument for concurring in the resolution, ed State, and making them an object of the vulgar gaze, seek to gratify men who never could be moved by a consideration of his great example. that the proposition for removing his remains had received the sanction of the venerated widow of Washington. But what did that lady say? Let it be remembered that, in Mr. COKE, of Va., said it had not been his intention her letter in reply to the communication requesting her to trouble the House with any remarks upon the subject, consent to the proposition contained in the resolution of because he was averse to a protracted debate on a ques- 1799, she said that she sacrificed her own wishes to the tion where the vote, he had thought, should be both im- wishes of the representatives of the people. It had been mediate and unanimous. His feelings, however, had said that a victorious army might again have a brief poscontrolled that intention, for he could not reconcile to session of our sacred soil; that the visit of an infuriate himself silence on such an occasion. He begged the enemy might once more take place. God forbid that such House to pause in the matter, and reflect upon the opera- should ever take place; but even in the recurrence of tion of the resolution upon the feelings of Virginia, before such an event, which none could predict and none appreit came to a determination to remove the mortal remains hend, the place where the remains of Washington lay in of Washington from the last home which those remains silent repose was sacred: for never could there be found had found in the soil of that State. He would beg them, a spirit of vandalism so barbarous as to profane that halin language of the most earnest supplication, not to give lowed spot. their sanction to the proposition. For his own part, he Mr. DEARBORN, of Massachusetts, said he had been could scarcely give utterance to his feelings in regard to gratified by the patriotic opposition of several of the memit. He felt as if he, as a Virginian, and the State of which bers from Virginia to this proposition; he was not surhe was a native, were on the verge of losing something in prised at their reluctance to part with the remains of their comparison with which all the riches of the world would, departed hero. But whatever claim might be asserted by in his and her estimation, weigh but as dust in the balance, the State of Virginia, it was certain that the United States and he begged them, under the influence of such a feel- owed a debt of gratitude paramount to that of Virginia. ing, whilst the sad decree was yet unexecuted, to refrain Those who were not citizens of Virginia, wished the interfrom depriving them of that which was beyond all price. ment of those remains in common ground, which equally The proposition contained in the resolution was to remove belongs to the whole United States. We did no wrong to the ashes of George Washington. That illustrious man Virginia in discharging this duty which had been too long was a native of Virginia; his life and his services had been postponed. History shows us no nation that has not been devoted to the common cause of his country; to those ser-ambitious to commemorate the great deeds of their illusvices, and to that life, his whole career showed that the trious citizens. There is no security that Mount Vernon country was welcome; but he [Mr. C.] implored them in will remain the property of the present family. Such is the name of God not to deprive the land which had given the state of our laws, that it may be sold at auction, and him birth, and which was justly proud of his virtue and those sacred remains may be purchased by a foreigner. renown, of the last consolation of being the depository of He wished something done that might effectually guard his bones. He begged the House to make allowance for against such events. He wished those remains might be the feelings of Virginia in this matter. There were at the placed under the protection of the whole nation. So far present time, in the flag of the confederacy, the glittering from regarding this step as sacrilegious or unchristian, as stars of twenty-four sovereign and independent States; it had been termed, he considered it one of the highest but the time might perhaps arrive, when, at some distant acts of christianity and virtue to commemorate the merits period, those stars should be dimmed of their original of departed worth. A monument was of no consequence brightness, and present to the view twenty-four fragments to Washington. He might have declined such an honor, of a great and powerful republic, warring the one with had he been consulted during his life. But does this conthe other. At that lamentable time, then, he would ask, sideration absolve us from our duty? It was for ourselves should Virginia, in offering homage to the memory of the and our posterity that a permanent monument should be mighty dead, be forced to pay a pilgrimage to the remains erected--a point to which our children might be instructof her own son, through scenes of blood, shed perhaps ed to look up, and to emulate the virtue of the man in by kindred hands? But why should it be wished to strip whose honor it was established. Virginia of the last sad relics of him who stood pre-emi- Mr. E. EVERETT, of Massachusetts. I do not rise nent among the wise, the virtuous, the patriotic, and the to make a speech on this occasion; but to say a very few brave? Virginia did not desire the removal of his remains words, chiefly in reply to the gentleman from Virginia, from her own land. Already had preparations been made [Mr. McCor,] who opposes the passage of this resolution. to transfer his honored dust to Richmond. The vote of One of his objections was, that the resolution of 1799, H. OF R.] Washington's Remains. [FEB. 13, 1832 proposing the removal of the remains of Washington to The gentleman from Virginia [Mr. McCor] asked, if the capitol, was one of the bad precedents set by the Con- we begin this way, where shall we end? Sir, I wish it gress of 1799. I was very sorry to hear such an allusion might even become more difficult to answer that question. from so respectable a source. The gentleman must have I wish it may even be hard to say, where shall we end forgotten that the resolution of 1799, instead of being one with these testimonials of respect paid to a worth like of the measures to which he alluded, as dividing the opi- that of Washington. Be it, sir, that we know not where nions of the country, and on which a majority of the we shall end. I know where we ought to begin, and that people dissented from the majority of that Congress, was is, with the man who was "first in war, first in peace, and a measure in which that Congress was unanimous. In a first in the hearts of his countrymen." Sir, I will begin time of as great political excitement as probably ever ex- with him. If, hereafter, another shall arise, who will live isted, when the parties in Congress and in the country like Washington, when he dies, let him be laid by his were exasperated against each other, to a degree never side. surpassed, if ever equalled, every member of that Con- Mr. THOMPSON, of Georgia, said that he had to pergress gave his vote for that resolution; and it was proba- form what he was apprehensive would by some be consibly the only subject, in the wide compass of human dered an ungracious task; for, like the gentleman from feeling and action, on which that Congress could have Virginia, [Mr. McCoy,] who first addressed the House, voted as one man. And yet the gentleman classes a reso- he, too, was unfortunate enough to be a member of the lution, thus passed, and for the purpose of doing honor committee who reported the resolution now under consi to the memory of Washington, with those measures of a deration. Unfortunate, he said, because, as he heretofore political character, which divided Congress and distracted had been, and now was opposed to the proposition conthe country. tained in this resolution, he ought, perhaps, to have asked But it is said we are going to violate the repose of the to be excused from serving on the committee when it was dead; to break into the sepulchre, and rifle it of its pre- announced. But, said he, the novelty of the proposition, cious deposite. Sir, do we do any such thing? Shall we as connected with the centennial anniversary of the birthnot go to that venerated tomb, with every possible warrant day of George Washington, was so imposing that it scarceboth of authority and delicacy? Was not the consent of ly admitted reflection. For such was the intensity of feelthe consort of the father of his country obtained, at a ing excited by the occasion, that, notwithstanding a dissent to moment when her feelings were bleeding under the re- the passage of the resolution was distinctly heard in some cent loss of the illustrious partner of her life? Fortified parts of the Hall, the impression was general that the vote with her consent, deliberately given, and at that moment, was unanimous, and I believe was so entered on the jourwho shall question the right or the propriety of the pro- nal. If feeling had given place to reflection, the propocedure? Violate the repose of the grave! Sir, we are sition would have met what it has met on former occasions discharging toward that sacred depository a most impera- somewhat similar, a decided opposition. I expressed my tive duty. If there is one darker spot in the history of dissent in the committee; but I there admitted, as I now this Union than another, it is that we have left so long un- frankly admit, that if it could be right, under any circumredeemed the solemn pledge which was given by the stances, to remove the remains of the illustrious deceased people of America, through their representatives here, in from their present deposite, I cannot conceive of an occathe first moments of bereavement. Violate the repose of sion more appropriate than the approaching anniversary the dead! Sir, we are going to pay a tribute of respect of his birth. During my service in this House, the proto the ashes of the father of his country, such as the his-position now under consideration has been frequently made, tory of the world cannot match with a parallel. If this and it has uniformly met determined opposition on fixed resolution is adopted, and on the 22d of February the re- and immutable principles. The opposition wanted not mains of our beloved hero and patriot shall be removed such an occasion as now approaches, to induce it to yield. from Mount Vernon to this capitol, it will be a transaction It was founded on principles quite different-consideraof a character of extraordinary solemnity, grandeur, and tions of higher and paramount character. I will state interest. Such a procession as will be formed to receive some of the reasons which have heretofore dictated oppothese sacred remains, the multitudes of old and young-sition to this proposition, and which will influence my vote the constituted authorities of the nation, the citizens of upon the subject. First, then, that great man in his lifethis District, and of the neighboring region, who shall time pointed to the spot intimately connected with the hisassemble to witness the awful spectacle of the remains of tory of his family and of his own glorious life, where he the father of his country, on their way to their resting desired his remains should be permitted to repose. This place beneath the foundation of this capitol-all this, sir, will constitute a transaction unexampled in the history of the world for its effects on the minds and hearts of those who may take part in it, or witness it. spot is Mount Vernon. I presume there is scarcely an individual within this Hall, or within the United States, at all conversant with passing events and political aspects, who does not feel compelled to look to the possibility of I agreed more with a gentleman from Virginia, [Mr. a severance of this Union. Indeed, some profess to think COKE,] who said he rose to co-operate with his colleague, that such an event is probable. God forbid. May this [Mr. GORDON,] than I did with that colleague, who com- Union be continued through all time! Remove the replained that we were going to break in upon the repose mains of our venerated Washington from their association of the grave. The gentleman [Mr. Coк] was willing to with the remains of his consort and his ancestors, from open the sacred portals of that grave, and remove its de- Mount Vernon and from his native State, and deposite posite, not indeed to this capitol, but to Richmond. Now, them in this capitol, and then let a severance of this sir, I cheerfully admit, that of the titles of Virginia to the Union occur, and behold! the remains of Washington on respect and consideration of her sister States, it is among a shore foreign to his native soil. Again, in the march the first, that she is the parent of our Washington. But of improvement, and the rapid progress of the increase let her not forget that, though Washington was by birth of population in the United States, it is probable that our a native of the colony of Virginia, he lived and died a settlements will not only extend to the Rocky Mountains, citizen of the United States of America; united more by but reach beyond, stretching down on the Pacific coast. his labors, counsels, and sacrifices, than those of any other But say that the foot of the Rocky Mountains will form individual. The sacred remains are, as the gentleman their western boundary-and we may reasonably suppose well said, a treasure beyond all price, but it is a treasure that this will happen at no distant period-then bring of which every part of this blood-cemented Union has a the great, the powerful West to act upon a proposition right to claim its share. to remove the site of the Federal Government, and who |