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Show fcqao .milium -aiianr ,'wijunM.atfCTiga "WASHUXGTOX AND THE UKION." SVNOl'SIS OF LECTURE BY RIGHT HEV. D. S. TITTLE, D-. D. Bishop Tuttie commenced his lecture on Tuesday night, delivered for the benefit of the Exchange and Heading Rooms, by quoting , the language of Patrick Henry, uttered in 1774 : "British oppression has effaced the boundaries of. the several colonies; the distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers aud New Englanders ate no more. I am not a Virginian, but an American." From this he drew - the hoi-e that differences. . .between . natives of the various parts of the Uuion might be ' buried and 'forgotten, and that all might feel. ' as Patrick Henry did. that they are Americans. The principal incidents of "Washington's "Washing-ton's life were . briefly narrated. The school of experience through which he passed was vividly described ; and the acquaintance which he obtained in actual war in colonial struggles, before the breaking out of the terrible contest which resulted in American independence. independ-ence. After treating on Washington as a soldier, he reverted to him as a - legislator. In this conncctiou he " said : '" Washington was a wise aud influential legislator, because 'of his good sense, sagacity, sound judgment judg-ment and dispassionate wisdom; but was no orator. Nor needed that legislature leg-islature oratory from him. By his side sat Patrick Henry to supply ail such needs, one of the most wonderful wonder-ful and effective orators that the world ever heard. Perhaps, in deliberative assemblies now-a-days, if some of us would be content to cultivate and exercise ex-ercise the good sense which, it may be, is in us, after the example of Washington, Wash-ington, and not painfully strain alter the eloquence of a Patrick Henry, which certainly is not in us perhaps we would be of no less value to the community, and contribute quite ;is much to the promptness and wisdom of deliberative results." (Applause.) The cause which led to the inception incep-tion of the struggle with Great Britain Brit-ain was shown to be not at tirst a desire de-sire for independence, "but for the steady operation, sturdy -maintenance and demanded recognition of the principle, prin-ciple, that there should be 'no taxation without representation.' " At the first Continental Congress, which met in Philadelphia, Sept. Sth, 1774, Washington and Patrick Henry among the delegates from Virginia, the latter, when asked who was the greatest man in that 'body, modestly replied: "If you speak of eloquence in debate, Jlr. Butledge, of South Carolina:" but added, "If you speak of solid information and sound judgment, judg-ment, Col. ashington was un pies-tienably pies-tienably tho greatest man on that! floor." I Without following Washington's : career during the war of independence, the lecturer referred to the date of his commission as Commandor-in-Uhioi', received from the Congress at Philadelphia: Phila-delphia: his resignation: his retirement into private life; and his recall from it by a grateful country to become the first President of a new power born into the family of nations; in which capacity he wisely and we!! served hie country for eight years. "Then," said the lecturer, "caaerly he returned once more to the quiet life of his loved Mount Vernon. God spared him to his home and countrymen for two years: and then, just as the eighteenth century cen-tury was dying out of the present ino the past. He took him our Washington unto Himself Who doubts it? 'The greatest of good men, and the best of great men' we humbly believe." The character of thecompouent parts which formed the whole of the colonics, wasketched briefly. They were not, at that time, Americans; they were English colonists, Dutch colonists, Swedish Swe-dish colonists and German colonists, uniting "with one pmposc, to free themselves from the odious tyranny of Great Britain." After independence indepen-dence was achieved, there was a great work to be performed, in the harmonizing harmon-izing of conflicting elements and establishing estab-lishing a just and stable government: and in this work Washing :on s services nere pre-eminent. His goodness, his noble qualities and his great abilities were dwelt upon in connection with the early history of the Union. "Thank God," said the lecturer, "wiscand good men were not wanting among our lathers lath-ers of those davs. These met in convention con-vention in li7, asd ordained and established, es-tablished, as the representatives of the people of the United States, our present pres-ent Constitution; the Magna (,'harta of our liberties; the vital strength and stable sale-guard of our national Union. Un-ion. Of this convention Washington was chosen President; and who doubts that his wisdom and moderation, his wide influence and deference to his well-known views, guided, under God, the work of that body and secured the auspicious result?" "A greater work than theirs, and better done, I think the world has never seen. I am amazed at their triumphant success. I thank God for our wise and glorious Constitution ! And if wc dure to violate this and break in pieces its blessed covenants, casting thcui to the sweeping winds of higher law and the roaring storms of modern progress; I count him a hopeless fool who thinks that we as vmct and bvtier men in the passions, and prejudices, and luxuries, and temptations, and solfiihness of today, to-day, can meet, and adjust, and adopt a better constitution than that well-tried old one, born of the four months' labor of 1 787." (Applmiso.) Referring to the late terrible war of rebellion, lie traced in eloquent words the sad fate that would have befallen the nation had that attempt been successful suc-cessful ; and painted with vividness aud power the baleful and crushing results of military occupation ; adding that the words of Wa hingtoti wen: now and ever applicable: "An the s .roi d was the last resort for the jncsei vu-tion vu-tion of our lilx.Tticf, so it. ou:;lit to In; the lir.sl. thing laid aside when thos'j liberties aro firmly established." Giviniz utterance to a scathing, honest, whole-sullied hurst of eloquence against repudiation, the lecturer closed with u J brilliant peroration amid prolonged n rid i cullm -iastic applause. I . . |