APPENDIX 1 



PROCEEDINGS' IN CONGRESS ON THE OCCASION OF THE PRESENTA- 

 TION BY SAMUEL T. WASHINGTON OF THE SWORD OF GEORGE 

 WASHINGTON AND THE CANE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TO THE 

 CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, FEBRUARY 8, 1843 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

 Tuesday, February 8, ISJfS 



Mr. G. W. SUMMERS ' now rose, and addressed the Speaker, who recognised 

 the honorable gentleman as in possession of the floor ; and all eyes were at once 

 turned to him, and the whole House was at once hushed into silence. The 

 galleries were densely filled with an anxious and attentive auditory, which had 

 collected in anticipation of the interesting proceedings which were about to be 

 witnessed. Many Senators occupied seats amongst the members in the House, 

 and some of the representatives of foreign powers, accredited to this Govern- 

 ment in diplomatic relations, were ranged below the bar ; and all listened with 

 profound stillness, while the honorable gentleman from Virginia spoke as 

 follows : 



Mr. Speiaker: I rise for the purpose of discharging an oflBce, not connected 

 with the ordinary business of a legislative assembly. Yet, in asking permission 

 to interrupt, for a moment, the regular order of parliamentary proceedings, I 

 cannot doubt that the proposition which I have to submit will prove as 

 gratifying as it may be unusual. 



Mr. Samuel T. Washington, a citizen of Kanawha county, in the Common- 

 wealth of Virginia, and one of my constituents, hns honored me with the 

 commission of presenting, in his name, and on his behalf, to the Congress of 

 the United States, and, through that body, to the people of the United States, 

 two most interesting an^l valuable relics, connected with the past history of our 

 countiT, and with men whose achievements, both in the field and in the 

 cabinet, best illustrate and adorn our annals. 



One is the sword worn by George Washington, first as a colonel in the colonial 

 service of Virginia, in Forbes's ' campaign against the French and Indians ; and 

 afterwards, during the whole period of the war of Independence, as 

 commander-in-chief of the American army. 



It is a plain couteau. or hanger, with a green hilt and silver guard. On 

 the upper ward of the scabbard is engraven " J. Bailey, Fishkill." It is ac- 

 companied by a buckskin belt, which is secured by a silver buckle and clasp ; 

 whereon are engraven the letters " G. W." and the figui-es " 1757." These are 

 all of the plainest workmanship, but substantial and in keeping with the man 

 and with the times to which they belonged. 



1 Prom the Congressional Globe, vol. 12, pp. 254-256, 1843. 



' Representative from Virginia, 1841-1845. 



' Brig. Gen. John Forbes, British Army, was placed in command of an expedition 

 against Fort Duquesne in 1758. His forces consisted of 1,200 Highlanders, 350 Royal 

 Americans, and about 5,000 provincials, including about 2,000 Virginians commanded by 

 Col. George Washington. 



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