AMERICAN AND EUEOPEAN SWORDS 151 



Bushrod Wnshiiigton, of tbe Supreme Court, and Major Lawrence Lewis, the 

 acting executor of General Washington's will; all of whom concurred in the 

 statement, that the true service sioord was that selected by Capt. Samuel 

 Washington. It remained in this gentleman's possession until his death, 

 esteemed by him the most precious momento of his illustrious kinsman. It 

 then became the property of his son, who, animated by that patriotism which 

 so characterized the "father of his country," has consented that such a relic 

 ought not to be appropriated by an individual citizen, and has instructed me, 

 his representative, to offer it to the nation, to be preserved in its public 

 depositories, as the common property of all ; since its office has been to achieve 

 and defend the common liberty of all. 



He has, in like manner, requested me to present this cane to the Congress 

 of the United States, deeming it not unworthy the public acceptance. 



This was once the property of the philosopher and patriot Benjamin 

 Franklin. 



By a codicil to his last will and testament, we find it thus disposed of: 



" My fine crab tree walking stick, with a gold head curiously wrought in the 

 form of the cap of liberty, I give to my friend, and the friend of mankind. 

 General Washington. If it were a sceptre, he has merited it, and would 

 become it." 



General Washington, in his will, devises this cane as follows : 



" Item. To my brother Charles Washington, I give and bequeath the gold- 

 headed cane left me by Dr. Franklin, in his will." 



Captain Samuel AVashington was the only son of Charles Washington, the 

 devisee, from whom he derived, by inheritance, this interesting memorial ; and 

 having transmitted it to his son, Samuel T. Washington, the latter thus seeks 

 to bestow it worthily, by associating it with the battle-sword, in a gift to his 

 countrymen. 



I cordially concur with Mr. Washington in the opinion that they each merit 

 public preservation ; and I obey, with pleasure, his wishes in here presenting 

 them, in his name, to the nation. 



Let the sword of the hero and the staff of the philosopher go together. Let 

 them have place among, the proudest trophies and most honored memorials of 

 our national achievements. 



Upon tliat staff once leaned the sage of whom it has been said " He snatched 

 the lightning from heaven, and the sceptre from tyrants." 



A mighty arm once wielded this sword in a righteous cause even imto the 

 dismemberment of empire. In the hand of Washington, this was " the sword 

 of the Lord and of Gideon." It was never drawn except in a defence of the 

 public liberty. It was never sheathed until a glorious and triumphant success 

 returned it to the scabbard, without a stain of cruelty or dishonor upon its 

 blade. It was never surrendered, except to that country which bestowed it. 



[Loud and long-continued plaudits followed the delivery of this address.] 



The Seegeant-at-Abms advanced to the seat of the Honorable gentleman, and 

 received into his custody the interesting relics. 



Mr. ADAMS * then rose to submit a resolution in relation thereto. He said : 



Mr. Speaker: In presenting this resolution to the House, it may, perhaps, 

 be expected that I should accompany it with some remarks suitable to the 

 occasion; and yet, sir, I never rose to address this House under a deeper con- 

 viction of the want of words to express the emotions that I feel. It is pre- 

 cisely because occasions like this are adapted to produce universal sympathy, 



* John Quincy Adams, President of the United States, 1825-1829 ; Representative from 

 Massachusetts, 1831-1848. 



