63 



terrible emblems of power and glory proclaimed bis law 

 to liis people. 



But wliat bas moved us, as by tlie spirit of one man to 

 be bere to-day ? From tbe banks of tbe majestic Mississip- 

 pi in tbe West, and from tbe sbores wbere tbunders tbe 

 Atlantic wave in tbe East, we bave met on tbis midway 

 ground. For wbat ? To do bomage to goodness, my 

 countrymen ! Some of us to pay tbe tribute of our love in 

 tears to tbe memory of one wbo was dear to us as a Fatber 1 

 Many of us wbo in years long past could appropriate tbe 

 language of tbe propbet in bebalf of Israel and say, "My 

 Fatber ! tbou art tbe guide of my youtb. ' ' All of us to testi- 

 tify our appreciation of merit and by one act to link for 

 ever tbe bonored name of Elisha Mitchell, witb tbis Mo- 

 narcb of Mountains. Here tben, and to-day, we commit to 

 tbe ground all tbat remains of bis perisbable body. Here, 

 in tbe face of Heaven, in tbe ligbt of yonder Sun, wbose 

 radiance beams brigbtly on tbis spot wben darkness veils 

 tbe world below, and tbe storm-cloud witb its fringes of 

 ^e girdles tbe mountain waist, — in tbe name of trutb, 

 bonor, and justice; by rigbt of prior discovery; by merit 

 of being tbe first to claim tbe bonor of actual measurement 

 and matbematical determination ; by virtue of labors en- 

 dured witb unremitting patience, and terminated only by 

 deatb ; we consecrate tbis mountain by tbe name of Mt. 

 Mitchell and we call upon you to speak your approval and 

 say Amen ! Yes, we consecrate it — a monument raised 

 to tbe memory of Dr. Elisha Mitchell, to a fame, 



" Unwasting, deathless and sublime, 



That will remain while lightnings quiver, 



Or stars the hoary summits climb, 



Or rolls the thunder chariot of Eternal Time." 



A. Pike. 



Here I migbt consider my undertaken task as finisbed — 

 tbe object of my long and wearisome pilgrimage as consum- 

 mated ; but I must crave your indulgence, wbile I endea- 



