HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Feb. 10, 1852.
Mr. Speaker, I ask
the unanimous consent of the House to present a petition of the citizens of
Philadelphia. It does not relate to politics; it proposes a mode of celebrating
the birthday of General Washington. It is worthy of being heard by the House, and
I hope it will be. At the head of the list are the names of the present and of
two preceding mayors of the city of Philadelphia. There are a thousand names to
this petition, embracing the first men in the city of Philadelphia—Ingersoll,
Dallas, and others equally distinguished. They pray that in this time of
trouble particular attention may be paid to the birthday of General Washington,
and that it may be solemnized in this House; that both Houses shall meet on the
22d of February; that the Farewell Address of General Washington shall be read,
and that such parts of the Address as may be considered appropriate shall be
ordered to be read at the head of the regiments of the army of the United
States. There is still one great name in our country which exercises a great
influence over the hearts of all true Americans. It is needless to say that
name is Washington. The name stands alone far above all others. In times of
trouble and peril all our hearts naturally turn to him for lessons of
patriotism and every public virtue.
The object of this
signal commemoration of his birthday is to impress his name more deeply on the
minds and hearts of the American people, to kindle his memory into a flame of
patriotism, and by the noble inspiration of his good and glorious name enable
ourselves the better to maintain and defend that great and free government and
Union which, under God, he established for us. I hope Congress will concur in
the prayer of the petitioners, and I ask that it may be read.
SOURCE: Ann Mary
Butler Crittenden Coleman, Editor, The Life of John J. Crittenden: With
Selections from His Correspondence and Speeches, Vol. 2, p. 27
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