Lines Sacred to the Memory of George Washington

Lines Sacred to the Memory of George Washington

To speak thy praise, be mine - brave Washington -
Thou for thy country hast the laurel won.
Heaven raised thee up, and sent thee to the field. -
Thy country's foes at last were forced to yield.
Wisdom and zeal were both in thee combined. -
Thine was a noble sad a generous mind.
To thee, Most High, unembered thanks belong,
Twas He who served thy arm, and made them strong.
Nations across the sea have heard thy fame -
Heroic deeds immortalize thy name;
Forever dear thy memory shall be
To every lover of sweet Liberty.
Brave Washington, the land that gave thee birth,
Is now the glory of the spacious earth;
No monarch bears the scepter-lifts the rod -
The only sovereign, here confessed, is GOD.

While on Jehovah's arm our hopes are stayed,
No foreign power can ever this land invade.
Before no earthly potentate we fall.
God is our King-we'll "crown him Lord of all." -
This land, almost exalted to the skies,
Still higher in true excellence would rise,
Would she but set her colored bondsmen free,
Give them to share the sweets of Liberty.

If Washington who endless glory shares -
Knows any thing in bliss, of our affairs,
Sure he would smile, to see their fetters fall,
And find dear Liberty held out to all.
In this fair clime, where freedom's joys are known,
Why should the colored race in bondage groan?
When will the happy Jubal year appear?
Its trump, throughout the land, I long to hear.

William Sanders

3:16, p. 2

1839.06.15