Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-05-17

zens oil virginia leave II TO the other States to raise the
pay this affecting tribute to the Matron of Virginia =
A strong appeal has been made in the New-York pa
Pers to their own Citizens: Shall the appeal be made to
our own Citizens, in vain!-We understand that .. Sub
scriPtion papers are left at the Bookstores Of Messrs.
Sanxay and Smith, where those inclined to aid in the
project oil removing the remains of Mrs. washington
may subscribe-and that a mite from each is all that is
expected by the friends Of that undertaking."
TO THE EDITORS OF THE ENOEyRER
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. 1881.
The subject Of this communication will, we trust. be
a sufficient apology for addressing you, without the hon.
PRODUCTION. IL has appealed so warmly to our own feel
ings, that we are persuaded il must enlist those Of every
American. Should we have deceived ourselves, we
hope that you will pardon the liberty, and at leas, con.
cede your appreciation TO the motive.
Ii Is a fact, OF which perhaps you are not ignorant.
mat the remains oil the mother OF George Washington
lie in a held. in our immediate vicinity, without even a
stone TO designate the spot. Tradition is already our
only guide to her grave; and as the field is used for ag.
ricuitural purposes, the period cannot be far distant
@hen mat WIZ become too vague to be entitled to con-
ndence. such already is the fate of the ashes of bis
father. HIS cotemporaries have passed away, and none
remain who can point out his burial place. But the mo.
ther oil General Washington was his "guide, philoso-
Pher, and FRIEND and il the present opportunity be
lost, succeeding ages must forever deplore the migrate
tude which consigned to oblivion, without one redeem
ing effort, the remains Of her who gave 10 her country
"a hero without ambition. a patriot without reproach;"
who was the architect of q character which not only
sheds ~unfading lusire on his own country, but eleyates
even our conceptions OF the dignity of man.
The undersigned are at present acting as The agents
OF subscribers for tie erection OF a new house of wor.
ship In this place. 1, has been suggested that ne place
Of deposit Tor the remains OF this venerable matron,
nent, az within its walls. Our funds arc barely AIDE.
qua'e Tor the purpose Of our trust, but we cansot per.
mit ourselves TO believe that the public will refuse their
aid to go Holy a work IS the addition of a monument
to the memory OF Mrs. Washington. We are unwil.
ling, however, 10 come before the public az suppliapts
even in such a cause as This. without a fair prospect,
oil success; and have therefore presumed 10 ask your
counsel and aid, in Bringing this matter forward in a
manner acceptable TO those within the sphere of your
inhuenes. We shall be sal i6ed TO obtain a sum sufi-
eieut 10 erect q monument in archie e,ur.t unltv oil,
our building which will be neat aud .ub.tautiaI. Sbould
We % more successful uas we at present aDtici.
pate, We design TO render the monumeut more worthy
., nsr wnom II 10 Intended to commemorate, and The
building worthy OF the nominal But should the
contributions DO more than sufficient for this purpose.
they will be appropriated TO an object which would
more nonofaoly PerpstuN'e her msuory than "sio,i.d
urn or animated bus'," viz the endowment of a
Warrington Female O, phan Asylum an institution
wnich would cause many yet unborn to tles, this me-.
mory or mauoo, whose power TO confer beue6ts on
her fellow creatures, did not cease even wi h her life.
we mention this merely as a contiugeocy, bu, 40 one
which may possibly occur; aud as we have ven,ured
20 onsr the above statement, we wished frankly to put
you IN possession oil all our views, that you might b.,
advised how the funds would be disposed of, If thew
exceed the sum requisite Tor the objec. Immediately 10
view. "
May we now presume respectfully to solicit your
Aid in this matter' If we should be so Fortunate a. 10
obtain Tor it your eountenanee and influence, we 70.
Pecuuuy request mat you will, a, your earliest con.
oehtence, ADOPT such measures in your vicinity, a, YOU
may deem most likely to DO succsssfal, and remi, The
amount solicited TO "John 8. WslIford. Trea,ursr NJ
inc Warrington Monument Fund-Ffederi ksburg,
Va" We do not, however, wish to impo,s up,n IN.
Lberaiity ct any individual, A small sum, saw s or
$40. We should esteem an ample subscrip,Iou. E,,her
more or less would be received with gratitude. We
Your obedieut servants,
JOHN s. WELLF ORD,
WILLIAM j. ROBERTS,
THOMAS Seldom,
JAMES VASS,
c.. WEXFORD.
ALLEN w. MORTON.
N. BARNETT.
Committee.
The undersigned, inhabitants Of the town Of Fe.der.
icks6urg, and State OF Virginia, being a COMMITTEE 40.
pointed for that purpose, to their fellow. citizens through.
out the United States. respectfully representa-
That Mrs' Mary Washington, the mother of the il.
lusirious George Washington, wa, for many years
an inhabitant OF this town, that she died here, snd wa.
inferred in our immedi,te vicinity. where her remains,
now lie: that tho field which contains her bumbi.
grave 10 used for agricultural purposes. and Ina, m.
grave itself 10 unhonored and almost unknown: ,ha,
me present liberal and high-minded proprietor, not.
"i'hs'anuing the intestlng associations with which Il IL
connected, and which are Of ne sssity communicated 10
his domain, has at once rsnorpcsd tho influence Of
seihsh feelings, and zeaIously cooperate with US In
P.O cur = proper aud permanent asylum for these
reVered relies, aware that however pious the care
which is now exeried for their protection, the period
must IN process Of time arrive, when the plousb,hsre
ana the narrow will obliterate every remaining trace
OF her who bore and reared George Washington
INC nurse OF MS infancy, and architect OF his character
iney would farther represent, that the members Of
the Pfes0yteTlaD church of this place. with the aid NJ
their ieiiow-citizens here and else where, are abou, 10
erect a new house OF worship; that funds ADEQUATE 10
mat purpose are already secured, and that The wsrk
VIII speedily be commenced: that II is higbly improbabls
that another church will be built in this place by apv
o.her denomination Tor many years yet 10 come, and il
mas been suggested that the PRESENT. 10 the most iayora.
oie' and Perbapsthe only opportunity that will ever oc.
cur Tor erecting in connection with a house of yor,hip
a neat and permanent memorial Of the mother of Wash.
lyon "a ~ 'own where she resided for many years
and where she close her valuable, and exemplary
lie. The very house in which she lived and died !,
now owned and occupied by the pastor Of the church
70 whfch we propose TO attach her monument Tbi.
oolset sanno, oe accomplished without your pecuniary
assistance! we therefore respectfully solicit vour aid
with entire confidence In the result.
Inc connection OF a monument with a house Of "a.
ns'ous worship, appears TO US, at once the highest and
most appropriate honor which can be paid 10 The me.
nory OF the illusirious dead; an honor N which on
can possess stronger claims than her for whom n !, now
'n'epdeo; out as the other denominations In our town
are already provided with suitable buildings. 4, must
no" . . rendered or be forever withheld. Ia a country
ike ours, without an established religion. where ,on,
s"'uuonai provision and public sentiment alike eoncsds
equa' Privisgesio every sect, none have an exclusiv.
'gnt 10 me appropriation Of the public IIb.raliiy on oc.
.on ~ 'he present-we claim no right other than
NAV "bieh 10 created by the peculiarly Of tims and
circumstances, and In awaiting ourselves of that nscn-
narl'ys acknowledge the influence OF no other f.slins.
man 'no'e OF gratitude and generation Tor the imm..
% - ancestor OF or political father. The building
"Ios erected whether car present application be aus.
oe''Iu, or NOV. VI you wa solicit FINDS for The addi.
non OF a suitable mooument-ewe eoyet moi magni6.
e.n'e 10 either; bot should the amount Of vour con
o nUu,on au'horlze q more eo'tly memorial than 10 nov
coh'empiated, 1t may be necessary 10 expsnd a par, Of
mem on The building cell, 40 as 10 reserve a,.Lisc