Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-05-31
Thy REQUEST.
From the fredericksburg Herald.
TO THE PUBLIC.

and others submitted to the public the proposition
for erecting monument to the memory OF the
Mother of Washington, appeal to that public a
gain.-The sacredness OF the subject forblds that
il assume the shape of controversy. A slight VIM
dication of their own motives-a disavOwal OF all
intention to wound the feelings of the descendants
of the deceased-an abandonment of every part
of their own plan, that, by thwarting the honest
prejudlces Of any one, might endanger the COM
pletion of their Object-these and the submission
Of another plan in which it is hoped that all will
unite, will form the grounds Of this appeal. A
Sainst the charge of seeking "particular advan-
tage" for themselves in the solemn duty they
about to perform to the memory of the dead, the
Committee place before them the shield of their
own character. If, in the face of circumstances
SO well known to this community end set forth in
the memorial to which their names are attached,
the charge should be repeated-he that urges 1t.
must derive it from the mil ror his own heart
the Committee disclaim it. They but sought to
do that which others for nearly the half century
had left undone. Being conscious of the upright.
ness of the act, they were assured that the inno-
cence of the motive would declare itself In that
assurance they still remain In deposltlng the
honored remains of Mrs. Washington within the
walls of their church, it was not because 1t was
Presbyterian Church, but because it was tenn
pie dedicated to the Most High God. twas that
the prayers of the living might be mingled with
the memory of the dead. 1t vas that the monu-
mental rites might be performed under the sane
tons of the Christian Religion, wsthoutreference
to the external forms of that religion-whether
they were Episcopal or Presbyterian. The com
mittee would have failed in respect for themselves
had they been unmindlul of what was due to 1.-THE
r. C.ko tc.1 nf
1t was their misfortune rather than their fault if
they did not address those feelings in the mode
most likely to be considered delicate. They did
not appeal to the descendants in order that those
descendants should appeal with them to the pub
lie for tribute to be paid to the memory Of their
ancestors. 1t was their wish to place those des-
pendants where they might receive the reflected
honor not where they should cooperate with them
IN causing the honor to be paid. For this reason,
they appealed to near but collateral connexiOn
The Biographer. and son by adoption, of him
who made the name ilastrious. They knew no
more delicate mode of communicating to suryi-
vors the tribute they sought to pay to the memory
of the departed.
This is all the Committee will utter in brief
justification Of themselves. They choose to lose
sight of themselves in the pious object which is
before them.-The trih. te to the Mother of w ash
ington shall receive no shade from contentious
that they create. 1t has been announced that it
would be unacceptable TO the surviving family of
the deceased that her remains be removed. Be it
sO-The Committee renOunce all wish to make
the removal. Let the relations themselves de-
termine it. Ii has been alledged that the cree
ton of the monument within the walls of Pres
byterian Church u,ght give it the character of a
sectarian efnrt-that too they renounce. They
war with the honest preiudices of no une. They
appeal to patriotism and gratitude wherever they
may be found--whatever sarb they may wear
Let the tribute be paid bv the memory of her who
gave birth to one honored by all. If they mlnsle
with it their own feelings and wishes, it was only
from conviction that those feelings and wishes
were pure Abandoning every previous propo-
siuOn, withdrawing themselves from that natural
selishness which causes US TO cling to our own
suggestions, they now present the subject to the
American People, in mode to which no one can
not object Let not the place which is halewed
by receiving the last breath of the Mother of
Washington. be without some remembrance that
she lived. Let the removal of the remains be
dependent on the wish Of those who descended firm
her ;but let a monument be erected in manner in
which all can unite. Topreserve 1t from injury
let it be placed within building, which shall it
self form the better part Of the monument:-let
the building be set apart TO the exercise 0ftema
charity-let 1t be the resting place of the Father
less and destitute-and let the memory of the
dead be hallowed by bless ings conferred on the
living.
Waving, therefore, all controversy, and with
holding all comment upon the mode in which the
opinions of others have been expressed, the Com
mittee withdraw every previous proposition and
respectfully submit to the Anne rican People the
following-that there be erected in this Town a
monument to Che Mother of Washington-that
there be built to receive it an edfce which shall
be devoted to the object of Female Orphan Asy-
lum-that thebenefts of this Asylum be common
to all denominations of Christians and free from
the supremacy of any one-and let all the funds
beyond those necessary for the erection of mon
ument and the Edifce be set apart for the endsw-
ment OF the institution.
John s. Wexford.
William ]. Roberts,
Charles c. Wexford,
Beverley Il. Wexford,
Thomas Seldom,