The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-11-16
For the Union.


National Cemetery.
Ii has been suggested by several of our contemporaries
that Mount Vernon should be purchased by the federal
government, and converted into National Cemetery.
The idea noble of gathering around the revered
ashes Of the Father Of bis County the kindred dust of
the ustrious dead who n their day and generation have
served their country. But, however imposing such
plan may appear. and however hallowed the spot Of
Washngons tomb, cannot concur in the belief that
Mount Vernon is the most suitable place for the mighty
There il no doubt much proprety in the opinion that
sutable place should be chosen at the seat of the fed.
e government for the intement Of those distinguished
public who, residing in various sections of the
y have acquired honor and renown in her SERVICE in
her councils, her army her navy, the of the
arts and sciences, and Of true philanthropy To answer
the great end Of such Distinction this place should be
ected for its convenient to the metropolis Of the
nation. II should be under the immediate eye of the
living generation; and il should be so situated that
nohingness OF human ambition and grandeur, yet
the monuments and the fellowship Of association with
the noble remains OF those who sumbered there should
teach the solemn es son that talents and vrtue and pa
iosm had thus deservedy censecrated their memories
a examples to future times
1t seems to usihat no filter place could be found than
The immediate site OF the splendid monument to Wash
ngton, now in progress Of completion in this city. Let
the venerated dust OF him whom IT commentaries be
transferred to this final resting place on the bank OF his
own Potomac. in sight Of the Capitol, the Presidsn.s
Mansion and the public Offices; and. there marked by
the lofty column which is to tower among the clouds, let
remain till the Capitol shall disappear, and the monu-
ment itself shall crumble into dust as undistngushabe as
The mortal remnants OF Washington, like his glorious
achievements and his spoess name, belong to his coun.
try and should be placed where the voice oil that country
desires Who would not rejoice TO this Westminster
Abby and st. Denis of ours hallowed by these relics,
dear to every feeling OF virtue and OF patriotic devotion
Along with them let the worthy ashes Of his companions
cred let those who have succeeded them be associated il
this glorious Pantheon and let all those In every quarter
OF our country. either exalted or humble, who have
served benefited their species in an eminent degree,
find suitable place OF deposte at their side Erect mon
uments with appropriate inscriptions and hither let him
who would kinde anew his virtue or his patriotism re-
pair, and catch the inspiration which fingers about
the tombs Of the good the wise, and the mighty dead Of
The place Of burial Of the eminent men Of every civil
lied nation has been object OF deep public concern in
all ages OF the world The very Indians torn away
from the ashes OF their warriors with sorrow and
ucance and surrender their homes and their hunting.
grounds with far less emotion than they do the silent
gaves Of those they have in their rude way honored
and loved The pyramids OF Egypt prodigious me-
MORALS that have ouived the very names OF those whose
Of washington, were il len lines as massive and endur
ing n the greatest oil these pyramids would return TO its
original elements and be leveed with the plain, before
ss S q s his
There are numerous other names, which history will
not willingly let die TO deck the proud roll OF our ma
tonal benefactors There 10 not a State in the Union
that would not boast OF representatives in this glorious
sssemblage OF the great and the good, on whose monu
ments It's citizens could always dwell with that melan
ehoy pleasure which pride and sorrow combine to pro-
duce
Such cemetery would create an additional bond OF
union, which, in OF distrus and commotion,
would exert sautary influence on the public mind, II
would confer on the federal capital an additional claim
70 the regard OF the nation, and would invest u with
degree OF local attachment which mere political conien-
ions and considerations cannot awaken. Death can
onlzes and sancti6es great names, and every State
would appreciate AT far higher value the place that
neid Inc mortal remains OF its honored sons. IL would
indeed ee AZ il had actual interest in the soil that
contained them, and not as now remote abstract por-
on IN the federal government which there exercises It's
authority
Y! Is said by foreigners that we have no national
pnde, no national literature no national character or
national feeling; that only loose and dislonted
congregation OF fragments, brought together by chance
held together by temporary interests and capable OF being
rent IN pieces at any moment, without leaving wreck
behind OF our national existence any more permanent
gotten confederacies OF petty bands and tribes that have
united together for time, and been afterwards scattered
70 the winds by the factions and ambition oil their chiefs
b s ecm i not altogether groundes NO. neStS
the Union Of these States by prudent just and careful
exercise Of the powers Of the federal government Let
us make i strong by rendering j. worthy OF the love OF
hts be equaiised nearly practicable, and Jet the
people OF each section rgdly abstain from nurng those
o. every other Then will the bonds OF Union, though
will all the feelings Of pride, attachment and faterna
national character. distinctive literary spirit, and STA
olity OF government that will defy the storms Of the
world 10 shake overthrow II, let them rage with
ever 30 much violence most essential aid to ibis pa
riotc object will be 10 gather into national Pantheon
me mortal remains OF the distinguished Of worth
om every portion OF the country, instead OF scattering
them among their remote localities TO dssipae the ma
honal regard and to serve raying points for those
who would recur TO their names and example to dmin
ana ,..i lovs 'o1 We unlon ~ son@ Puae