The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-09-26
OUR ILLUsTRIOUS DEAD.
Tombs Of the Presidents Of the
United states.
THEIR FAMILY CEMETERIES.

e Mount Vernon, where the remains Oh washington
Aove been entombed for more than half century,
and the probability that Congress will be called
,pon 1t the next session to decide whether that IN
seresting spot sacred in the eyes every American,
shal or shall not become the property OF the nation
naturally suggests an inquiry with regard to the
tsmbs of the Presidents OF the United Safes VINO
have succeeded Washington, AID have from time 10
time followed hi to the grave. The sketch we now
give win, therefore, doubt net prove interesting
- our readers, to few of whom perhaps IS II known
precsey where the remains OF all our deceased Fresi
dents repose in their graves
The Congress- of 1899, when they expressed their
sesire that the remains of Washington should
- inferred at the new seat OF government,
saged after his name, probably expected that
. national cemetery would be located there,
10 contain the bodies Of future deceased Presidents
a well Is other distinguished public servants; but
the burals at the public cemetery in that city have
been principally confined TO members OF Consre
and public officers sho have died al the seat Of
government The feelings OF fam lies have prevailed
over national feeling and respect and the bodies Of
he two Presidents who died at WASHINGTON, namely
Hsrriscn and Taylor, we're removed 10 their former
places Of residence In the West and emsOm0ed oy
ne sides of those relatives TO whon they were at
,he bones of the Presidents will be ever gathered
from their far-distant graves, and collected IN
rational msusoleum at the seat of government.
On many accounts it would be desirable That such
mausoIeum should be erected, and some have sug-
rested that Mount Vernon would be an appropriate
site for the purpose. Should it be selected for the
cemetery Of the Presidents, il would become, doubt
lss, the universal point of oil srimage with Ameri
horn f.,-a fut
generations. Respect for the memory OF the great
md vntuous dead Of the most ennoblng
traits Of human nature. Doctor johnson, in his
journey TO the Hebrides" beautifully expresses
mis- sentiment as follows =
We see nox ,r-adils ilusiricus island which W..
49, lonip>r, ~ tie Csiodouisc rsxions whence
savage ard rowing barssr derived hs benefits u
4bjoysc honor or spIed the cemetery OF tas
ssosssh g. Ths are very unefous, and some
Of tain the remains OF nen who old
cot .ap~ct TO DC TO- gotten. TO Abstract the
mind AL local e no ion ~oud be Impossible ~ IL
snteLvorco would ~ dish 4 1t we're possible
wba,e~ey withorsws ron tae yer Of our lenses;
whatever the pat ht csrbnt, or tns f1sute PIE
2n tie present aovancs as IN the etsnity OF
kAEsng hsfggs. Far tr,m and NV friends Ne slca
fsie pIiioss p6y c0adu - indifferent ana
lnG any ground ~hen has beeu gnifed b. via
aoss Bravery rhst Is litte 20 ss envied
whore psiosa won not xsia fur,e upoa tee plaza OF
n non no ptety soud not gov warner among
- ruins Of lena.
The following are the places Of burial OF the Diff
fsrent Presidents with the time of their respective
deaths, viz -
Presidents. Essbs Date Of Decess.
sscg- Washington Mount Vernon, Va. Dec Il 100.
John Ac.1s.....' oaiusy IS. .Jaly !! 1873
Jsn.s k.siscp Mont e. va...Juss rs 1886.
JAYNE. ssnre. Hs~ Y'ra .ity.. Jay = ISL ;ie
Astrs. Jscsson Hsrm,tAss Tam. .Jues s, is4a.
H,}hss 81 Garrison. N rrh Bend Ohio April lst,
Jspss Z PolS ... Ma hvle IeDn =. Jun. IS, leis
zachary Taylor Lonisvils KY. .Joiy y, looo
II win be obsei we'd that three of the Presidents
died on the 4th Of July, that other died also il
July and three others n the month OF June. Their
yespec,iye ages ct the time of death were as fol
luws Washington, es John Adams, 90 Jetfer-
SON, SO; Madison, s5 Monroe, " John Quincy
Adams, so Jackson, rs Harrison, 6s Polk, So
TAYLOR, 65. The average of the ages OF these ten
Presto ents at their decease is little over seventy
fpur yesrs-all having attained longevity, except
Mr.. Polk, which may be considered quite remark
able for men who were 50 long devoted to the pub
JIG service.
TEE TOME OF WASHINGTON.
General Washington in bis viii expressed de-
sire for the removal of the family vault .pt Mount
Vernon, in consequence of its decay and improper
situation TO another location on the estate. The
words OF his vii are follows
me family vaul. At Mount vsrron requiring repairs
Improperly ,ttuatec eefiass. desire thst
OF b-isk- ana upon larger .cAe nay bs o1it
NJ tns 10 whSt aiony called he ard
sscsuIs tie srou,d which "a marked cut, in which
nv remains wits those Of M daceasso relations, dos
j. sns Old vault and others 81 xy family may
eheo.e BE- sromo.d rnere oe dsoosed and u IL
~ express desire my corpse be inferred in
14IvAe DAaney without ysrscs or funeral grafton
This desire Of Washington has been fully com
piled with, after many years o. neglect. new
somb was erected in 1881 on the site Of steep,
thickly -wooded dell, being the spot marked out by
him, and designated IS the foot Of the vineyard
enclosure The tomb is built Of brick tie walls
rising eight feet from the ground, and archsd over
Abe front is ronghcast and hasa plain iron door,
with strong easement Of freestope. Over the door
IL stone panel, inscribed with these words
Ian the Pc a-ree ion and the Life H that ,eiersth
n NE tboUgh he ~ere dead, Jet shall he I've.
At small distance rom the tomb there is sur-
rounding enclosure Of brick, elevated TO the height
Of twelve feet, with iron gate in front, opening
several feet in advance Of the vault door. The gate
way is aanked with pilasters surrounded by stone
cornice and coping, covering pointed Gothic arch,
ever which is plain slab, with this inscription:-
within this enclosure rsst the rsuaias Of General
Gsorgs WAshipgtes.
In 1897 John Struthers, Esq. Of Philadelphia, re-
4uested the privilege Of constructing coffin, or sar
eophagus, Of marble, in which the remains Of the
Father Of His Country might be deposited, aud re-
csived from the surviving executor the following
reply
ArDLS Feb, %, 1881
DEAR SJI-I have 10 acknevedge the recsip Of yours
Of 9TH inst. Ia reply 70 ~ can only say beiss the
Only Surviving executor Of Gsneal Washington. have
sniy my fcs isgs consul, refusal or accsp
TAI Of your very LIBERAL asd polite offer ofs stone cos
depository for the remains Of him VINO first in
rvst IN nd frat 10 6t4
men,
The manner Of making your offer The dsiicasy With
which IL 10 prcrrsd fot bids refusal 10 accept III and
lander you. in behalf Of every relative Of ths dsts
guishsd the oorssi sincere thanks or the
kind feeling which has aetssNd you psn this occasion
ave il to your Importance to male IL In aad man
ssr o. you may think best. ! an dear SIR, very re-
apsstfully years, LAWRENCE LEWIS