Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-08-27
From the New Orleans Bee.
Mount Vernon.

AVAC vi k1L
This favorite abode of WASHINGTON, and the
spot where he breathed his last, owing to the
criminal remissness, and we are almost tempted
to add, the want of patriotism Of Congress, and
their lack of veneration for his great character,
has been sold to some private Spectators, who
design to repair it and exhibit it for money, to
all such as may be melted by Il reverence for
the memory and virtues of the illustrious dead,
to make 4 pilgrimage to Mount Vernon. The
home Of WAsHINGToN, where he passed his early
manhood, and whittier he retired, after the
close of the war of the revolution; this cherished
spot to which he retreated, upon the expira-
ton of his eight years Presidency, to pass the
few remaining years of his existence, has been
suffered by Il ~recreant American Congress to
be bought by a company of private ndivid uals,
in order that they may speculate on his mortal
remains, and sell for sordid Iucre, the souvenirs
and relics Of the founder Of the Republic, and
its first and greatest Chief Magistrate. The
sacred shrine, whittier the patriots of all climes
and nations should repair, to refresh their pat
riotism-strengthen their love Of liberty, and
confirm their devotion to public yirtue-has
been vended, in market orert, and converted
into a museum, a sight of which can hereafter
be obtained, for ffy cents for grovn persons
and children half price. Shame upon a body
of Legislators who can tolerate such an act of
national disgrace and infamy. beneath the shad.
ows of the capitol, and almost within the reach
of their eyes!
The fiftieth part of the money which Congress
has wasted in idle discussions and futile decla-
nations, would have sutliced to purchase the
homestead of the hero patriot, to repair it and
keep it in good condition. One months debate
on trivial subjects cost more than the purchase
money of the entire estate, but Congress prefers
to babble about abolitionism, and secessionism
than to perform q great act of national graft
titude and duty, which would rebound to the
credit of the nation, and elevate its character
among foreign States.
All nations have consecrated the custom of
raising monuments to perpetuate the remem-
brance, and to transmit to posterity, the glory
of their distinguished public men. To accom-
pllsh this end, patriotism has invoked to its aid
the genius of the painter, artist an. sculptor,
and the greatest skill has been exerted in the
construction of works of art, to perpetuate their
physiognomy, personal appearance, proportions
and costumes. But History is not satisfied
with the form and drapery alone of the mighty
dead; or even OF the grand achievements which
have made them immortal, and which it stamps
on its pages. Posterity wants to be acquaint.
ed with the private lives of the worlds great
beneiactors--for from their habits and mode of
lie, their motives and public conduct can often
be explained. Hence it is, that nothing is in
different to the philosophical historian who
seeks for biographical truth. The place where
a great man dwels-the architecture of his
house-hls farm and its cultivation-the trees
beneath whose coyerts he sat and meditated-
the fountains where he slaked his thirst--his
llbrary--the table upon which he wrote--in fine
we wish to know and learn everything, con-
nected with his private life, which can shed light
on his history; and when it is practicable to
possess all the elements of faithful biography
of such a man as WASHINGTON, it is the imper.
alive duty OF Congress to avail itself of the op-
portunlty, and acquire and preserve them, for
all future generations. To suffer the homestead
TO be sold to private individuals is disgraceful
enough; but to allow them to exhibit his bones
and those of his wife for money to every ira
weller who visits his tomb, is enough to bring
down on the heads of those who have conniyed
at the crime, the indignation of the world and
the curse of Heaven.
1t Is the dnty OF Congress to repair the wrong
1t has inflicted on the character of the people by
this dlsgraceful abandonment of it's duty, and
10 e1lace from the page of American history
this foul blot, that will tarnish the American
for all time TO n unless it be speedily
Mount Vernon should have but one
owner, and that owner must be the AMERICAN
PEOPLE. Congress shoald purchase from the
greedy spectators the remains of Washing
ton, cost what it may-the last and cherished
abode of the father of the country, and conse-
crate it to the use of mankind. Make it a hall
owed spot, where the %votaries of freedom NAV
wend they way, from every quarter of the globe,
and evince their admiration of the virtues-their
appreciation of the unspotted fame and lofty
their homage to the ashes of one,
to whom, take him for all in all, the world has
furnished no parallel.