The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-12-07
From the Msrcur.y
70 the Ladies Of, the South.

goodness, by patriotism and sense Of
national, and above all, OF Southern honor
ventures to appeal to you in behalf Of the
"home and grave" Of Washington.
Ladies ofthe South, o ia region Of warm
generous, enthusiastic hearts, " ihe7ss siiers
still fingers some unselish love of country's
honor, some chivalric feelings yet untouch-
cd by that national spirit" SO rapidly
overshmding the moral of our belovedp-
land-a moral blight, fatal TO mans mo-
blest attributes, and whicl, love Of money
and speculation alone seems to survive,-
to you we turn, you, who retain some
reverence for the noble dead, some ADM.
ration and remembrance Of exalted worth
and service even where they are no morel
Ofyou we ask: Will you, can you, look
on passively and behold the home anb
grave Of the matchless Patriot, who is SO,
completely identified with yonr land, sold
as possesson to speculative machanists,
without such a feeling of indignation
firing your souls as shall cause you TO
rush with one heart and spirit to the res
cuel
Ladies ofthe Sout, can you be still with
closed souls and purses, while the world
cries "SlIamc upon Ameri.a," and suffer
Mount Vernon, with al its sacred assoc:-
ations, to become, as is spoken Of and
probable, the seat of manufacturers aud
manufactures; nois and smoke, and the
"busy hum Of men," destroying all SAM
tity and repose around the tomb of your
own "wor'l,?" Oh, it cannot be possiblrt
What, such sacrilsge, such desecration,
while you have the hearts to feel the shame
and the power TO prevent III Never!
Forbid it, shades Of the dead, that the
PIlgrams Of the shrine Of true patriotism
should find the forgotten, and surrounded
by blackoning smoke and dearening ma
chnery, where money, money, only money
ever enters the thought, and gold. only
gold, moves the heart or moves tho
arm! .,..
Once our Congressional H,lls were the
resort OF wisdom, integrity and patriotism:
where enlightened h,als anl upright
minds sought to fulfil their ofii.,ial olli-
cations, 10y comprehcuding and f,ithfu.-
ly executing the "glorions code OF laws"
which bound u into one common country
and also by, vicing with each other, who
should add most to that countrv's veal
ut home. and glory abroad. But all seems
changed. Washington, and hi. principles
and his spirit, appear no longer to inHu-
encc the City which hars lis nim". or
who thnt have a-spark of patriotism, but.
must MORN such early degpneracv, whcn
they sec who fill our Legislative halls. and
crowd our political Metropolis, Who can
restrain pang Of shame, when they h-
hold The annual rush thirh-r Of iuhbcrs
and bounty-seelcrs, Of office aspirations
and truckers, Of party corrnpters anil
cor!uptcd--all collecting like flock Of
rnltures I" their pry-powling and ro-
luting the grave and high purposes Of Ie.-
islatinn.
Ladies Of the Son'h' should we appeal
to such as this to protect the grave Of
Washington from the grasp Of the spccu.
laior and wording! And should we NJ.
peal either to through, your Senators
and Representatives, What have they
done, or would or coull de-, in Tint mo.
phi,ic mir.
No: it is to you, mothers all danrl,-
ters Of the South, that appeal can bo
made with hopeful confidence. II !.
wonan's Office to Lc ves,al; ana oven
the "iire Of liberty may uecd the care Of
her devotion, and tie purity Of her guard.
ianshiP. Your hearts are ires,,. reycr-
ential, and animated by lively ssnsibnf.
ties md elevaling purposes. With you.
therefore, patriotism has not yet become a
name. And should there ever bc again
"tines to try mems souls" there will be
found among and Of you, ms Of old,
herolnes, superior to fear and selfish con.
s'deration, acting foS country and iis
honor.
Believing this, one Il your eoastry,
women feels emLoldened to appeal in the
name OF the mother Of Washington, and
Of Southern feeling aud honor, to all that
Is sympathetic and generous in your m.
turc, TO exert ITSELF and by your combined
effort now. in village and country, town
and city, tho means may be raised FROM
the mites Of thousands Of gentle hearts,
upon whom his name has yet magic
spell, which will suffice to secure aud IS,
tain his home and grave as sacred spo,
for all coming time.
a spontaneous work like this would bo
such monument Of love and gratitude,
as has never vet heaa raax.d a. .......