Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-17
SATURDAY. DECEMBER II, 1858
PURCHASE OF MOUNT VERNON.

sentatives for the purchase of MOUNT VERNON
brings to mind the past action of our Government
in reference to the remains of Gen. WASHINGTON,
and the tenor of the debate of Thursday may render
the following "reminiscences acceptable.
In December, 1899, Congress passed resolutions
aatherizing President ADAMS to correspond with
Mrs. WASHINGTON, and ask her assent to the inter
ment of the remains of her illustrious husband
under Monument to be erected by tho United
States in the Capitol, at the city of Washington.
Mrs. WASHINGTON, in delicate and touching
response, gave her assent to the request But the
Monument was not erected, and the remains, there
fore, were not removed from Mount Vernon
In February, 1916, the Legislature of Virginia
authorized Gov. NICHOLAS to apply to Judge BUSH
ROD WASHINGTON, then proprietor Of Mount Yer
non, for leave to remove the remains of General and
Mrs. Washington from Mount Vernon to Richmond
to be placed under the Monument proposed to be
erected to the honor of Washington at the Capital
Of the State Judge WASHINGTON declined, and,
anoag other reasons, stated the following:
"But obligations more sacred than any thing
which concerns myself-obligation with which |
cannot dispense-command me to retain the mortal
where they are deposited. IL Is has o,cn aciW, and
that aoiU is to me lao pchich dare not disobey
He has himself directed his body should be placed
there, and | cannot separate it from those of his
near relatives, by which it is surrounded"
On. the 18th of February, 1882, the two Houses
of Congress appointed joint committee to make
arrangements for celebrating the centennial birth
day of GEORGE WASHINGTON The Hon. HENRY
CLAY was appointed chairman on the part of the
Senate, and the Hon. PHILEMON THOMAS on the part
of the House. Chief Justice JOHN MARSHALL was
requested to deliver an Grafton on the occasion, but
declined, principally the ground that, in addi-
ton to the pressure of his official duties, he was
physically unable to perform the task, his voice
having become 50 weak as to be almost inaudible
even in room not unusually large.
A resolution was recommended by the committee
proposing that application be made to the proprie
tors of Mount Vernon for the body of GEORGE
WASHINGTON, to be removed and deposited in the
Capitol, in conformity with the resolution of De-
cember, 1899. 1t was provided also that the pre-
siding officers of the two Houses should prescribe
the order of such ceremonies as they might deem
suitable to the occasion of the interment of the
body of GEORGE WASHINGTON in the Capitol, on
the 22d of February, and that the two Houses
should attend them
Mr. CLAY supported the resolution in his usual
eloquent and impressive style, and referred to the
fact that those entrusted with the execution of the
Capitol had already provided vault under the
centre of the rotundo for the express purpose. lie
thought it the proper time to carry out the IN
redeemed pledge of Congress.
Mr.. Forsyth opposed the resolution on the
ground of the expressed wish of General WASH
NGToN, who required in his will that his remains
should rest in the family vault
Mr.. TAzEwELL and Mr. TYLER also opposed the
resolution, which was supported by Mr.. WEBSTER,
Dir. SPRAGUE, and Mr. BIBB.
The resolution was finally adopted by vote of %
yeas to 15 nays.
On the next day the House of Representatives
adopted joint resolution, in which the Senate con-
cured for aSsocating the remains Of the consort of
WASHINGTON with his own, in their disnterment at
Mount Vernon and Refinement in their appropri-
ate tnausoleum, the Capitol of the Union.
The Legislature of Virginia forthwith took action,
at the suggestion of Governor FLOYD, and passed
strating against the proposed removal:
" RESOLVED, unanimously, That the proprietor be
esty requested in the Of the people Of this State,
not to consent to the removal of the remains Of General
Washington from Mount Vernon"
And so intent was Governor FLOYD on this head
that he appointed Judges BROOKE and MARSHALL
and Major JAMES GIBBoN to be the bearers of
the communication to Congress The proceedings
Of Virginia on the subject were therefore entered
upon the journals
Application having been made to the proprietor,
Mr. JOHN A. WASHINGTON, he declined, on the
ground that the Will Of Washington, in regard to
his remains had been recently carried into effect,
and that they repose in perfect tranquility, sur
rounded by those of other endeared members of the
family.
Mr. CUsTIs, the grandson Of Mrs. Washington,
gave his assent, and congratulated the Government
upon the approaching consummation of great act
of national gratitude.
But no further steps we're taken in regard to the
removal, and, on the motion of Mr.. THOMAS the
correspondence was placed upon the Journal in order
that it might be understood that Congress had gone
to the extent of its power in the case.
AT a subsequent period n proposition was made
~ Congress to carry out the object of the resolution
of December, 1899, in regard to the National Mo-
nument; but the reply was that WASHINGTON had
monument in every American heart, and there
was no need of a monumental pile at the Capitol