The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-22
From the Charleston Mercury.
To the Ladies OF tho south.

descendant of Virginia and now daughter of Car
ona moved by feelings OF Tor departed great
ness and goodness by patriotism and OF national,
and above ALL Of southern honor, ventures TO appeal to
you in behalf OF the s'home and grave" OF Washington.
Ladies Of the South, OF region oi warm generous en-
husasc hearts, where there s,ll fingers unselhsh
love of country and country honor some chIvarc ieei
sgs ye, untouched by that Irrational spirit. rapidly
oveshad wing the moral OF our beloved and-a moral
bIis h fatal 10 mans noblest attributes, and which love
OF money and speculation alone seems TO survive--to
you turn-you who retain some reverence Tor the
noble dead-some admiration and remembran oil exalt-
ed worth and service even where they no more Oi
you ask, Will you, can you look on Passvey and
behold the home and grave OF the matchless Patriot who
is completely Unidentified with your land, sold as a
possession to speculative machniss, without such a
feeling OF Indignation firing your souls AS shall cause you
TO rush with one heart and spirit to The rescue
Ladies OF the South you be still with closed souls
and purses while the world cries "shame upon Ameri
~ and suffer Mount Vernon With all ts sacred
cations become, spoken OF and probable. the seat
Of and manufactoriee-noise and smoke.
and ssbusy OF men," destroying all sanctty and
cpose around the tomb Of your own "worlds wonder y
Oh I il cannot be possible J
What! such sacrlege, such deeecrahon, while you
have the hearts feel the shame and the power to pre-
vent it, Never Forbid IT, shades of the dead tha, The
pilgrims to the shrine oil true patriotism should ind
thee forgotten and surrounded by blackening smoke and
deafenng machinery. where money money, only money.
ever enters the thought, and gold. only gold, moves the
Once our congressional halls the resort OF wis.
don integrity. and patriotism where enlightened heads
and upright m'nds sous TO inlhi iheM ocai
Gus code OF laws" which bound us into one common
country and also by y'eng with each other who should
add most to that couniys veal al home and glory abroad
But all seems chaoget Washington and his principles
and his spirit appear no longer to influence the city
which hears his name. On who that have spark Of
patriotism bat must mourn such early degeneracy, when
hey see who fill our leg sa,ive halls and crowd po-
iical me,ropoIisl Who restrain pang OF shame
when they behold the annual rush th,her OF obbes and
bounty seekers OF office asprants and truckers OF party
corupters and corrup,ed-alI collecting like flock OF
uues their preypro Wing and poiluiing the grave
aud high purposes OF egslationl
Ladies' OF the South should appeal TO such these
TO protect the grave OF Washington rum the grasp OF the
speculaor and worldngi And should we appeal either
TO through your senators and representatives. What
have they DONE or would could DO, in that mephc
airi
Mo- It's TO you mothers and daughters OF the South.
that appeal can be made with hopeful confidence y
is womans office TO be vesta; and even the "hfe OF
liberty" may need the of her evoon and the purity
of her guardianship Your hearts are fresh, revsrena,
and animated by lively sensbilties aod elevang pur
poses With you therefore, patriotism has yet be-
come name. And should there ever be again times to
y mems souls there will be found among and Of yon
as OF old herones superior TO fear and selfish consider
alton, acting for country and ts honor.
Believing this, one OF your countrywomen !ee!s em-
bodened to appeal in the name OF the Mother OF WASH
ngon and of southern feeling and honor, TO all that is
sympaihetic and generous your nature to exert itself
by your combined effort IN village and country,
town and city, the means may be raised from The mites
OF Thousands of gentle hearts upon whom bs name has
We, magic SPELL which will suffice to secure and retain
bis home and grave sacred spot Tor all coming time.
spontaneous work like this would be such a mon-
umen of love and gratitude has set been reared
to puresi patriot mortal and while II would save
American honor from blot IN The eyes OF gazing
world, i, would furnish shrine where al least the
mothers of the land and their indignant children might
make their offerings in the cause of the greatness. good
ness and prosperity OF their country
1t is known 10 you that Congress has virtually de-
cnsd TO purchase and preserve Mount Vernon in behalf
Of the nation Yet there is necessity Tor immediate
action. as schemes are now foot for s purchase bv
northern capital and iis devotion 10 money making pnf
poses 1t is therefore, respectfully and earnestly sng
gesed you and by who in her descent, inherited
the sympa,hies and OF those who were once
in the socisl relations of life with the Father OF his
County," tha, the South by general contribution each
mte furnish the amount sufficient Tor the purchase OF
Mount Vernon that the property be conveyed in trust
the President Of the United States and the governor OF
Virginia. to be preserved and improved in your name A.
halowed resort for all people, that for ts continued
pre- servaton and improvement tr'Ae he charged each
vi.iier and that your contributions 10 effect these no.
BILE ends may be gathered the hands OF the governors
OF your States respectively to be RENTED TO the gov
ernor OF Virginia. with authority and direction TO make
the purchase.
A SOUTHERN MATRON.
OLIVER Card Gases. Porte Monnases, Fine Fans.
sonnaies, silver tobacco boxes, hne fsns Ac
nd in