The daily republic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1853-1853, 1853-07-13
A Severe Rebuke.

We would the following were gentler; yet we
cannot suppress it: -
From the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, July 8.
INGRArITUDE.-So it is true that Mount Yer
non has been sold to spectators. An old woman
peddles canes at ten cents apiece by the door o
w ashington's tomb; and pretty soon whirligie
and swing will be erected in the grounds, sa
loon opened in the venerable mansion, and along
the piazza, through which, with slow and digni-
fed step, the best of his age used to walk for
recreation, there will be line of smokers and to-
bacco-chewers, with their feet up, guzzling mint
iuleps and talking politics! Will the spectators
be good enough not to use the sarcophagi, in
which are the remains of the hero and his wife,
for their contemplate penny getting operations
We hope that they won't sell them to Barnum.
Sell Mount Vernon! 1t is akin to that mean
spirit which leaves the resting places of our great
men unmarked and almost unknown. 1t is akin
to that disgraceful neglect of all obligation, al
gratitude, which has characterized our National
Legislature. This Dragging country Of ours which
gloriies itself over its territory, wealth, enter.
prise, and overwhelming limits, has permitted
its old revolutionary soldiers to die in novels, or
starvc on beggarly pensions or sent them, grown
old, feeble, blind to subsist the cold charity of
the alnshouse. Our Westminster Abbey, our
st. aul's-where are they? Where the monu-
nlcnts to our patriots, our statesmen, our gener-
als3 Briars and thistles overgrow their graves,
or hide the Wondering tablets that mark the spot.
If a commission for a foreign consulship or post
Office were paid ut the head Of EACH and the whole
hungry swarm of office-seekers set upon the hunt
with such prizes in prospect, not one in one thou
sand could find them. The paltry spirit of party
refused a memorial to Clinton; and Legislature
who could not understand or appreciate anything
that did not belong to party, denied the tribute
which public gratitude demanded at their hands
Congress haggles and debates over the colnpcnsa-
ton which some of the more patriotic of that mis-
cellaneous crowd may attempt to make to an old
soldier, and squanders thousands in mileage on
useless, and worse than useless, members.
Well, we don't mean to get out Of temper; but
this exhibition of the remains of Washington, ant
the sale of gingcr-pop in his mansion, is some
thing to get angry about
We saw venerable man to-day who had seer
and talked with Washington. He recollected his
stately presence aud had heard the utterance Of
his lips We were glad to take the hand which
had been clasped in that of the great chief, to
listen to the interesting incidents Of his life at Phil
adelphia---to know how he ived-what was the
manner of his home lfc--how he looked, talked
and acted. We seemed to be gazing on one Of
the few solitary links that connect this generation
with a great age, now passed away. When the
venerable face of our informant was lighted up
with the memories of his youth which were thus
called to mind, and his heart discharged itself Of
it's burden of love and devotion to Washington, we
could understand something of that character
which impressed itself SO indelbly on the age IN
which he lived and on the men who were his con-
tcmporaries
Congress quarrels and wastes the public trea-
sure in the Capitol, under the shadow of the mon
ument that begs its way slowly towards the skies
and but few miles distant from the scene OF his
death and burial. Alas for the gratitude OF re-
publics! The grave of Madison is unmarked, al
most obliterated. Jefferson lies amid the rank
grass and the brambles the graves of the generals
Of the Revolution are, many of them, forgotten
and the country which they have established ant
made renowned has consigned to obscurity tn
memories Of those men whose lives were narke
by her ingratitude.