Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-12-23
TIE TOMB OF WASHINGTON.


of master and slave
THE TOMB OF WASHINGTON.
The following "reminiscences will be peculiarly attractive
ra I,nr,ssivs 10 virepans the present moment when
the subject OF the purchase Of Mount Vernon is being ca
vassed both in Congress and the Virginia Legislature
The resolution now before the Houee OF Representatives
or the purchase of Mount Vernon brings 10 mind Inc pas
,rron of uur Government reference 10 the remains OF
Gen. Washington, and the tenor oil the DEBATE o.
NAV render the following "reminiscences uccePlable.
In December 1892 Congress passed resolutions au'ot'
,ng President Adams correspond with Mrs Washington
and her assent TO The ln'erment OF INC m
illustrious husband under Monument 10 "
by the United States in the Capitol at me cily OF
tom Mrs. Washington in DELICATE ana ,ouchne fepost
gave her assent The request but tue ohule "IT
ac,eJ amt The remains therefore, not removed from
IN Ecbtusrv 1876 the Legislature of Virginia authorized
Gov Nicholas to apply to Judge Rushrod Washington then
nroprc,yr Of Mount Vernon for leave 10 remove the re-
mains OF General and Mrs. Washington from Mount YER
non to Richmond TO be placed under Inc Monument pro-
nosed Ia BIZ cree tp the of Washington AT the Cap
al of the Stale Judge Washington declned and, among
other reasons stated the following:
"But obligations more sacred thun any thng which con-
Germs NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. with which cannot dispense
command retain the mortal remains OF my veneraed
uncle in the family vault where they deposited ms
o,rn ,c and that rW is 10 lao Hhch dare not DIS
Obey He has himself directed his body should % Pact'
there, and cannot separate from lhose OF his hea 'c'1
tives by which il is surrounded"
On the l3,h of February 1892 the Houses of Con-
cress appointed joint committee to mako arrangements III"
the centennial birth day OF george
The Hon. Henry Clay appointed Chairman on the part
OF the Senate aud the Hon Philemon Thomas on the part
of the House. Chief Justice John Marshall was requested
10 deliver al; Grafton the OCCASION but decncd pnc
av on the ground that addition the pressure OF his
official duties he physically unable 10 perform the task
his voice having become SO weak as 10 De almost
even in room not unusually large
resolution was recommended BY the committee pro-
posing that application he made the propre,ors OF Mount
Vernon body of George Washington 10 be removed
and deposited in the Capitol in conformity with The resolu
ton Of December 1899 l provided also that the pre-
siding officers the Houses should prescribe the order
of such ceremonies they might deem suitable 10 he
occasion the inermcn of the body Of George Washing
ton In The Capitol OH the 22d February, aud that the two
Houses should attend ihcm
Mr. CLAW suppurrei the resolution in his usual eloquent
and impressive style and referred the fact that those en-
with the execution OF tho Capitol had already pov
ded vault under the Of the Iolunda for The express
purpose He thought The proper time TO carry out The un
redeemed pledge OF Congress.
Mr. Forsyth opposed the resolution on The ground OF inc
expressed wish oil Gencra Washington who required in his
will that his remains should rest in The family vault
Mr. Tazcwe and Nlr Tyler also opposed the resolution
which supported by Mr. Webster Mr. Sprague and Mr.
Bib.
The resolution finally adopted by vote Of % yeas 10
Is nays.
Joint resolution which The Senate concurcd for uoooca
lng The remains Of The consorl vi Washington win his OWL
in their disin termcn, Mount Vernon an rein cment III
their appropriate mausoeum the Capital Of the Union
The Legislature OF Virginia forthwith took acl'n al me
suggestion OF Gov Floyd and passed @ on
oUh of February 1882 demonstrating against the proposed
removal: ,,
"ssso!red unanimously That the proprietor he earnestly
requested in the name OF the people 81 this State no 10
10 the removal OF Inc remains Oh uehe'a "s
ton from Mount Vernon ,, =. nm,
prnted Judges Brooke and Marshall and MAJOR James oo
bon 10 DO the bearers Of the communication to Consess-
The proceedings Of Virginia on the subject were
entered upon tho journals
Application having been made the proprietor Mr. John
A. Washington he declined the ground that The WIZ oil
Washington in regard his remains had been recenuy
carried a,o effect and they repose in perfect tran
guilty. surrounded by those of other endcated members o
| the family. -
sent and congratulated the Government upon the approach
ing consummalion OF great act of national gratitude
But no TURNER s.eps "G,e ahen ~ sodancn wa.
placed upon Journal order that might be UNDERSTOOD
that Congress had gone the Of its in the case
al subsequent period proposition was made IN Congress
to carry out The otJec. resolution Of December 1879
in regard to the National Monument but the reply was ina
Washington had monument In every american hea,' a'
there need Of monumental pile at The Cipllo.
or late years the purchase OF Mount vernon oy the IVA
ton agitaed. 1t will be that virginia mas az
eye lie object In The late message vi roveno
Johnson the Legislature OF that State, alter referring
the Monument in process Of erection IN The IaIo
Square Richmond he makes the following recommends
ton: sr -
apecluliy earnestly recommending TO The i'egssiui
the ptopeiy the purchase of Mount Vernon by the Sa
Of Virginia And do so al this time the more particularly
because there is TO upprehcnd that about 10
n the hands Of strangers. The importance oil Inc acqu
son of ,hia property by the United States has irtqnen
been brought the attention OF Congress, and Is srp
this commcndabG PROJECT mas met Win so l'
favor, For this should feel thankful, because
once The property of The Federal Government we nigh
never been able 10 repurcEasc H. This should nevr
be- Whilst we might reasonably prefer that it should DC III
nropey of the Union rather than belong 10 any private IN
diyidua yet Virginia, ind she only, should be the own
err and have control OF this sacred and constcraed spot
where rest the mortal remains OF hor Immortal son. WI
else Virginia should this ha!lo~ed spot--o guar
and u him whose name will be rcvered
Ions as one shall live admire American iberiyl An
should some ruthless hand disturb This sepucrc Of III
honured dead change The primitive simplicity OF hi
former rcdencr nf shame would come over ever
Vgniap and he would feel that That had been lost wtc
could not estimated in dollars and cents. II 1t Gun
purchased them upon fair and reasonable terms lei Ms do
at once lu, may preserve il in its primitive simpl
city and beauty be freely rrsutlei TO By all admirers
true greatness and human liberty and 10 be- gaZcd BY
who may pass upon the beautiful Potomac.
"Consdering The character OF hm whose name has thrown
this halo Of glory around The spoil aud in view oi the Inc
that foremost usual in whatever good and great
presided The first Agricultural Society that ever met
Virginia. do not know that the property could he more az
propatry disposed Of than 10 convert il into model farm
and establish upon II Stale Agricultural School Ii hi
disposition should your approbation then Nigh
be we'll consider the propcy of establishing there lie
rary institution OF kind different bass The frs
object however should be tic acquisition of the properly
y