Washington sentinel., 1853-12-25
The Tomb Of washington.

The following "reminiscences will be pecu
/ liarly attractive and impressive to virginlan
at the present moment, when the subject OF tn
purchase of Mount Vernon is being canvasset
both in Congress and the Virginia legislature
The resolution now before the House OF he
presentatives for the purchase of Mount Yer
non, brings to mind the past action OF our
government in reference to the remains OF
General Washington, and the tenor OF the de-
bate of Thursday may render the following re-
miniscence acceptable. s
In December, 1899, Congress passed resolu-
tions authorizing President Adams to cores
pond with Mrs. Washington, and ask her as
sent to the interment of the remains OF her
illustrious husband under q monument to be
erected by the United States in the Capitol, at
the city Of Washington. Mrs. Washington, in
a delicate and touching response, gave her
assent to the request. But the monument was
not erected, and the remains, therefore, were
not removed from Mount Vernon.
| In February, 1916, the legislature OF Vir-
ginia authorized Governor Nicholas to apply
to Judge Bushrod Washington, then proprietor
Of Mount Vernon, for leave to remove the re-
| mains of General and Mrs. Washington from
| Mount Vernon to Richmond, to be placed un-
der the monument proposed to be erected TO
the honor of Washington at the capital OF the
State Judge Washington declined, and among
other reasons, stated the following:
But obligations more sacred than anything
which concerns myself-obligations with which
cannot dispense-command me to retain the NOR
tai remains Of my venerated uncle in the family
vault where they are deposited. ~ Is ms ocn
wiH and that sciH is to me LaaO achich dare not
disobeyI He has himself directed his body should
be placed there, and cannot separate i from
those Of his near relatives, by which II IS sur
rounded" .5&.
On the 18th Of February, 1892, the two
Houses of Congress appointed a joint com
mittee to make arrangements for celebrating the
centennial birthday Of George Washington.
The Hon. Henry Clay was appointed chairman
on the part of the Senate, and the Hon. Phile-
mon Thomas on the part Of the House. Chief
Justice John Marshall was requested to deliver
an Grafton on the occasion, but declined, prin-
cipally on the ground that, in addition to the
pressure Of his official duties, he was physically
unable to perform the task, his voice having
become so weak as to be almost inaudible even
in room not unusually large.
A resolution was recommended by the COM
mittee, proposing that application be made to
| the proprietors Of Mount Vernon for the body
of George Washington, to be removed and de-
posted in the Capitol, in conformity with the
resolution Of December, 1899. 1t was pro-
vided also, that the presiding 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 Geo.
Washington in the Capitol, on the 22d Of Feb
ruary, and that the two Houses should attend
them.
Mr.. Clay supported the resolution in his
usual eloquent and impressive style, and refer
red to the fact that those entrusted with the
erection of the Capitol had already provided q
vault under the centre Of the rotunda for the
express purpose. He thought it the proper
time to carry out the unredecmed pledge Of
Congress-
| Mr. Forsyth opposed the resolution on the
| ground of the expressed wish of General
| Washington, 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.. Web
ster, Mr.. Sprague, and Mr.. Bibb.
The resolution was finally adopted by vote
of 20 yeas to Is nays.
On the next day the House of Representa-
tives adopted joint resolution, in which the
Senate concnrred, for associating the remains
of the consort of Washington with his own, in
their disinterment at Mount Vernon and rein
terment in their appropriate mausoleum, the
T n 4 f. =.
The Legislature of Virginia forthwith took
action, at the suggestion Of Governor Floyd
and passed resolutions, on the 10th Of Februa.
ry, 1882, demonstrating against the proposed
removal:
I" Resolved, nnanimonsly That the proprietor be
earnestly requested, in the name Of the people of
this State, not to consent 10 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 propri-
etor, Mr.. John A. Washington, he declined, on
the ground that the will Of Washington, in
regard to his remains, had been recently car
ried into effect, and that they now repose in
perfect tranquility, surrounded by those of other
endeared members of the family.
Mr.. Custis, the grandson of Mrs. Washing
ton, gave his consent, and congratulated the
government upon the approaching consumma-
ton of great act of national gratitude.
But no further steps were taken in regard to
the removal, and, on motion of Mr.. Thomas,
the correspondence was placed upon the jour-
nal, in order that it might be understood that
Congress had gone to the extent of its power in
the case.
At subsequent period q proposition was
made to Congress to carry out the object of
the resolution of December, 1899, in regard to
the national monument; but the reply was that
Washington had q monument in every Ameri-
can heart and there was no need of o monu-
mental pile at the capitol.
OF late years the purchase of Mount Vernon
by the nation has been agitated, 1t will be
seen that Virginia has an eye TO the same OBJ
ject. In the late message of Governor John
son to the legislature of that State after refer
ring to the monument now in process Of erec-
ton in the capitol square at Richmond, he
makes the following recommendation,
SIN connexion with this subject cannot re-
frain from respectfully but earnestly recommend
ing to the Legislature the propriety OF the purchase
of Mount Vernon, by the State Of Virginia. And
do so at this time the more particularly, because
there is reason to apprehend that it is about to
pass into the hands ofstrangers The importance
of the acquisition of this property by the United