Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-02-22
From the Charleston Mercury.
To the Ladies of the South.

reverence lof departed greatness, aud good
ness, by Iatriotism aud a sense Of national
and above all, of Southern name, ventures to
appeal to you in bchalfof the. "Iiome and
/; Grave" of Washington.
Ladies Of South, Of region of warm
generous, enthusiastic hearts where still lin
gers some unscltish love Of Country, ane
! Countrv's honor, some chivaIric feelings ye
untouched by that Irrational spirit" Sc
rapidly overshadowing the morals OF ou
beloved land-a moral bright, fatal to man:
nOblcst attributes, and which love of money
and specula,ions alone seems to snrvive-td
!; you we turn, you. who retain some reverence
for the noble dead, some admiration ant
remembrance of exalted worth and service
even when they are no more' Of you. We
ask: Will you, can you, look on pasSlvely
and behold the home and grave of the
matcie ess patriot, who is so completely
Identified uah your land. sold as possession
to speculative merchants, without such a
feeling of Indignation, firing your souls a;
shall cause you to rush with one heart and
spirit to the rescue!
! Ladies Of the South, can you be still with
closed souls and purpose, while the worc
! cries Shame upon America, and suffer
Mount Vernon with al! its sacred ass"cia
iinus to become, as is spoken of and prohahle
the seat Of manufacturers and manufactures
noise and smoke, and the busy hum ofmen,
destroying all sanctity and rep"se, arouni
the tomb of your own worlds wonder! Oh
/ i, cannot he possible!
Wha, such sacrilcge, such dcsecration
while you have the hearts to lrel The shame
aud the porcr to- prevent it I! Never For,
hid it, shades of the dead, that the pilgrims
to tue shrue of true patriotism should lind
thee forgotten and surrounded by blackening
smuke aud dcafcuiug machinery, where
money, money, only money, ever enters the
thought, and gold, only gold, moves the
heart or moves the mind L!
Once, our Congressional Halls were the
resort of wisdom, integrity and patriotism /;
where emlightem heads and upright minds,
sought to fulfil there official obligations, by
comprchending and faithfully executing the
glorious code of laws" which bound us
into one common country, also by vIeing
with each other, who should add most to
that couutry's veal at home and glory
abroad.-Washiugtnn, aHu s-r---'r.'.s,
and liz .sri,it, nppvsr no longer to influence
III. city which bears his name. Oh, who
that have spark Of patriotism, hut must
mourn such early d,.gencracy, when they
see who bill our Legislative halls, and crowd
our Metropolis! Who can restrain Pang
Of shame, when they behold the annual
rush thther of Jobhers and bounty seekers,
of office aspiranls and truckers of party
corrup,crs and corrupted, all collecting like
4 tlock of vullurcs to their prey-Prowllng
and polln,ing the grave high purposes o'
Legislation.
Ladies' Of the South should we appeal to
such asihcsc to protect the grave OF Washing
ton from the grasp of the specuator and the
worldng Aud should we appeal either to
or through your Senators aud Representa-
tivps! What have they done or would or
couid do. in that mrphi,ic air!
No, it is you, mothers aud daughters OF
the South, that the appeal can be made with
hopeful confidence !, is womans office
to he Il vpStal, and even the" fire OF liberty
NAV need the care of her devotion and the
purity Of her guardianship. Your hearts are
fresh, rcrcrcntial, aud animated by lively
seusibties aud clevating purposes.-W''t
YOU, therefore, patriotism has not yet become
a name. And should there ever be agar
limcs to try mems souls" there will b!
found auoug and Of yon, AS Of old, her"lnes
superior to fear and selfish considerations
acting for country and its honor. believing
this, one of your countrywoman feels EN-
boldrnrd to appeal in the name OF the mothe
of Washington, and of Southern feeling ant
honor to all that is sympathetic aud generous
in your nature: to exert itself, aud by your
combined effort now, in village and country
town and city, the means may be ralse'
from the mites of thousands of gentle hearts
upon whom his name has yet magic spell
which will suffice to secure and retain III
home and grave as sacred spot for al
coming time. -,
A spontaneous work like this would b
such a monument of love and gratitude
has never yet been reared to patriot o
mortal man, and while it would save Amer
can homo, from blot in the eyes of gazln!
world, it woud furnish shrine where a
least the molhers of the land aud their lndl9
nant children, might make their offerings
the cause of the greatness aud prosperity
their country.
, 1t is known to you that Congress has vlr
, tually declined to purchase aud preserv
Mount Vernon in behalf of the nation. "
there is now a necessity for immedIat
, action, us schemes are on foot for its purchas
), by Northern capital, and its devotion to mon
ey.n,akimg purposes. 1t is, therefore, re
specllully and earnestly suggested to vol
, and by one who, in her descent, inherite
the sympathies and reverence Of those wh
y were once in the social relations Of life wit
the Father Of his country" that the Sout
i by general contribution, each mite, furnis
,, the amount sufficient for the puchase {
Mount Vernon. That the property be col
veved in trust to the President Of the Unite
# States, and the Governor of Virginia, to
y preserved aud improved in your name as
a hallowed resort for all people. That for
o continued preservation and improvement,
e trine be charged each visitor. And that yo
n contributions to effect those noble ends mi
be gathered into the Governors OF yo
State respectively, to be RENTED to Il
). Governor OF Virginia, with authority and G
,, rection to make the purchase.
q A SOUTHERN MATRoN.
!, =,
!" TIE LAsr.-Why is a conundrum tn
ILL., y oboet2 Repan