Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-02-16


y Thy place of memory as an altar keepst...,,
cJFo So tsH Grave OF RorheT.-HkAANs
In this utilitarian age, stamped with the impress
OF the ubiquitous dollar, we are compelled 10 ac-
knowledge that patriotism is at di;cohnt.
voice has gone forth from the Legislative
halls oil our national capitol, that a grand public
yendue OF the dust and Wondering remains OF the
father of our country is proposed, and bidders are
invited by the course OF silence pursued by Con-.
gieSs on this great national event. to he present at
the purchase, whilst The newspapers from one end
of The country TO the other hawklhe resting place
OF WAsnINoToN. OF Liberty, W here is thy SPIRIT
OIL Freedom, where is thy strength?
Can 1t be possible, thatin country so vast in
extent and so illimitable in boundary, that few
acres OF ground, solitary spot, around which
clusters all that is dear to liberty, cannot be ex.
empt from the DISCERNING hand of mammon7
Morris Virginia herself excusable. The State of
his birth-she who heretofore has always been the
foremost to lay her offerings on the shrine Of free
dom-siIe who prides herself on her chiralruus
charac;er-shc Who'll the mother OF tue GracchI
of the Republic, assumes the character OF a des-
picable chaherer oYet The dust and bones. OF tue
great American. T.
There was time when patriotism commanded
prelnlum-when liberty was no nalne, and liee-
dom no sound; when grateful people delighted 10
show honor 10 The memory of the great, and to
throw aroundthat memory protecting shield
Tut now, alas! how differen MT!
The Iacls OF the case are substantial ly these:
The present proprietor of Mount Vernon desires
TO sell it. company OF private spectators olTtt
purchasei II al the sum oftwo hundred and fifty thou
sand dollars. The proprietor deSiTeS that II shall be-
come tina property of the Nation. The Governor
OF Virginia recommends, in his last annual mes
sage 10 the General Assembly, that the State pur-
chase II and establish there model Agricultural
inrn. III IS also further proposed that the remains
of Washington be removed 10 Washington City or
RlchmS nd. This last proposition of The removal
OF the remains or Washington, before
tnooted in CONGRESS, in the year 1882. The GEN
sral Assembly OF the Slate of Virginia, and the
,CUngtess Of the United >tates have teulporised.-
Neither have yet taken any definite action in re-
gurd TO its purchase. Lifetime limited i'll which
the Federal oyernment must make It's purchase,
and thus secure its sanctity, fost expiring and
soon it willsbe TOO laie. fti
Have Congress no interest in this great souve-
nirf Has II come 10 this, that the Nation has
grown weary OF lis SACRED trust, or that Virginia
has ceased TO estimate the brightest jewels IN her
diadem?
Remove the remains OF Washington? Desc
crate the sanctity OF his grave, and mar th= hal
lowed "reminiscences OF Mount Vermont Great
Col, forbid! ShudeS of WASHINGTON and JEFFER-
SOY, and you, We santed heroes and patriots of the
past, II II be thatyOu are permit, to revisit the
scenes OF earth, and unseen participate in the con-
Germs q time, iniuse INTO our cold and languid
hearts the splrIt OF patriotism, and kintle tie exp
rug flame of love aud reverence for your uauirs
your memories and your flames.
Remove the remains of Washington, and why?
With sickly paseantry to ape European pomp and
hollownessl Why not, then, if Tins be the motive,
remove the lemains of JEFFERsoNls of MADIsoNi
of MARsMALL2 and host of others, whose names
are inscribed IN characters &c living light upon the
records of an undying fame2
What place so meet lor the repose of the re-
mains OF the great Captain, as his well selected
spot upon The beautiful banks OF the Potomac,
where The ripping the munnuring wuve as ii
flows by his resting place, recalls ns virtues and
awakens The memory OF his deeds; aud where the
sohester OF the wood hOyer upon poised wings
above his sepulchre, and tune their soest lays IN
memory of The great departed7
o! let it be said that the Nation has grown
weary Of ITS yiglls at the tomb of Westinghouse
that the high pri st has tainted with exhaustion ut
tie altar Tradition states that the fires upon the
Aztec teocals were never permitted to die out for
want of fuel, butt day and night priest set
apart for the purpose ministerial 10 the flame. So
should 1t be with The fires of liberty, winch should
never be permitted 10 die out upon the alter of our
heats; buteach,inan should be the priest 10 min
ister to The flame IN his own breast. The best
way 10 do this is to recur often 10 The metnory of
the past, and 10 guard well the memories Of those
who sacrificed at the shrine Of liberty aud ireedom.
IsLANp HoME, Wheeling, Va, Jan. 1884. n