Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-07-08

We publish 4 communication to-tlly from John II
Gilmer, Esqr, on the subject OF the purchase of
Mount Vernon. 1t was not our purpose to get into
any controversy about this proposed scheme for the
purchase of Mount Vernon by contributions from the
ladies, nor do expect TO do so in taking a brief
notice of Mr.. Gilmers structures upon our editorial
on this subject which appeared in our paper Of the
9th inst. 1t is matter about which private indvi-
duals may exercise their choice II the ladies'
per to pay the sum OF 5000 900 for Mount Vernon it
oil this country, or any private individual think pro-
Is matter of no consequence to We have for
time past complied with solicitations to publish ar
tcles from newspapers, and communications furnish
ed us, iavoring this move the part of the ladies'
and in doing so we took occasion to state in the ed-
toria referred to- that We not to be understood
as urging the scheme upon them--briefy giving our
reasons for not doing We have yet to meet with
any argument to induce us to change that opinion
This proposition to purchase Mount Vernon, at a
cost Of 100000, is based upon the run,or that the
owner has been offered that sum for it by company
of spectators, but where is the evidence Of it? 1t
might as reasonably be contended that the ladies'
should raise million of dollars because it is r,rnored
that million have been offered, when, or, by whom
nobody knows. On this ground the same Obligation
any amount that it is inssted should now PROMPT
them to contribute 100000. Should this company
ospccuators finding that the 5000 900 would be raised
by others, determine to put up 'the market value" OF
the tomb of Washington to a much higher mark
why, by the same logic the proprietor of the Mount
Vernon estate would be perfectly Unstable in de
mandng their bid Of any body else, and the obliea.
ion would rest upon the ladies' the State of Virgino
or the Federal Government to bid as high as specula
tors might choose TO bid and that without properlv
taking into consideration whether it was not after all
sham bidding. The present owner of Mount Vernon
may be the honorable high toned gentleman he is re
presented to be for aught we know, but until we
have some further proof Of the alleged market
value" Of Washing,on's grave than has been given
upon mere heresay say, we beg leave to be excu cd
from advocating the purchase at the price nj
proposed We object to any such system of oxtor-
ton. 1t may be questioned whether there is any
more improperly in company specializing upon the
tomb OF Washington at % cents per head on visitors
than 40 individual doing so by sale al n profit of
dollars by the hundred thousand The sacred spot r
desecrated by speculation in either case
We do not understand how this is scheme "lo
dedicate the tomb Of Washington as a shrine Of
Southern devotion" The article which we copied
from the Philadelphia Balletia of the 9th ult by
request Of the friends Of the move, says "Tbe Ia
dies Of Philadelphia will be called upon shortly las
their SEX who has volunteered for the honor
able but in some respects unpleasant task of obtain
ing their subscriptions to the fund for the purchag,
Of the Mount Vernon estate &c. It seems, then
that the fund is to be raised 10y the contributions Of
Northern and Southern ladie combined which moy
be well enough in accomplishing common object
but 1t has The appearance Of being strange mode o
procedure for Southern ladies to undertake to rescue
the tomb ofWashipgton from " Northern fanaticsm
and TO dedicate II as shrine Of Southern devotion,
by the ALL Of Northern money.