Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1854-03-09

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N orlh American continent, they will be as
appropriate they were when the old thr-
teen entered into the compact of Union.-
But great and vast majority of our people
love them. We have passed through many
vicissiiudes, both in peace and war, many
conflicts and revolutions of parties, but none
Of them have been sufficient to shake their
solid foundation in the hearts of the Amer
lean people. So long as this continues. he
indeed would be lost to every appreciation
of what tends to the true glory of man, to
every idea of what tends 10 the permanent
existence Of nation, if he despaired of our
Republic. Ifcany,hing can destroy us, il
will be our unfsi,hfulness to the principles
of the founders of our Republic, i. will be
our recreance 10 the great duties they lefI
behind them for us to perform. We have
nothing to fear from foreign powers-we
are mighty enough TO resist the world in
arms-we have only to fear ourselves.
Respected audience, there is one subject
especially appropriate to the celebration Of
the birthday of Washington, | mean the
place where his remains now rest. Says
Webster, 1--WE naturally look with strong
emotion 10 the SPOT where the ashes of
those we have loved repose." !! is natural
for man to love the memory Of departed
|friends-and this love in great measure,
cliDgs 10 The spot where their ashes repose.
If we GO back to the frs, ages Of the world,
we have abundant evidence of this instinct
of man. This instlnc, clings to US, not on
ly as regards kindred and friends. but also
as regards national benefactors. The trav-
eller who visits Egypt has the evidence be-
fore him in the mighty pyramids, which al
most pierce the skies, the enduring work Of
thousands of years, made to perpetua.e the
memory, and preserve the relics Of race Of
kings. A lille further on, he Gees the
granite tombs Of Thebes and Memphis he
sees around him magnificent edifices reared
in honor of the mighty dead. In every age,
from the infancy of nature, we find the most
sacred regard and reverence paid to the
memory of the dead. All religions-Jews,
Mussulmans, Christians, ln6Jels-all ma
lions, both ancien. and modern, have ever
been noted for their love and respect for
the tombs of the departed. Moses was
SO beloved by his people tha. his burial
place was concealed, in order that it nigh,
not be made an object of sacrilegious ado
ration, from the hig gh estimate placed Oh his
piety and services. This illustrates the ma
lure Of man, acting upon The character Of
those times, to love the memory of the great
and good. Gentlemen, as our hearts are hu-
man, they linger with patriotic alteration a.
round Mt. Vernon; as we-are men, we love
the spot where Washington sleeps. We
would be false 10 our nature if we did other
wise. There seems, at present, to be some
doubt as to who will purchase that veneraed
place. It's present owner is compelled 10 sell
it. Some time ago proposition was before
Congress to buy it, bu, i. failed. | canno,
believe lha. the General Government is un-
willing TO effect the purchase of Mount Yer
non, but refused on account Of the unwi!l-
ingness manifested by the Virginia represen-
tatives that i, should do SO. The Governor
Of Virginia recommended the same object
to her Legislature. know no. what action
it has taken upon it. Thoug it would be
more appropriate for the soil in which
Washington sleeps, to be national, like his
acts and his character, yet it is not material
whether Virginia or the country shall own
it. One, or the oher, undoubtedly should
10 either case, j! would be a place, where,
free and unrestraned, the American people
could resort, and pour forth their lbalions of
patriotism. In either case, the character of
the place would be in keeping with the
love and endearment Of our population
Virginia, probably, will purchase it. But
should she fail to do so, will Congress a.
gain refuse TO do n1 Will it be so unre-
aectIve Of the popular will. as to fail 10
give to the American people the spot where
their affections centre Would Virginia re-
fuse TO grant il Jurisdiction over that small
place? Will she, like the dog in the man
ger, neither purchase it herself, nor allow
The General Government to do so? can
not believe this | believe that Virginia
will be true to The memory of her illuslrl-
Gus son, and il she does not purchase Mount
Vernon herself, she will not obslruct Con-
gress IN doing so. And lastly, ! ask will
they both allow it to pass into the hands
of a company, when it now rests with
them To obtain it, whose object is un-
known, which there Is every reason 10 be-
leve is mescenary, perhaps to lay lax up
on The pilgrims who would resort 10 it, to
lay down their offerings upon the altar of
patriotism. If they allow this, stigma will
rest forever upon our counlry's gratitude,
upon our counlry's respec. for the memory
of the illus,rous dead. But will not look
upon this gloomy side. trust to better
things.
When we cast our eyes over our country,
and behold its vas, extent, unexsmpled pros
peri,y, and the grea. happiness its people
enjoy, we are naturally led to inquire int"
the suses tha. have produced these. They
have resulted from the character of our in