The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-17
The Purchase OF Mount Vernon.

A number OF ladies Of Virginia, havipg made Q
proposition to purchase the home Of Warrington
clints the cffer in the following letter.
MOUNT VERNON, July &c, 1854.
To ]. Fl. GuMER, ESQ. Dear Sir: regret tina.
an absence from home has prevented me from CIV
ing the prompt ntion desired to your letter Of
the l4th ult., enclosing report Of the proceedings
Of a meeting OF the ladies of Richmond and Man.
che ster and copy Of your letter to the Richmond
Wing. You may rest assured, sir, that no one ap
preciates more highly than / do the patriotic mo.
lives which induce the ladies Of Virginia. and other
Southern Safes to take action on the subect which
has In this instance engaged their attention. In
deed, to those who know them as we do, no tvi
dence Is necessary to prove that they are actuated
in an undertaking by the pure and dislnterested
feelings which characterize them in all the rsla-
tons II life.
With every disposition to yield my views with re.
gard to the practicability Of the plan the ladies
have in view for accomplishing the purchase g
Mount Vernon, and admitting that there il arc J
any obstacle which tnsi, UNITING energy and deso
are still insu2erable objections In my mind 10 lhs
qualification of their wishes.
am entirely unwilling that Mt. Vernon should
pass from my possession. unless to the State Of vir
gina, or the United States. The only reason tina.
have for desiring this disposition Of the property
is that It may be preserved from the lot that must
eventually befa II, as private possession, in the
most necessarily attendant upon our form Of gov
eminent II would cause methe greatest regret, II
amid such changes, from any act Of mine or my d.
scendants, Mt Vernon should be perverted to use
Inconsistent with the veneration due to the msmo
~ and character Of him with whose LIE it is In
timafeiy connected. Yet cannot help foreseeing,
that % the prop ery OF any private person or 1850
citation, this lamentabe result must sooner or later
occur. It is true, that II the pan devised by the
Ia lies Is practicable, and 1t 10 consigned to the Gus
tody OF Virginia, this result would probably be 90
viafed.
But, air. beautifully as is the tribute Of gratitude
thca ant nd lodi wOul1 . IN, fhA
memo Of our common Father, would not the
world cry shame on the government and on the men
who would stard By and permit such sacrifice even
present It free gift to the State or nation (tis Is
either wou d deserve ny than be subject to the
modification of receiving these offerings Of patriot
ism from the mothers, wives and daughters OF Vir-
ginia. No, cir. much as admire and reverence the
many gIscts and virtues that adorn the ladies OF
my native State, i cannot consent to be To-
str umental in the erection Of the graceful monu.
ment, designed by their patriotism and illustrative
Of 1t, but which al the sans time, would com
me morste the degeneracy Of myself and the men
of our land.
I hope the views which have had the honor to
presen, with the most profound respect to the L.
approval and they will see that, In reluctantly de-
Ginning 10 yield 10 these wishes. ] am at the same
time filed with admiration for the emotions and
principles which have moved them ia the cause they
have undertaken.
/ should do injustice to my own feelings were TO-
close this letter without returning hspks to you sir
Individually, for the fair, manly and correct views
yoa have expressed in your letter 70 the Richmond
in relation to the sale OF this place. can a. gure
you, sir had ii been my sole o. chief motive in wish
ing TO dispose Of my property here, could long
since have done 80 TO much greater advantage than
the State the United States In the premises. In
pecuniary point Of view. the course Of either Is
Matter OF the most perfect indifferenceso much So
that never have, and think never SHALL approach
any person connected with either government upon
the subject.
am, sir, most respectfully yonr obedient servant,
JoHs a, WASHINGTON,