Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-01-23

I.Ap!ES NSP G!!F Htl NJ
CENTRAL ASs0ilAfiuS.

THE LAD!Es NSP It!E HDl NJ MENUS
CENTRAL ASsuilAiiuS.
Our rcadurs will doubtless remember q oorfospon'
Gcnce published in our columns a few weeks since
in whirl. Mr.. Washington refused 10 sell Mount Yer.
non {" the ladies OF America, though he expressed
his Willingness 10 allow the purchase +" be made by
Virginia, or ly the United States government II
was thought hv some. that IN attempt +" effect the
purchase would consequently be abandohcd-hn
there were warm hearts and energetic minds at work
that disbelievcd the possibility oi failure i'll n noble
enterprises; and they are still "up and DOING Tho
sSoutl,crn Matron," who WAS the first protector OF
the scheme, addressed 10 tho ladies of Virginia al
eloquent appeal, copiuring them not to abandon an
ATTEMPT which must hc eventually crowned with sue
cess. She urged them to appeal themselves 10 the
Legislature, and 10 induce the ladies' OF Virginia In
the various counties, and cities and towns, to appeal
through their respective delegates, soliciting the lie,
rislaturc of Virginia to contract for the purchase OF
Mount Vernon, and secure the title, allowing the Ia
DIES Of america to furnish the requisite funds. Her
adjurations have not fallen upon deaf ears or insensl'
BILE hearts-thcre was too much patriotism swellllS
in the breasts Of the daughters Of Virginia for that
A meetingof the officers and other friends to the en-
terprise was callcd-a new association formed, enti-
tied the Mount Vernon Central Association-the
President, Vice Presidents, Treasurer and Secretaries,
were appointed, and the work is to be carried on IN
good earnest.
The following is the letter Of the Southern Ma
tron," and e report OF the proceedings at late meet
ing:
For tic Enquirer.
APPEAL OF "a SOUTHERN MATRON" TO
THE LADIES OF VIRGINIA..
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 9TH, 1854.
JOHN II. GlLMER, ESQ.
Dear Sir:-I received, some time since, your letter,
with copies of your correspondence with Mr.. Wash
inrton, the proprietor If Mount Vernon. As you
will recUllcct, | requested you 10 withhold the publl-
cation of the correspondence, until l could commu-
nicate with Mr.. Washington. On the 3Oth of Sep
te,nber | addressed him n letter, a copy of which,
with his reply, | herewith enclose you. am truly
Crieved TO inform you ;hut my effort hts proved rs
uuavailing a. yours. This is TO me a most ~unexpcct-
cd aud painful result. But, az the enterprise is a mo-
bio QUE, involving, in my estimation, a sacred duty,
and addressing itself 10 the daughters Of America,
with Il silent aud persuasive cloqueuce too powerful
to be uuheeded, we should not yet despair. AS for
myself, | feel that my resolution increases with the
necessity for renewed and higher excrtions, anu |
make no doubt of the existence of a similar impulse
in the hearts Of those noble and generous ladies to
whose enterprise our cause already owes so much
We should bc equal TO the occnsinn, and resoire or
Success. The present posture of this business u such,
that we cnn but succeed If VIC address ourselves III
good earnest 10 the difficulties and cnbarrussneGts
which but seem 10 surround as. Such is my faith i'll
and reliance on tho high uud holy influences mt work
i'll this matter, that l shall never cease to exert my
self aud to invoke the assistance OF the women of
America, while there Is u nope th"t success may
crown our eNertions.
THIS cause lias ELECTED Il degree of zeal, concentra.
ted energies aud ardent labors-such pure, holy aud
lofty patriotism, as could not have been surpassed in
the brighter days Of our Republic; and shnll it all be
allowed to pass away without practical good, by the
present seeming barriers Ia SUGGEST Shall We, the
women of America, shrink from yet higher exerlions
in this effort to shield the Tomb OF Washington from
Mammon's gaze, and protect II from the lartizan'sde
%secrationl | canuo, cuuscnt" To yield up all hope, nor
do | believe my noble compecrs in this work Of tlial
love and sacred duty, will be so easily thwarted.-
We must secure Mount Vernon, that il may descend,
a sacred trust, invested with womans faith and hope,
to pUsterity.
But if, after our best excrtions, our high hopes and
pure aspirations should be finally disappointed, in
thus securing Mount Vernon, we can ut least, en-
shrine that beautiful sarcophugus, which all humble,
patriot heart provided, with Il monument worthy of
the Father Of his country, and characteristic of the
purity, holy zeal aud patriotic devotion OF American
women.
In this, we cannot fa1-aud 10 this end, in the
event of failure in procuring Mount Vernon, we must
direct our cnergies.-What would not such n monu-
ment, thus erected, speak for grateful woman'
After much patient reflection, | venture TO suggest,
tina, il the ladies of Virginia, with n united effort
worthy OF the occasion, and of their State pride and
patriotism, would now petition the Legislature Of
their State to contract for the purchase of Mount Yer.
nou, reserving to itself the title, but allowing the wo-
men of America 10 pay for il, such would he the
electric influence of their generous effort, that the
title deed TO the home arrd tomb OF Washington,
would soon be held secure under the sovereign
flag of his native State. As Mr.. Washington
excerpts to any and every tenure, but that
which Vests the title to Mount Vernon in
Virginia ur the Federal Government and ss
tue action at the latter is imprncticaGle with
out tho assent Of Virginia, which could not be given
with her construction of the Constitution, all we ask
il, that Virginia herself would contract for the pur-
chase, allowing the women of America to supply tho
funds; and our request is based on the now growing
desire to see TIA. Spo. made and kspt sncrsd, and the
conviction that this end cannot be obtained through
the use of State or Government funds.
This extensive, rich and growing country, can and
should afford one SPIT, with which money and its
yearly interest hnS nothing to do. | cannot. suppose
there is any legal impeachment i'll the way of the plan
which | have proposed, nor can | regard it u chimer-
ical.
Well considered, il presents many attractive tea-
lures, and wears on every fcnture the impress flea.
sibilitv. Nor should the ladies of Virginia shrink
from the effort, or the Legislature turn Il deaf ear to
their appeal. Fin the future period ofour nHtionalhisto-
~, the Union should be i'll serious danger, there Will be
u moral grandeur aud peace-bcstowing influence in
the mere fact that the TOMB OF WAsHISGToy rests
secure under the flag Of his native State, cnshrined in
the devotional reverence of the wives, mothers and
daughters of the Union. Whocould estimate the moral
influence resulting from this With these views. am |
venturing too far in making this appeal Through you)
TO the ladies' of Virginia | mn sure | cannot over
estimate their generous and patriotic emotions, in be-
lieving that | shall ever receive, at their huuds, u rca-
dy response and prompt and efficient action on this
subject. The daughters of Virginia must ever be
faithful aud dHttnl 10 the memory of Washington.-
Ny own heart assures Inc TINT In this work, and on
the occasion Uf the present painfully critical situation
of this important business, such an appeal, sanctioned
us it will be by the high and holy associations Incl
dent to the objects in view, can but be successful.
l can but hope that the Ladies' of Virginia will coll
cur in these views and energetically resolve 10 secure
the title to Mount Vernon, and efficiently hid in raising
the funds necessary to pay for il, and that the day
may not be distant, when, through their exertiOns, it
may become the Mecca Of the liberty-loving spirits
Of the world. As it is certainly most appropriate
that the daughters Of his native State should
conduct this enterprise, | respectfully invite the
Richmond State Committee TO become the Central
Committee of the Union, making Ia it such additions
as, in their Judgment, shall be thought judicious. i
am sure, wcro the ladies of Virginia appraised, to its
full extent, Of the Importance attached, elsewhere to
their position and influence on this subject, they
would devote to it their best cxcrtions. Many eyes
are now, in anxious s%olicitude, turned TO the delibera.
tions and actions of the Virginia Central Mount Yer
non Association. AL interested in this matter are
awaiting the action to be had by the Virginia ladies"
before they renew their cxertions in this enterprise
Their response to thIs-too feebly written appeal
NAV be decisive Of this important business, and glad.
den many IN anxious heart or destroy forever all hope
Of success. May it be most prompt and satisfactory,
and be heard in every family circle from the sea-shore
to the mountains in such tones as shall reach every
patriotic heart.
l trust, sir, that neither you nor the ladies' to whom
! address myself through you, will consider me rs in-
disposed to acknowledge the ~prnpriety of the course
which Mr.. Washington has thought proper to pursue,
or 81 far to misapprehend my views rs to regard me
as indifferent to the privacy of the personal proprie-
torsliip of Mount Vernon. lam aware Of the various
mud delicate points which the cnsuist may raise on
this subject. I have reflected on it in its national,
historical and moral relations, aud l can but regard
Mount Vernon as a part and parcel of n nations inner
itunce, far too intimately blended with the name, ser
vices and fame OF Washington, to DO regarded and
nnntnrnnlnknl un- n.hn.G nan.l,, nnin Mr.. / not ux-