Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-06-08

cnuse has received the most Invaluable services
Others have characterization have bee
rendered, and also %0vertures deeply grathvih
in behalf of literary parties. While VIC e'
press our heartfelt appreciation of these act
we embrace this opportunity of publicly announcer:
we neither desire nor intend sectionality. We ft
none towards those whose patriotism knows no N"rti
South, East or West. We extend n cordial welconi
to all such who approve our undertaking as place
before them and desire to mid in its success, and "
hope to see thousands from the remotest sections OF Oh
country gathered within the folds of this "Glorlou
enterprise" Is it not enough to arouse every putrlt
to action
Shull q Shaksperinn Club preserve tho house j
which was born the master mind who crowned theli
country with poetic glory, und we not do as much 10
n place hallowed by the life, the death, the burial @
our Cuuntry's Fnther-"ihe PGrthenon Of Men =
Te princes of wraM : Many nre your proud dona
tions to the gallant, brave and good! Shall there b
none TO record for him, the "moulded echo OF IN
worlds heartbeat for freedom"
Homasi Grateful love made you first at the Hol.
Sepulchre of Mans Redeemer-should it not ais
carry you to the ssecond spot" Of enrth-the home
the grave of the "model' man, as hero. sage, Chris
tim, "whom all ages seem combined to mould Il
clay!' Is there one of you who has no patriotic
pride, no high purposes, no offerings for his tomb
Ye of feeling hearts and generous souls, como
to this noble work! ie gifted, influential and ener
getic, stand not back, for it needs but such As you Il
make worthy of him and OF us that spot which
even in ruins, stands alone! In the words of another
-'from the sacred soil Of Mount Vernon there rise:
ever to the ear of the pilgrim a Language incapable
alike of expression by words or sounds, a language
which addresses itself not to the understanding bu
to the heart. He is sensible in n moment of the in
spiration of the place-his frigid philosophy vani.he'
as he approaches it, and he is ready 10 put oD ht
sh0es from has feet, t0r ne knorS tie spoI on Th'cf
he stands is holy ground !"
Can We longer neglsct it, or hear ourpoet r~eproach
fully ask
"Wh.t gate, Of brass invite the stranger here,
To turn with awe and contemplate his dusu
What mausosum rises DER his bier
TO sculpture high the gloyifs due The JG1?
No civic guard. no priest, no vestRl near,
TO smooth the turf and wipe nwnT the rustl
Drur nigh, sEssi eOaHtryromdH, REG Mr spot,
4 prey 10 P~chnry--t0 Garth q 5tGt
Oh. no. Let Jeremiads be turned into songs of praise
and triumph, whose thrilling tones shall penetrate tn,
ends of earth, p~roclaiming tn its darkened minds, "bo
hold American women, if you would know all tht
value to man of the principles and labors OF our Wash
ingtSn" ,n.;nn, .1n an...nmo
of the future, our chiIdren's children will look upor
the consecrated memorial OF our love and gratitude
AZ do the descendants OF the signers Of our ImInorta
Declaration, and from it proudly claim their patriotic
their noble ancestry"
S!gn'd,
NOES. yERso4 CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE UNION
THE SOUTHERN NATIONS LETTER To VIRGINIA
ADDRESSED TO Mr.. GILMER, C0hRLsPoNDiSo
SECRETARY OF THE MoUST VERNON STATE
COMMITTEE OF VIRGINIA.
Mr.. GILMER-Sir We received soma limo since
your letter, with copies OF your correspondence with
| MFR. Washington, the proprietor of Mount Vernon. As
YOU will rccOllect, We requested you to withhold the
publication Of the correspondence, until We could com.
f~bun;2ate with Mr.. Washington. On the Both of Septem.
her We addressed him alctter, n copy (which We here
with enclose you. We are truly grieved thar our effort
hns proved as unavalling IL so!rs. This Is certainly
IN unexpected result. But, ar ~" enterprise is
n noble one, involving in our stimati 4 sacrrd
dniy, and addressing Itself tn the d%nushters OF
. Iteri"a with Il silent ami persuasive e%loqucncc too
powerful 10 i.c vnlecdci-wc should not despair
We should be eGudi &c the OCCASION, aud resolve on
succession, the present posture of this business is
such, that We can but succeed it we viii address our
selves III good carncstto the difficulties aud cirbhrrG,s-
ren.a WHICH but seem To surround H.; and such is our
faith in, and alliance on the high and holy influences at
work in this matter, ti;Gt 20 feel 0urrcSulutiOm but in.
creascs with tho necessity ior higher eycrtion. This
CAUSE has already brought forth such glowing
zeql, aid ardent, energetic LAHORE -sI'Gh holy nGd iof-
ty ~pnt1aisq ID is worthy Of the purcr aud brighter
days OF our republic-Ar3 should that cause suffer it.
gelf to be OBSCURE .ci, TO pass 4"Ry aud leave no en-.
during evidence Of its eyistcicc--o! nov W. yet CRATE
fully clcrisl, and reverence the memory dfthe Father
of our Country's freedom and gfeainess-that ilnper-
.uneliun Of elevated patriotic virtuG--thht apostle OF a
new era IN mans moral and political history! As
suredly not. There is hope ofsuCccss, even in the exist.
ing state of aflnirs, and should we ri~lJW WetlIink we
hcar an emphatic - never from every iW, and the
rlcltlI, I'll, en-, .hDuHl ' tEIpH u!'tso '"p 'ui"S 'h'
il may dc.GeLa Il aecred trust Invested with wo-
mans fulfill aud hope 10 pIEterl'yirom every noble
heart.
Failure then is impossible--for, il it shocla
bcfull our first and hottest purpose, another, about
,t,;ci, there can be no doubt, equally worthy OF our
effort, md appealing to our feelings, is before us =
We can enshrine That k%,."nnfiftl SarcoplnGns, winch
an humble patriot provided, :-it!! y Maus"lenm
worthy of him and Of us-Rnd secure the pro-. sails
faction of knowing that 10 matter what i. the failure
frtnf ~ Mount .rt,,n - M tuUff.r whether his rrlyp
j. surrounded by = Busy looms "groanJng sufferers
or = ,oiliug laborcrs'-wg :.Gyc invested it with II
protected aud hallowe1 appearance Y$ich nothing
can destroy il fell to grateful wo;Ea. 10 reIDrnibGr
q Wrliugi0B-a Calhoun,-%kdN she-can she forget
q Washington
Noble souls have labored with Us in the cause. To
their untiring zcal is due Interest and eItengion from
Alabama To Pennsylvania, and they are now lnspired
TO follow ma far az we dare - lead.
That will be to- Snrcess to the tomb OF Washington
el to hil 'home," provided, daughters Of the Old Do
minion, her spirit yet burns within you and you fail
us not, Like Lord Lyndhurst. "cnward-till onward"
must be our motto, aud noble results VIII oe our re-
ward.
Alter nnch patient reflection, we venture 10 slg-
rest, that i the Ladies' Of Virginia, with q united effort
worthy Of The occasion. and of their state pride ahd
patriotism, would now petition tel legislature oil IT
rinia TO ~coqtraci. for the purchase Of Mount Vernon,
~rrscrviny to itself the titlc-hut allowing TIE women
of America TO pay for it-and TO carry out their or.
ginul plans, such would be the electric influences OF
their generous effort, that the title deeds to the
FHomr md Grave of Washington" would soon be
held accprc under the 'sovcrci.n has" OF his native
State! If orec in the future period of our national
history, the Union ssovld &c in serious danger, polIti'
cal storms rocking II TO its Dase,o o, rDliling Il IN twain
there will be such Il moral grandeur! lperbaps &h as
suarinp influence We cannot now estimatej IN the mere
fact that the tomb uf Washington rests secure under
Inc flag of his native State, ~rashJIHcd in the devotion.
al reverence Of the wives, mothers and daughters Of
the Union, that il viii be tA over the civilized
world, making glad every elevated md Pa'r'otIc
heart! We can but deeply regret that Ar. Washing
tons peculiar views prevented his seeing tho BEAUTY
and Fitness Of such a grateful testimonial, us wouIl,
in the words Ut another, throw around nat SP0t
u "vestal purity" yelling il from Mammon,s gnzs ana
shielding it from "partisan dcsecfaiun'' But, AZ ne
prefers action with Legislature dodrS-qsscrts be vii
nnuIy cell 10 the United States or Virginia directly
and az the United States cannot PURCHASE without the
consent of the estate IN which the same shall be
md % any Yirginian's conscrY Gt!ve eWsotthcI olstl-
tuition, as weI!a s Virginin pride, domesticp peace ana IN
terest, making such ownership rs impolrtic as we sup,
pose il is impossiblc--all We then ask is, that she WIN
herself become the arbiter Of the future fate Of Mount
yern1n-which she has now the opportunity ct do
i%ng-.without the employment of doubtful constitu-
tionnl powrr, or OF State funds. This request Is
based upon the nov increasing desire to see that place
kent sacred, uni n conviction that i neither cail' nor
will he done by the use Of State Or government ilnds
to say nothing of the prudence Of avoiding snch n
precedent in n Republic where the VIII OF Inc ma
iority Is bur 100 Ollcu ike u surElhT i"e' u'nie",' "
be restrained, even by constitutional bnrrlsrs and its
own most solemn obligations. This rich and extensive,
country con afford one spot with which money, nnd
its yearly interest have nothing to do, and all will say,
Thai SPOT should be the "last resting place OF him to
whose prudent guidance and noble patriotism our
lind is so deeply indebted. -,
we think we have said enough. Yet the cavil-
ling may inquire, il Mr.. Washington says he
will 'only sell to the United States or Viz.
ginia," why not leave the matter entirely to themi-
We answer, that our patriotism makes us unwilling,
for several justitable reasons, mud, TO prcclnde con-
trnversy, for which we have no TASTE, IA we'll az
10 lay brtore all, upon irhom mr cnN tOr nid, the pre-
sent view. and objects" of this asgociati0n, we feel 1t
best tn be explanatory now.
lst.-Tbere is no surety that either of the parties