Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-03-16

pale moonlight; but in Edinburgh and nn its prnci-
pal street has she erected monument TO his memory,
which is perhaps thc most beautiful and classic nj ai
the monuments in Europe. little farther South. re
poses Mi that is mortal n Burns; and there too Scot
lana has erected Il monument, which does honor 10
herself and Ia the memory nt her sweetest bnrd.
England too, has her 81. Pauls, and her Wcstmin-
s;cr, where her poets statesmen, and heroes sleep
with her kings and dignity the scene
And France, slsn, has her Pantheon dedicated TO
the great souls remembered by their country" And
speaking of France how torciby am struck by the
r0HtraSi presented by the honors which have been
paid 10 the remains of Napoleon by tn. French Gov
ernmenr, and the neglect and disregard which has
been shown by Americans for the ashes of Washing
ton. The island of st. Helena WA, in itself, fit
resting place for the King of Warriors. There he lay,
| srpulchrcd i'll the grand mausolcum which
Nature itself had provided for him. There he lay,
alone, in the mid ocean, beneath the fierce blaze Of
the orrid sunfit emblem of his own fierce and fiery
genius-guaried by wavc-washcd proc pices, whose
base strcwe,i by the fragments of shpwreckcd
bnrks ht cmblems Of his own ruined tnr;uncs--whic
nj! around the deep lifted up It's waves, and with
h"irsc voice clanted his requiem. That rocky tomb
was landmark to all that went down 10 sen III ships
anu that did business in the great waters. Every pass
ING mariner cast hr anchor at 81. Helena, md paid
| ms homage at the shrine of the dead warrior. But
France was not content that her Napoleon should have
his grave on spot remote, aud with immense dit
hculty and expense removed his remains 10 her own
Capital, where, amidst the rejoicing Of the whole ma
| ton, the thunder OF thousand cannon proclaimed
that NAPoLEoS was once more upon the soil Of
France, while civil and religious honurs all conspired
| to give him nm august burial beneath the magnificent
dome Of the lnCaLdes, where he sleeps, guarded
! by his old soldiers and companions in arms.
How much easier would it have been for our Gov
ernment to have paid some becoming tribute to the
| grave Of Washington, which, almost within sight Of
the Capitol has been left neglect and torgetfulncss
Soldiers LEI the thunder your to-day pro-
claim that Washington is still remembered and that,
at least the Of Republics NOT ungratetul.
IL is not for the qualification OF State, American
pride merely that seek 10 oban permanent posses
sion of Mount Vernon but because Of the moral effect
of keeping such spot sacred from all proclamation,
and Of making it shrine 10 which the lovers of free
dom from our own and from all lands may resort not
! tn he dazzled. Mt the tomb Of Napoleon by the
| homage pnid to military glory-but TO be reminded
show awful goodness s," and there learn how di-
vine il the majesty of virtue, how god-lkc j. life
spent in generous devotion To the good Of ones
| try, and the welfare Of mankind
You remember the beautiful passage in Dr. John
sons tour TO the Western Islands, in which he clo-
qucnty describes the feelings which awakened
| by local associations. ~ Far be from u.s." says he,
"far be from us such frigid philosophy may con-
duct us indifferent and unmoved, over any ground
which has been dgnihrd by wisdom, bravery or vir.
| tue. That man is little 10 be cnvied whose patriot
ism would not gain force on the plains OF Marathon
or whose piety would not grow warmer among the
ruins Of Iona And say of the home and the touE
OF Washington Let us guard them from dcsccra
tom let take such measures for their preservation
hot through all coming generations, the youth Of oui
Republic may be attracted To them rs TO the haowed
affairs Oh which the sacred fire shall continue Ia burn
and at which the waning torch of liberty may be per
petualy rclumcd.
IL is due 10 ourselves, il is due Ia the memory oi
Washington, it il due Ia the pilgrims who make il THEN
Mecca from all land-. thn the finchonnrcI mansion
| in which Washington lived md died, should b" kept
from decay, and tile" with ali the relies which bc
collected OF the illuIr"us who once dgniicL il
with his presence.
The walls Of that venerable mansion have often
heard the story OF the Revolution from the lips oi Tie
immortal actors in that gorou. drama lis h"HpIta-
blcrOot often sheltered the patriot sages o that crn
nmd every iag-st"ne III the pavCmcnto the old pOriico
hns echoed the footsteps OF Washington, when after
the achievement OF our Independence and tho adop.
ton Of the Constitution, he walked beneath its sha.
dow III grateful medltat!un anticipating the coming
glDries OF the Republic, when pOpuuus aud powerful
States should spring from the bosom Of the then ul-
tracked wilderness until the mountains o the Pacific
coast should rcvcrbcratc the songs and look down
upon the heritage aud homes OF millions Of rejoicing
! freemeu.
Let it be our pious care TO guard the spot Of MI
others dearest 10 the Father OF his Countrywide spot
To which he frequently retired to find repose after
the tolls OF war and the vexaons Of public liie-the
spot cndcarcd 10 him by all the charms " domestic
peace the place where after the becoming and mag
nanimous discharge Of Nil the duties he owed his
country, he resigned his spirit 10 his God; and from
which hc assembled TO The services and honors Of Il
| II cher sphere.
The mos: attractive AMI encouraging feature in ihs
enterprise is, that is in the hands and hearts 1T
the ladies of the country do not stand here to pay
! idle and unmcanug compliments; bu, when did wo.
man, bent the accomplishment; OF any pure and
noble undertaking, fail of success And the Indies
oi this Commonwealth aud country once resolve To
give some visible and enduring expression of their
homage, and admiration, and reve.ential love for
| Washington, who does not know that triumphant
SUCCESS must crown the undertaking.
The enterprise in hand is simply this: To effect the
purchase OF the Mount Vernon estate through the
Legislature and Executive of Virginia, to be held by
them rs sacred trust-while the Indies of this and
Of all the other States in the Union who desire to aid
in the good work, shall form such organizations ms
will enable them to raise the funds necessary for the
! purchase
The contribution OF n single dollar from each mem.
ber is nil TINT will b, required to effect an object
patriotic and prascworthy. And il the amount {" be
Contributed were zen times ms great everybody il
perfectly satisfied that The Indies could raise the sun;
for they either have nil the money in the country Id
their possession already, or they know how to get II,
As to "hard times. so far n. their experience goes
they are literally KNOW, H"thnGs. hef oniy idehs
"t hard tunes are derived from wnat they overhear "i
the conversation o' thc'r husbands anh Drolicrs re-
cunary pressure IS something ol whch tnty are Ut
terly ignorant. Tue only pressure the women of this
country know any thlnT aDout, the rushing
OF silks and the nutter OF tnn5' ana the 'nolse ana
confusion ~ the Hail. rendered the remainder OF the
| Speakers remark inaudible.l
All honor we suy to the heads md hearts which
have devised this scheme for tie preservation OF
Mount Vernon All honor to the untlrIng PATRIOTISM
with which the "Southern Matron, IN her spirited
hopeful anu e!oquent Appeals has urgco on 'hs en-
tcrprse. g..
| 1t Is one which cannot Wholly fal Tor even I'M
ioreseen obstacles should ARISE 10 preYen. tne ptF
chase OF the Mount vernon mansion ana gronnd'
every dollar OF me money contributed VIII oe aeEo
ted to the erection OF monument "or'hy OF me To-
caty, III pace OF inc wIetchcu attempt nj t"n'o
when now oLehus goou 1a':e anl vola."t nv ass"
cartons "'''c" o"5"' u W III heeP"s VA" 'P0'
hallowed -.,, -.
regard !hs niGtnoo 9' n'hh'is !,.p ','on
more becoming "nd des!ranIe lhhn II ac sa;e "s.
10 buy Mount Vernon with money taken from It's own
treasury There Il somrlhiug affecting and touch,
insIy beautiful in this uprising Of hG ma'rans and
daughters o tsma , "G or s oua !" Svs re PER, ,
| Washington