Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-07-28

interest, making such ownership 40 ilnpoliiie as
we suppose it is impossiblc-al we then ask il, /
that she will herseif bedome the arbter Of the /
future fate of Mount yeruon-which She has |
now the Opportunity Of doing-without the I
employment Of doubtful constitutional power or
Of State funds. This request is based upon the I
now increasing desire to see that place kept sa-
cred and q neither can, nor will be done by the
use Of State or government funds--io say moth !
ing Of the prudence Of avoiding such prece-
dent 10 a Republic where the will Of the ma
joiiiy is but too often like surging tide, diff
cult to be restrained, even by constitutional bar
riers and its own most solemn obligatinns-
This rich and extensive country can afIbfd one
spot with which money, and It's yearly interest
have nothing to do, and all will shy, hai spot
should be the "last resting place" Of him to
whose prudent guidance and noble patriotism
our land is so deeply indebted.
We think We have said enough. Yet the
cayilling may inquire, il Mr.. Washington says
he will "only sell TO the United States or Vir-
ginia," why not leave the matter entirely to
them I'VE answer, that our patriotism makes
Us unwilling for several justifable reasons, and
to preclude controversy, for which we have no
taste, as well as TO lay before all, upon wlom
zee call for aid. The "presen, views and objects"
OF this association, we felt il bes, to be explain
atory now.
Ist.-There is no surety that either of the
parties mentioned will be competitors for this
patriotic prize.
2nd.-We object to purchase by Congress
most strenuously. Is there a true patriot with
any regard for the credit Of his country, who
has not had his feelings outraged by debates on
the Congressional floor, and the resolves Of some
Of our State Legislatures on this subject A
slight evidence of what would result if posscs-
SION should make it ''ihe great yearly battle
ground Of pro and anti-slavcry aniipaihies. -
The heart sickens at the mere thought Of such
a future for it, such scenes for ourseices, and
We hope that Virginia ill never permit ii
] 3d.-We demur to any government purchase
whether State or federdlive, e,-JccnLse such could
not obtain for il 'desiinaion" much more
creditable to our conniry or more gratifying to
our patriotic pride than that contemplated by
"Speculators institutions, requiring a
practical PurPos, to obtain the poioer 10 buy, OF
remiricrdtirc interest on the invested funds
We do not consider that "a model farm where
daily work inirudcs-or Hospital, where the
maimed and suffering con,aminaie TO the com.
monest purposes Of liie-exactly consistent
with the reverence due, land felt by US for)
the memory and character Of him whose life
ia SO intimately associated with that spot
therefore, we desire to obtain Mouht Vernon
and besiow il as trust gifi to Washington
Mother Statc-"not only TO secure il fureve
from tho contingencies incident ioa private pos
session'-but TO ensure ii fate which will in
crease, not diminish, or destroy, the sacrednesi
Of feeling with which Americans should eve
regard a. To do his the house and ground,
Of Washington should be repaired, and KEEP
just he leit them-his tomb made commen
suraio with his worth aud services, and of
nations estimation Of and gratitude for them
Not as now, surpassed by thousands amongst u
who have leit but riches to tell they lived an,
died And we trust that then the home il
which hn once dweli, will become the deposi
;ory Of the cherished relics" now scaltere,
far and wide, and running the risk in changing
private hands of not comforting the amount o
pleasure which they would hestow there
! while the surplus ground, which may Of neces
sity be included, In order TO complete this beau
iiful whole, could be cultivated in landscap
style, to be adorned with monuments to any O
our great national bcneiactors whom grateful
, people might choose thus to honor
: Is not this a scheme worthy Of the dead--o
our couniTy--and OF our concentrated energies
Is there one OF our sex whose heart woald no
: throb with qualification at the bare thought q
l boing able to assist in securing such result
Yet, il is painful truth, that we are daily los
. ing our appreciation Of the acts, our graiitud
5 and reverence for the memory of the founder
of our country's liberties. No,o is the time
0 therefore, TO accomplish this high purpose Will
: there is patriotism enough left to do it And
D as we are assured it can only be done by soOe
/ ans self-denying generous zeal, the Associa
ton considers itself the most suitable becaus
the most reliable agents, bound not to yield I
0 any surmOuntaJlc obstacle, for who will yentur
1 second effort; if, after our exenions, we sui
fer failure
) What though the enterprise be costly as we
as great-dependng more upon enlisting man
{ zealonsly preserving characters than on recei'
|, ing large donaiionsi it would be foul slande
t upon warm-hearted lcomen-eyer ready to hav
heI hooleI Impulses moved 10 WOFtny ueeuS-t
i doubt there will be a sufhciency of such-or @
: the generous aid onr abundant means can be
stow Even the timid will be inspired wi,
o the confidence which leads to action, when the
a learn that ten cents from each Southern won
# an alone can raise the sum of 5000, 900 for III
: saleable portion Of the estate, which Nj
I Washington consented TO receive from the con
o Pany. The same petty amount from the won
# en- Of the unisn could soon bring about III
r fuifllment Of our highest aspirations! Il
+ none refuse Jealous cooperation for fear the
9 shall never see all accomplished. As in a
= other great enterprises, We have but TO con
= Dlenoe with the confding assurance that poste
n ity will profit by our example, and finish viii
Q we begun
Il With these views, sir, and the convictio
n that such result, however creditable TO OIL
7, country, is not aitaiuable by government I
" State action, are we not justified in looking
# the apprecalive and gallant assistance OF Il
r,,. IF Whit. T.. Iii. ,a,actsx