Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-03-16
The slorics Of or birth and state
Are shudow-, no substantial things

Are shadow-, no substantial Things.
We ling0r by the las resting place of the orator,
whose clarion VOICE. lnrsince scnccd by death, once
swayed the tides of popular feeling in the riumphs
Of the Boua aud sigh for the ransitory influence
If genius exhibited ii the vicssitudes of life. We
pluck bit of ivy from the grave of the poet and
press it for q remembrance oi 80 much music that Is
hu-hcd forever but there comes no strain from the
suut snyc that Innurniul M>ryrr which mute Nature
sings in btwailinc her wnrshppcr: the poets name
has indeed been written III water But from the sa-
cred soil of 0un' Vernon there rises ever 10 the car
of the pilgrim language incapable alike of express
sion bv words or sounds language which addresses
itself not 10 the understanding but To the heart. he
is sensible in moment Of the inspiration of the place
his frgid philosophy vanishes as he approaches IT,
and he is rcndy put of his shoes from his feet, for
he knows the spot on which he stands rs holy ground
In view of tho admitted fact in the study of the hut
man mind that heroyOrship is the most universal! OF
human instincts have ever considered blessed gilt
of Providence that NC have such character to con-
template and revere MS that OF WAsIIS@ToN-;hc
more learning and spprecating which we arc our
selves benefited as by great moral tenchng-and To
which we may offer ceaselcss homage without losing,
but thereby actually adding to- our own se-rcspcct.
Much Us has been written and said of WAsHiSGToN,
in the terms nf cuoCy he has never yet received tu
iusticc at the hands ui mcu; live too his own
time and stand too close In his majestic proportions Ia
admit of that proper historical perspective BY which
alone his full cmincnce nay be taken i'll, ust rs one
must leave the valley at the base ot such mountain
us Mont Blanc, ana traverse miles after miles "i me
surrounding country before he can begin to see TO
whu mn .Inpyrcam elevation It's awful summit has at-
tained -.
But am not hero to spenk to you Of the lii' and
character of WAsHISGTON. | should trcmDlc u such
wer. the task assigned me- az always trcmblc when
hcaru Fourth of ,July orator, rounding his pretty
prrjots with that august name. The pariality ot the
edies COMPOSING the Central Mount Vernon Associ-
ation bring before you TO say something I'D eSpia-
pntion of the objects they have in vewto enlist pun.
,h,,ir ri,tin III
though thew might have and ought TO have, nm nblr
pni more eloquent speaker to advocate their cause
they could not have one who more heartily approves
IT, The distinguished gentleman WHO'S ye, 10 appear
in their behalf, will fully make amends, tTus', Tor
the feeble and unsatisfactory manner III WHICH '''
discharge the office.
Three prominent Textures strike us III io"h'S Ut c
organization of this Associatlon
Ist. The acquisition Of Mount Vernon as public
2ni Tha. this shall be done by the WoNES OF the
3rd. That the property shall belong to the State OF
Virginia ,-.,o,, -,,,J
be public property think u? r"'''y51 I'll"
cur hesitate for Il moment i'll deciding t's question
IN tho alternative In America where never cei'o-
;r, ,I,,nk. Ia ,l, labOra OF WAsrIS"ToS hiinschl
We bnvrn framework OF society that recognizes III"
or;s,orracv of birth, and where III" m"- 81 primo
o.niturc have Ionr since been swept away II l. I'M
5:n;ii ,Ln, I,,i.I estates cnu long remain III the
Sonds Of single families Young ~ the country is
,hnrr arc few mansions residences Which are st'I
in ,h nnssrssinn nf the Descendants o' t"e or-ihh
nrnnrirtnrs. Families drcay-thr iiuc'uH'ioHS I"
wenIIh rcudcr the sale o the ancestral seats iinpora
tivc-the old halls ore given up WIN siEh !"r me
Jesr associations Of the past-the joy ana The music
of former rcuerations which yet nGer III inc raiter
and even the burial places pass inf" the ownership o
stranrer.. Years roll by and the ptouSh,hnfe goes
over the ,,us Of those who were once so beloved by
their their W. vanished conremporaries-thus per'shes all
.ar,h,v ramembranro Of n sacred spot. Nor can
ws home tha, Mount Vernon in the lapse OF time can
oscsnr This melancholy fate, unless Il be under
I1c"r tbc Guardianship Of the CommonweHIth. But a
,rorss disnnsiri1n cvca ;hnn this, may b" made
f !, shnuid il NOT become the property OF tie pub
lie. II was but yesr ago that proposition was
,nYd 70 buv il OH speculation, aud convert the Mecca
~ onr nnt;3nal affections into mere holiday show
,,.ound Never should Mount Vernon be thus desra-
i.J We cannot think Of the rooms which have been
rcndcred memorable by tho familiar presence OF that
mnsr commanding figure Of oil time; which have
witnessed tho festivities the social gatherings, the
morning and evening family worship the funerals OF
,ha, ;ntTrrs,in, household, into which WAsHlSGToN
isd his lnvev bride and from which his remains i'm
nosng even in death, carried out to the grave
we cannot imagine these rooms, say, subjected 10