Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-10-30
4 PUBLIC MEETING OF NATIONAL IN


On Thurslav evening, saws the Philadelphia North
American, n meeting took place u; Sansom 1t. Hail.
worthy OF attention throughout the nation. 1t was
chilled by the Ladies Mount Vernon Association, IN
mid of their great enterprise, the purchase Of the
homo Of Washington, i'll order TO preserve It as II
Mecca for the friend. oflibcrly throughout the world
The use Of the hail had been kindly rendered t"
the Association by Mr.. Matthews. Tho decorations
were in fine taste, and had evidently been arranged
uud.r the supernlendence OF ladies of refinement.
The platform was festooned with national hags
and adorned with artificial groves, among which
fresh flowers seen blooming On ono side OF the
platform the French national standard was ihtetwn-
ed with the flag OF the United States in compliment
10 the French residents of New York, who have la
bored zealuusly To mid tho Mount Vernon Association
in the purchase of the home Of him who was the bu-
som friend of Lafayette. Over the r"struIn was
,rc,u ARCH on which was inscribed Mount Vernon
John Bayleys Alnphiun Band was placed upon one
side Of the platform, to envcn the interesting "cca
sion with tie performance Of patriotic and soul'srrg
airs. The hall toerably we'll filled, the majority
of the audience being ladies. more brilliant and
respectable asscmbags could not have been conven-
cd. 49,
John G.. Montgomery, Esq, presided, and DR.. VIM.
II. Freeman uctrd 40 Secretary.
On taking the chair Mr.. Montgomery stated the
object of the meeting, and alluded 10 the thrilling
associations that attended this noble enterprise he
spoke Of the universally Ut the tame o ashngtoIi,
and mentioned TINT he had found even among the
peasantry Of the old word,a knowledge OF Washington
md love for his character that had surprised him..
Ito spoke al length, and with much eoqucncc, mp
pculg to all those who possessed The true American
feeling tu sustain this movement aud secure The
home and burial place of Washington from desecra-
ton.
Mr.. Montgomery was frequently interrupted by ap-
pause, aud his renurks were very ellctously adapt.
ed to the Occaslsn
Cpon taking his seat, the Hon. Jos. K. Chandler
was introduced 10 the audience. Nr. Chandler spoke
ct greut length and with rare e!.quence. lie said
the object of the enterprise was 10 prevent Mount
Vernon from FILLING into the hands u spectators, OF
which at present there were well grounded fears
But Barnum had not yet succccdUl III obtaining lie
home and the resting place OF Washington for mo-
| del tnrn-an onion patch, Il meuagcrIe or n baby
show, and lie thought the efforts OF the lnll"s were
| destined to prevent that contamination. Mount YER
non wanted, not for the purpose OF building |.
monument thereon, but BECAUSE II is l;noli, every
inch of il, q monument. There ire the fields thar
were cultivated under the eye of Nnshingtnn-there
is the garden he tcnded-there is Till shown the be-!
| in which he dea-and there rest the remains NJ
that cnu he mortal uf the lliu-irDus pctrint and hi
noble wife. Noun, Vernon IL thcruuliry's great III
hsritance. We want it not nrcrdy 10 perpctuate "
NAME but 10 keep it us a place where we may re-
| new our principle Ut PATRIOTISM our love iur Ia"
| !aud for which Washington struggled with un"X-
umpled glory. Washington needs IL monument 10
perpetuaie his famc-ihat inDnuInd; is found decpi!
based in tho hearts of the pcnr0. But il is sai there
| Is no USE in this movement. WIN not convert tIe
suil 10 the purpose OF utility WY divert the brOnd
Gcres from yielding the production ot the soil II O
man who would use that argument would select .'
smallest plot of ground for his nD:lcrs grave, IN
Instead of planting roses on the mJgd, would harrow
| it for p"tnrnes. tApplause.l A,,in, it nske:
| why should ladies mcdde III IA H"veincnt +! Wig
should they leave Their nurseries and the cares oi
| home to engage III such pubhc enterprise lie
would answer that, the hni decided thnt this
purchase ought TO be made and III, women had re-
solved that It should be made, h. pfupriety of the
act WAS settled by the dictun Of Le serner sex. Ii
may fail. In his opinion, tho movement would no!
fail. French critic had once decided that Young
aud ambitious author had iniled IN writing certain
book. But he qualified his assertion by saying that
the young might consider HI honor TO fail i'll
such All attempt. So lie would ny that even If this
movelnu: failed, the grandeur ofihe aim would for
svcr glvriiy the efforts of the laoes engaged in the
| work. lie knew sumethng of tie influence OF wo-
men at W ashingtOn, aud he was ntisird they could
accomplish great deal more stihe national capital
than most people suppose. We Guild not think to"
much of Mount Vernon. Whnknows but that it,
sacred precincts, filled with III ASSOCIATIONS of pa
trotic glory, will not yet becomeG common ground
for the meeting OF those who haze been divided by
lnrai and sectiunu feeling! He ten eloquently aliu-
ded 10 the peculiar reison for THU movement recelr-
lug II cordial support IN Phlladclia, in the revolu
tonary events that had here rred, and concluded
his truly sdmiruble address with an earnest appeal
for uuitcd action until the gramcud was at'nned.
The fine band played ii excellent style the
thrilling "Mnrseillnsc, in comp lnent 10 the cfi"rts
of the French residents of New erik anil other part
oi the country, aud then gave te audience our OWE
"lia Columbia
Mr.. &. Il. rcnrose was then i::oduced to The au.
dience aud although, lie sute, hc was just from
exhaustng laborsin Common Cuncii, he proceeded
IL deliver effective address inavor Of the object
of the Association, the gorcs ofMount Vernon, and
the high importance OF securing his Mecca OF liberty
TO the nation. His remarks wcr frequently respond
ed to by hearty applause.
The President stated thatt had been recon-
neuded that life members Of the Association should
be constituted, upon the paymer of Que dollar and
that ladies might become such calling ut the OIL
ice Of the Secretary, DR.. VIM. ]. Freeman 4 coli
lection was then taken up in al of the enterprise,
thanks returned to the officers & the meeting, and
then the incidents of this very inerestns evening
Sansoiu street Hall were broughto close by the
firing Of the audience.