Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-02-20
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,

ton to the Dlftn place OF NEoRGE W ASHlNHioN.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
RICHMOND. Feb. ., 1856.
To the Senate and House of Delegates of the Gene
raj Assembly of the State Of Virginia
Gentlemen Il take pleasure in communicating
to YOU the accompanying correspondence of the
Executive with Mr. Lewis ". Washington Through
me he presents the sites of the birth place Cf the
Father of his Country, and of the home and the
graves of his progcntors in America, to the State
of Virginia in perpetuty on condition, solely, that
the State shall these places to be permanently
enclosed bv an iron fence based foundation
and shall mark the same by suitable and modest
though substantial tablets. to commemorate for the
rising generations, these notable spots"
recommend that provision be made by law to
accept the grant the condition it prescrbeS. The
vault is decayed and needs repairs the birth place
will require porter's lodge, the house having been
burnt many years ago; and the grounds will require
for the ncosure about $50 feet of fence as propos
ed which will cost about IS per foot. An appro-
pration of $1,000 will ultimately be required to
ply with the condition
With the highest respect,
HENRY 4. WISE.
The following is the correspondence referred to
in the above:
RICHMOND, Feb. Sth, 1856.
To the Hon. Henry \. WISE, Governor of Va:
SIE-As heir at law of the late George G. WASH
in?ton formerly of Westmoreland county, Va, Gate
of Maryland) who sold the Wakefield estate in said
Wes,morc.and county, to a certain John Gray, Oc-
tober 18th, 1873, making reservation in condition
of sale las per record of Wcstmorclard county court
OF same dae) of sixty feet square of tine ground on
which formerly stood the House in which Gen Wash
ington was born, together with the family burying
ground and vault, containing about twenty feet
square, in which are inferred the remains of the
father grandfather and grcatgrand father of Gener
al Washington, now feel deeply impressed with
the proprlety and assurance that the State of Vir-
gnia should be the conservator of the spot on which
the son Of liberty first inhaled the breath of free
dom and also the guardian of the ashes of the
father OF the same, together with his progenitors
even to him who was the first of the name who
Sought this happy country for freedoms cause
And now propose, through your instrumental
y my dear sir, to present these reservations to the
mother State of Virginia, iii pcrpctuity. on condi-
ton, solely, that the State require the s, places to
be permanently enclosed with an iron fence, based
on stone foundation, together with suitable and mod
est Though substantially tabletsto commemorate, for
the Rising generation, these notable spots.
have the honor to remain,
Very truly, yours, &C.,
LEWIS ". WASHINGTON.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 9th, 1855
10 Le''is ": Washington, Esq:
Dear Dir: have received yours of this day, and
make que acknowledgment to the heir of the birth
place OF the Father of lis Country and of the home
ana ut the graves of his progenitors in America
ms precious present to the State of the child
moods playground Of him whose tiisatrei of action
was the continent, and whose deeds of manhood
wefe IN peace and in war, the highest examples of
human wisdom and virtue to all mankind cannot
out be affecting to every Virginan No culogy can
measure the need of his merit, the duration of his
lame; but we may keep sacred the earthly spot
where his existence oegan, and point our children
TO the place Of his cradle. Virginia will hallow the
spot ana, as tar as her executive can act he &C.
ecpts the noble tender as one worthy of a Wash.
,ngton and ne will inform the two Houses of the
General Assembly, in order that they NAV make
provisions by law for accepting the grant on its own
pious condition.
am proud, sir, to be the instrument Of this oft
to the Commonwealth, and am most gratefully
yours,
HENRY A. WISE
The communication of the Governor and the ac-
companying correspondence were referred to spe.
cia committee