Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-08-10
The Mecca of Freen,en.

There is one spot above all others in the wide
world toward which the heart Of the freeman turns
with the most reverent feeling-that simple, hum
BILE, uDpretentious tomb at Mt. Vernon, where re-
pose the remains of the Pater Patrse tits to that
last resting place of the greatest of mortals thar
the feet of travellers from all cimes and all coun-
tries and all governments turn with hlla, loving,
dutiful pride. Before that consecrated shrine hun
dreds bow daily Patriotism, love, duty, all in
fact of the nobler attributes of the human soul join
in to render their fit and due Obesance TO the
ground in which is enshrined that which was NOR
tai of the immortal. Not ripple that kiss 5 the
banks OF the lower Potomac, breeze that signs
through the Overarching foliage, not bird that
fingers amid the wilderness of leaves and quickeus
them to lie with song and music, but ADDS to the
lullaby that bids repoSe to the names Of Washing
ton and joins in the sublime strains that acclaim his
spirit chief among the Die Majores
And yet that tomb, cousecrated through years
to the throbbng hearts of millions is an alien to
the American people. We can visit the dark,
glo my, and forbiddmg sepuchre, but can feel
lot heritage in that sacred place. Il Is ours TO
kneel upon the SOD and kiss the moss covered home
of the dead, but none Of the patriot feelings can
rise in our souls incident to the possession of
right to that mecca of the States" Teh parsi-
mouous and grasping spirit of who wears
the name, bnt possesses not one whit OF the aug
mus OF the great dead has made the shades of Mt
Ver1on fit rather for the tenantry of ghouls than
the loved place of pilgrimage toward which all
To relieve the nation of the Stigma of possessing
within its bosom the alenated home of its father,
association OF ladies' in the South has been
formed IL is entitled the Mt V ernon Fund Asso-
ciaOn, and has its seat of operations in Richmond
acting under the charter of that State. One of the
nobl, st lIes of all our glorious sunny land is
President, under the modest title of "a Southern
Ma ron"
/ With woman's characteristic zeal, that Associa-
ton has been laboriug for year past, and how sue
cessuy they have brought to bear in behalf OF tn IT
cause the great talents aud unequalled Oratorica
genius of Edward Everett is well known to the
nation. WIS rever the silver tones OF his eloquence
have been heard, the popular heart has pulsated
with lIveer emotions of patriotism, and that hap
pier sequence, the,opening of the purse-strngs OF
the wealthy, has invariably followed.
In Virginia especially rests the especial and pc
culiar duty of rescuiug the home and grave OF
Washington from the deflement Of spectators.
That Virginia her mothers and daughters. will DO
their duty none can dou It. But even if they do
need the assistance of their sisters, that assls-
lance should be rendered heartily, so cordially,
and so lovingly to demonstrate that the same
love for Washington inAames and intensihes every
> heart IN the nation
Mr.. EVeretts Grafton in this city during the past
spring highly successful and we had hoped
i then that there Wouli be spontaneous action on
the part of lady friends toward the organization
of an auxiliary to the National Society. There i;
now ample time before the session of the Lrgisla
! ture OF Virginia for great work to be done. Ken
| lucky shoUld not be backward i'll the noble enter
prise. Who of her daughters-fAirest even among
! ths tar-will become the patrOness OF the glorious
enterprise? Who will not join in the labor OF lov'
to rescue the shades of Mt. Vernon from sacrile
gious hands and TO cOnsecrdte them to nationa
plet'? This is a work especially reserved Tor TN
! women of America. We know that here in Louis
vile and Kentucky they will not falter. Its their
to assist in the consummation of that for which
thousand hearts have passionately yearned-th
possession by the American people OF that place
next to Calvary, most sacred Of all that adorn To
glObe-MOunt Vernon.-LOu. Jour.