Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-02-27
The WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
&C. To. day will be generally observed throughout

xE- TIC. dav will be generally observed throughout
he country as the anniversary Of the birth -day OF
Washington. Here the military will turn out and
the militia will muster. Perhaps other manifestations
will be made. -.-.-
We rejoice 10 see the growing attention paid to the
ay and the increasing disposition to- celebrate II IN
a becoming manner. It is right and proper would
hat each celebran throughout the Union, who real
~ feels the emotions of gratitude and respect to the
father of his country so appropriate to the occasion,
could be induced to contribute The earnings of one
day to be employed in the completion of the monu'
ment at the City of Washington. and in the purchase,
preservation and establishment of the home and last
resting place of Washington at Mount Vernon.
The monument about which so much has been
aid, is at stand. The sound of hammer or trow-
el is longer heard. No foot but that OF IDLE
curiosity approaches the spot The country boasts
of It's progress in wealth and population and SPENDS
illions upon political struggles, yet the monument
to Washington ceased to advance some Time ago
While the secret Sam" boosted his omnipotence, he
seized upon the monument and this parzan desecra-
ion brought to dead stop progress which, sooth
to say was even then lingering enough and the mon
ument has since stopped short
And Mount Vernon remains less as shrine 10
which patriotism may resort than as source OF proht
by its exhibition as a museum. Growing blum on
the South side of the Potomac the Old House IS seen
through the trees and would be passed unnotceo ana
unknown, but from the custom of the steamboats, on
the river tolling their bells they pass the Tomb OF
" asbipgtou No memorial rises on that sacred
ground to mark tho gratitude Of nation, State or
Individual No guarantee exists that the very tomb
nc tho baro NAV not become the DropertV of specula
ors alien to his blood, and enemies to the land of his
birth. This state of things should not exist. When
ttempts have been made to pu rchase Mount Vernon
for the purpose of having the title vested IN the State
Of Virginia. has been objected that the present pro-
ietor or proprietors bearing the name with the
2 reat man. displayed disposition to speculate upon
his fame and the des ire of the country 10 do him
honor, and thus 10 exact price totally beyond the
intrinsic value of the place piece OF properly
II doubt the present proprietor displays mercenary
piri-a spirit which would rather make money
nan cooperate in doing his great relative honor
But that is the greater reason why the tomb OF
Washington should be bought out of his control at
any terms The nation is surely able to buy ii, and
if as has been said, the present Washington displays
this unfair spirit of speculation, he is not the proper
custodian of what NOR ally belongs to the nation and
to the world. ......
We do not know under whose auspices the Wash
ington Monument is not carried on at the present
time We trust that the time is far distant when any
mere party will be able or willing again to seize up
on what ought to be the business of the nation and
of humanity; and trust too, that all without dis
tnction of party will again take the thing in hand
and finish it.