Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-04-16
WILLIAM F. RICHIE.
MOUNT YEnNox. Jan. 1st, 1857.

mOUT fEhNONb Jan. Asey loOfs
To WILLIAM F. RIToHIE, Esq:
Dear Sir:-0wing to a prolonged absence from
home, did not receive your letter OF Dec. 9Th,
1855. until within few days past.
In order to ensure the preservation Of Mount
Vernon, I have been willing, for several years, to
place the property in the hands OF the State ofVir
GINA, upon terms with which believe you are al
ready familiar.
From the action of our Legislature on the sub
iect have been led to b. lieve that the State was
not Inclined TO acquire il oG these conditions II
am mistaken in this and il should appear, during
the next session Of the General Assembly, that
Virginia wishes to obtain Mount Vernon. should
be still willing to transfer il TO her in the manner
have heretofore proposed in letter dated June l6,
1855, addressed TO Joseph 10 hnson, Esq, the late
Governor of Virginia, in reply to one OF June Ii,
1855, that had the honor of rec'i wing from him.
Although you are probably informed as to these
conditions aud your letter does not seem TO call for
e-statement of them, yet, to prevent any misap-
prehension on the subject, will take the liberty OF
calling your attention that portion of my letter TO
Governor Johnson, containing them.
I: is as follows:
"Sbould the State Of Virginia desire to purchase
Mount Vernon, she obtain two hundred acres
Of it. embracing the Tomb of Washington, the Man
sion House, aud adj AGENT grounds gardens, &c. &C.
| upon the following terms, viz:
| lat The remains Of such members of the WASH
| ngton family who now are, or may be hereafter
buried in and around the present vault, shall never
| be removed nor disturbed. And for the purposes
of family burying ground, the undersigned, John
A. Washington and his heirs, shall retain the right
of enclosing aud oriameniing one hsf acre Of land,
including the vault at present used with easy ac-
| c So TO il at all times. In this bDrying ground,
members Of the Washington family, and no one else,
| may be inferred, and the State shall preserve it
| iaom injury des, Grafton.
"2nd. The State shall never ALLEVIATE the fee sim-
ole for any lesser est In the whole ans part
| Of the property.
"si. The State shall pay to John A. Washing
ton, upon his making to her proper conveyance
| and title to the property, the sum OF two hundred
thousand dollars In cash. or, at the option Of the
State, in Virgins six per cent. coupon stock, the
| principal and interest whereof shsl be paid In the
time aud manner in Woich such stock has usually
been made payable Of late years.
Il may not be amiss for to say in conclusion,
that shall be unwilling leave this matter
lied beyond the expiration OF she next regular
| siou Of the General Assembly Of Virginia. A sat
islactory arrangement OF my sff rs renders it nee
essary that should be explicit upon this point.
have the honor to be, with the highest respect,
| Your obedient servant,
JOHN A. WASHINGTON.
On the reception Of the shove correspondence.
| Governor Wise caused the Let Vice President of
the Association 70 be informed that he was too
TO give official ply to tho Southern NatFon.
but that he wouli cheerfdlly comply with the re-
quest of the Association aud lay the petition aud
| the correspondence before the next General AS
seuoly OF the State OF Virginia:
TO rnE soSs AND pAusHrERs OF wAsHISGroS.
We place before you the above corr spondence,
with conviction that the patriots 10 our land, Who
/ remembered the virturs and services OF the Father
Of bis Country, will rejoice 10 learn that his Home
| and Grave nov be secured; and also, that ia
becoming Virginia's they can, 10 one sense. become
theirs
Tue Ladies Mount Verson Association Of the
Unor 10 aring the privilege Of presenting the
purchase lund 20 Virginia. procured for them,
through the As.ocilton, the opportunity, nay the
sacred privilege Of layiig their grateful offerings
on his lombl and thus while recording 10 deed
never 20 be forgotten, t1st be does live ''in the
hearts OF bis couuuymen," coavert thAf sacred spot
| 20 be 10 feeling, aatioaai. as vel As hallosed
shrine, around which their chidFeii's ehlliren can
gather, there 20 learn 20 lore poitlcsl vrtae and
70 comprehend true greatHessi Surely, tas s
keep alive love for bis memory 10 ssdins geoe
raiioas. and keep lhem under the inhasnce Of bis
exsmpls aud hs coansels. making bis sacred sshes
bOad Of unlon, too slrong Tor ambition, Or nlsd
fan4tlcism 10 ssvefl
Il 4 not known 70 al Of ycu that iew patriotic
ladies Of she Soath eoasscrated themselves. three
years ago, 90 the accomplishment Of this great oO-
jsct. Dsserssd By no diff susies discouraged BY
/ 40 apsthy they lahorsd on Ia figh, that The
! Amsrcsn heart vas stdl true 20 Wsshlugien, and
woolJ IA time be alive 20 tie beauty and necessity
Of this Hoik
BE- degrees they aroused tewua and cilep, States
and t,atcsnep; nlargsd lhe form and die u their
Association. in ofdsF lhss il mighi embracc' ss ~
/ pAtu0t Of every seeton 500 migkt desire Il, aad
hnaay, received no0ls rasard 10 the graat on The
18th u March sast. Of : liberal charter from ths
| Morhss State When thus neaf he elsainmsas u
oil CO. dnsr % lbs heard u ever Amsncan uorshy
1 a his bhsknghi. ME. Wsahinssou. ressrding sone