Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-09-08
From the Richmond Wing. Sept. 81

1t 10 really sad thing to witness the strarg luke
warmness and apathy which prevail here in Virginia
the birthplace and the resting place of the inmor.
tai Washington-in reference to the purchase Of
Mount Vermont Other States are nobly coming up
to the work. but what is Virginia doingl Ia abe TO
stand still and motion!ess all the time, and Isrslly
do nothing in aid of the glorious enterprise which the
ladies have so nobly and generously originated We
appeal TO the and daughters of the good I'D
ter of US all TO start afresh, and right away, and rest
no, till the halUwed object is accomplished. little
effort on the part of few active persons j, each
county would soon raise the sum required, and we
beg such III take the matter Ill hand at once The
Nashville Banner contains appeal this sIbject
which applies well TO this latitude as tst, and
which ". suboin, hoping it may have The eject of
stimulating all the friends Of the enterprise TO enew.
ed and unsweIving eXeriicns in its behalf:
Among the public enterprises of ths day. We think
this Of the most important II IL right att pro-
per iha, we should purchase the home of Washington,
and ret il apart a. sacred spot torever-to b. N En-
during evidence OF the gratitude and love whvh the
American people bear The great and good man. II is
debt we owe his memory. Without The lest pc,
runiary reward, he devoted his life, his fUrtuIs and
his talents to the work of laying the fuundaaon of
this great republican temple which shelters an pro-
tec.s us to-day, and il would be q shame for now
to withhold from him this last testimonial Of our graf.
itude and regard. We might almost as well 'etuse
the body Of father the rites of a decent sepuure,
and stone TO mark his resting place, as to ALLOW the
sacred dust of Washington 10 pass into the possession
of strangers, and BIZ subject to Dissertation.
"Iet us have Mount Vernon. Let il be purchased
ami set apart AZ holy and hal!owed spot. 1t wi do
II. good. We hive too much neglece our ssrred
grounds. Our national character has too little the
romantic element about it--too lttle OF the polished
gold and marble of fancy, with the iron and bras OF
an avarcious practically. We have not cultivated
enough of that romantic attachment to the sceus oil
our carly history, and the memory of the men Who
acted in those scenes, which were 20 CHARACTERISED OF
the cid republics. Those names and places around
which cluster the myriad associations and recoi-c'
lions of our national struggles aud ;riunphs cannot
be to dearly cherished in our affections.
ITO purchase Mount Vernon aud ret it apart n.
national institution, will have the effect OF keeping
fresh in our minds Washingtons example and coul
seIs, to which cannot pay too great reverence
Aud there is a peculiar force in thi, remark at this
tlme-a peculiar appropriateness that the people OF
this whole country should Join in the purchase OF lie
home of their common faith 4r. We are torn and relt
by factions. Sectional animcsities have well ngh
destroyed all national pride and affection. Would 1t
not be we'll, then, for them to cease a moment from
these fercs contentious with each other aud refsct
upon the las: advice of their great ancestor. What
ever promises keep alive III the American heart the
spirit of the life aud writings OF Washington should
certainly be done, and this Wa think would be the
effect of purchasing his nome and keeping II ioreVe
as n national treasure.
nBut there ia one other benefit 10 be derived from
the contamination of this undertaking, which We
wish to notice The example Of the great and good
cannot bs kept too constantly aud TOO prominently
befors the eyes Of the youth of country. Wash
ngtun, above all Others lie the nobest model for their
imitation. Let every thing be done TO inspire the
Young men Of America in this and all succeeding
ages, with an intense reverence and love for this
great model. Let them zee the boncrs which ln-ir
country pays to the worthy dead-the hEb.rewards
which are sure to follow life OF heroic effort, and
no better lesson could be given them.
For the sake then, Of all that is valuable and
worthy of remembrance in our past history, and for
the sake of what we hope to be in the future, we
should not allow this enterprise to fail. Let Mount
Vernon be purchased aud preserved the slrine OF
our national worship-he American Mecca. TO which
our thoughts and affections m.y constantly turn