Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-07-01
Total increase of population .....".
THE LADIES, MT. VERNON ENTERPRIs

THE LADIES' MT. VERNON ENTERPRISE
It is proposed to take up subscriptions for this en-
| terprize all over the Union upon the approaching
Fourth of July To refresh the memories Of our i'm.
mediate readers, briefly sketch the history OF tbi'
| patriotic undertaking:
Three years ago, few high-spirited ladies OF the
South consecrated themselves to the accomplishment
of the purchase Of the homo and grave of Washing
ton They formed themselves into an Association for
tho attainment Of this end and Immediately proceeded
to tho duties of their hallowed enterprise. The
Southern Matron" is the only name heretofore used
to designate tho lady who has the honor Of having
instituted this noble work. Around her at once clus
tered constellation of female patriotism forming the
brilliant nucleus of subsequent accessions. The AS
socaon soon grew in strength and ability, and was
not long in presenting itself before tho country in
tangible shape and with specific aims. By degrees
they aroused towns and cities States and statesmen
to the holy propriey of tho task they had assigned
themselves and at length a charter WAS obtained
from the State of Virginia. creating them into body
potc and corporate under the name and style Of the
Mt. Vernon Ladies' Association Of the Union" By
this charter it was stipulated that upon the payment
of two hundred thousand dollars into the Treasury of
Virginia by the said Association the Governor of that
Commonwealth should purchase from John A. Wash
ington the present proprietor Of the Mt Vernon e'-
tate two hundred of the lands Of said estate,
including the Mt Vernon mansion, the tomb, the
garden the grounds, and the wharf and landing now
constructed on the Potomac. It is further stipulated
that the Deed from tho present proprietor shall reeite
that the purchase money was paid by the ladies Of
the United states actipg in the name and style of the
Mt. Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union, and
that at their instance the said conveyance is made to
the State of Virginia" It is also covenanted that
"tho estate so conveyed shall be keptfrce from injury
and desecraton aud held in trust for said Association
forever, sacred to the. memory y GEORGE WASHING,
TON whose mortal remaius shall DO kept perpstually
thereon" To all of this Mr. John A. Washington,
after some hesitation has at length yielded his full
consent, with certain conditions and reservations
which will in no wise affoct the design of the Ladies'
Association. The work is now fully in hand and may
truly be said to ago bravely on" Alarge portion of
the fund to be raised has already been deposited with
Virginia and in every part of our common country
Jealous advocatss are enlisted in the cause. Mr. Ev
erett by his celebrated lecture the life and charac
tor of Washington, has been the honorable md hon.
ored instrument of contributing more than twenty
thousand dollars to the fund.- Other munifcent con-
tributons have been made But Of the objects Of
the Association is to have enrolled in the MT. YER
NON PURCHASE BooK," the names of as many patriot
ladies as desire part in this sacred achievement
and to effect this object universally possible, the
fee for membership Is fixed at dollar, thus
bling overy to participate in this tribute of love
and venoraton to the memory Of the FATHER OF
HIS COUNTRY.
The approaching Fourth of July is seized upon, US
we have said, to consummats the Of this trb-
ute; and it is expected that every community in the
land will do its part with alacrity and zeal.
In behalf of tho Association and at tho request of
one Of its members, We now make special appeal to
the ladies of Edgefed. You are called upon by your
hightoned sisters to join them in noble tribute TO
tho Great and Good Washington. You are invited to
become accessory to an achievement which will form
one of the most brilliant episodes in American Hsto-
ry. You offered tho privilege Of enlistng in one
of tho most remarkable ssterhoods ever known upon
earth. It is nm organization conceived BY the pure
heart of woman, urged on with wonan's brightest
smiles, and pleaded for In womans loftiess tones 1t
cannot fail The full tide swiftly rolling II on to