The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-04-02

Wnlkn tells tne fi,iio' fne !. s@e - 49, ~
prIssOr Is gone. amp iklt the premises have
ALLEN into worthless epd cireless Aunis
Tie building is out % repair. and sFery-
thing around bears tie mafks Of decay and
dilapidation. There is but littls that Is in.
tsresting about the house. In style It is oI
eou rse, scmeWh hat out Of date. II is a con-
yenient and pleasant building, and II in re-
pOir would still be a beOuliful place OF resi.
dence. There is broad ball running through
the middle from east to West. The family
Washington, the present own
er, occupy the South halL We'were no,
permitted to visit all the rooms. Those
which we did examine were small and plain.
In some Of them were hung old pictures
once owned by Washington These were
generally historical pieces or such as repre-
.seEted scenes, of hunting and fishing, Of
both which amuse ments. the original owner
was remarkably fond. The key Ofshe Das-
tile IN France, which was presented by La
Fayette, hangs upon the wall. A sofa and
some Of the chairs once used BY Washington
still remain. Decay marks everything about
the dwelling, The Aag stones which form
the floor Of the piazza are split and broken;
the window shutters are fastened up by pie
ces Of boards nailed on, or swing a. the plea
sure Of the wind. The fences around the
premises are down, and a general neglect
marks everything both Immediately about
the residence or out upon the farm.
We were told while there, but cannot
vouch for the authority, that the farm con.
tuiDs about sixteen hundred acres; three
hundred of (which are cleared and under cul.
tfvation. There sre about City slaves on
the plantation. ,,z. . d .Yes1.s .
The traveller who visits Mt. Vernon can.
not but regret most sincerely that it has
fallen into the hands Of its present owAeE.-
Under the control of man oftaste, energy
and refinement, it might be transformed into
an Eden. The grounds around the tomb, with
little care, could be adorned and beautified
in such manner as to render the place al
most paradise. But this will never be
accomplished until change takes place in
the proprietorship. 1t is the ardent desire
OF many persons to secure its purchase by
the Government, thus making it not the
property Of an individual, but ofthe nation.
Would that this could be done. There is
already organized and incorporated by the
Legislature Of Virginia, Ladies' Mt Ver.
non Association, the object of which is to
secure possession Of the premises Hon.
Edward Everett of Massachusetts,, by means
Of the fund arising from the sale of tickets
to his lectures upon the "Life and character
Of Washingson,"is contributing asrgeiy to
the same object. Tho amount of money al.
ready derived from his lectures has reached
$4,000. The price which Mr. Washington,
the present occupant, demands for three
hundred acres Of the land, inclading that up
on which the tomb and dwelling are situate,
/ H
il $200, ,000-an enormous sum-, ana ono
which It will take long time to raise BY the
method at present adopted. The question
of its purchase by the General Government
has been frequently agitated, and if any rea
sonabs amount were named, we presume i,
would be at once appropriated from the Ma
tional, Treasury. AS the matter now stands,
however, it is questionable which is the
more appropriate, to allow the tomb and
former residence of Washington to sink to
decay and ruin, or by the purchase of the
same, 10 pay premium to the niggardIy and
illberal spirit of its preseut owner. a-
1t is true, the deeds of the truly great do
not live uloae in monuments erected to
their memories, bat it seems almost un-
grateful that the resting places Of our fathers
should be so soon neglected and forgottoa.
Would it not be highly conmendable for
the people ofthe States to authorize their
representatives in the different departments
Of the General Government, to proceed at
once and perform the sacred duty of erecting
suitable monuments to the memory of our
departed heroes. Not the grave Of Wash.
ingtoR, alone is neglected; bat hundreds OF
The veterans Of the revolution whose names
should be cherished in the hearts of CRATE.
ful people, are already forgotten, and not q
stone or mound even, remains to tell the
traveller where their ashes moulder. In the
mad and hepdlongs rush of the American
'eoPle after power and wealth, they have
orgotton the benifcent source from, which
heM political privileges have sprung-for.
rotten the price by which they were pur
;hased, and the obligation Of reverence
which they owe to their ancestry.
The, child who becomes heir to the home.
'tead which has descended to him from his
athers, secured by title deeds as an Inherit.
nee, forever, is not more solemnly bound to
'ay some fitting tribute to the virtues of his
eparted ancestors, than are we, the inhabi-
ants Of this broad end lovely land, and the
nheritors ofthe free and liberal inslitations,
ecured to US BY our great constitutional
harter, to erect suitable memorials 10 the
irtues Of our revolutionary fathers.
THE JUDGES or THE SurREME Couar OF
he UElrEp srArrs.-The ndmes and time
i appointment Of the present judges are as
ollowe: '"' s''e'' @e @7 .@H74' s1''t@