Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-04-18

SATURDAY.. APRIL IS, Is57.



The Purchase of Mount Vernon
On Thursday morning last, we placed
before our readers the correspondence OF
VIM. F. Ritchie, Esq, and Mr.. John A.
Washington, in reference to the purchase OF
two hundred acres of the Mount Vernon
estate, including the mansion-house and
tomb of the illustrious WASHINGTON; as al
so the apneal from the "Mount Vernon
Association" to the people of the country,
to contribute the means required for the
purchase of the estate. We now refer to
the subject, to express our cordial appro-
baton of project so creditable to the
heads and hearts Of the noble and patriot
ic ladies who have undertaken the work :.
and so well deserving the attention and en-
couragement of the American people In
these times, which we are accustomed to call
degenerate, which are so filed with excite
ment, and in which blind passion for par
tizan success and sectional pre-eminence,
threaten to overwhelm the better judg-
ments and the sober conservatism of men,
This movement may prove most opportune
and benign in its influences. We can all
recur to the quiet scenes of the hearthstone,
when our mothers repeated the thrilling
stories of the revolution, and inculcated
upon us veneration for the memory and
love for the virtues of the great PGter Pa
trie, as pure and holy as ardent and sim
cere. However diverse the opinions and
bitter the asperities of after-life, these sa-
cred lessons still live, reminding us of the
better days of the Republic, and calling us
back to the ways of purer and more
disinterested patriotism. For these senti-
ments and these feelings we are indebted
to the hallowed teachings of women. 1t is
peculiarly fitting, therefore, that the moth
ers of America should lead of in this great
act Of conSecrating the mansion of the liv-
ing and the tomb of the dead as the ever
lasting shrine of enlightened liberty.
No act of ours or Of poSterity can mag
Nifty the name, or fatter the character of
WASHINGTON. The ample fullness Of his
dimensions as hero, statesman, christian.
and patriot, have already been secured by
history; no calumny can detract from, no
eulogy can add to, no monument can mod
ify his fame. 1t is but praiseworthy act
of devotion in us, as evincing fresh and
lively remembrance of the great example,
to set apart the proposed grounds, as a
National keepsake, to be preserved and trans
mitted as an heirloom to our posterity for
ever.
1t is proposed that the sum Of two hun
dred thousand dollars be raised by vounta-
~ contributions is the amount of
purchase money required by its present
owner-and that the title be vested in the
State OF Virginia, the fortunate birthplace
and home of Washington: This is but a
putty JuO lHOSJIliduIC
value of the place as great national fam
lily Souvenir We cannot bring ourselves
to doubt, for single moment, that the
sum will be raised, and the work conSum.
mated. But it is required to be done with
in the present year, on account of the pri-
vate affairs of Mr.. John A. Washington,
the proprietor. To effect this it is neces-
sary TO enter, at once, upon the work.
As it is work projected by the mothers
and daughters of the land, we invite their
attention especially to the subject. viii
not some of the ladies of Nashville, and
those throughout the State, take the mat
ter in hand? AS we have made tender
of the home and tomb of our own great
Hero, the retired HERMITAGE, Of our imme-
date vicinity, to the Nation, let us not be
slow in joining the ceremonies of consecrat-
ing Mourn VERNON as political Mecca.