The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-12-25

TO TIE PEOPLE OF IOWA

The Homo and Grave Of washinssen.
TO TIE PEOPLE OF IOWA.
To secure as the property of the people
of the United States, and to protect against
future Dissertation the Home, while he lived,
of the Father of his Country, with his remains
which lie there entombed. These are the
objects of the s'MoUNr VERNON LADIES' AS
ISOLATION OF THE UNION"
Are they not such as to make this simple
statement a sufficient appeal to the heart OF
every American citizen to give them their
support? What more patriotic work, or
more grateful task, could be proposed to all
classes and conditions Of the people OF our
country? And who is there rich or poor,
exalted or humble, who will not contribute
something, however small the sum, to-
wards SO laudable, nay SO noble an underta-
king?
The Ladies' Association above named is
organized under IN Act of the Legislature OF
Virginia, whose territory embraces Mount
Vernon estate. The business of the Asso-
citation is managed by presiding officer, or
regent, as she has been styled in the Consti-
tuition, and vice-rcgent selected from each
one of the States-a NH ority of whom have
heen already appointed--with a Secretary
and Treasurer. Its power extends to the
purchasing and holding Of 200 acres Of land,
embracing the tomb Of Washington, with
the mansion, the gardens, and the grounds
and the landing on the Potomac river. For
the purchase of this property, and improve
ment in a manner that may DC creditablc to
the American people, it is proposed to raise
$780, O0-that being the limit fixed as the
capital stock in the act Of Incorporation
The contract for the purchase of the 200
acres of land, with all the buildings and i'm
provements upon it, Gas well as the tomb OF
George Wahington," was legally made, on
the 9th Of April Inst, by the regent Of the
Association, with the present proprietor,
John A. Washington. The terms of the
purchase are as follows: Cash paid in hand
to Mr.. Washington, $l8,000-to be paid to
him on the lst of January, 1859, $57 1000
with three annual instalments, of SAL ,6GG,
each payable on the 22d February, 1850,
1861 and 1862. On the deferred payments
interest is to be paid from the date Of the
contract, and the proprietor remains in pos
SESSION until full payment is made with the
proriso, however, that whenever the Asso-
citation may be prepared to pay the entire
amount, it can, by giving 80 days notice, do
so, and obtain possession Of the property
In the event of the payment of the full
amount of the purchase money by the ODD of
February next, the interest upon the deferred
paymcnts-no inconsdcrable tem-will be
Icmitted.
The $57 900 required to meet the install
Inent due on the FIRST Of January next, was
collected some time ago, and has been judi
ciously invested, at a rate of interest larger
than that payable to Mr.. Washington, which
is only per cent. The Association is max
ing strenuous efforts to raise the balance Of
the purchase money by the 22d day of Feb
ruary, the next Anniversary of the Birth day
Of Washington. Can it not be done? Aad
mW not the people Of Io,ca step promptly
.tor1card, and help to do ii. In several Of
the States many thousands of dollars have
been collected, and the work still goes on
with renewed energy-in fact it may
be said to have but fairly commenced
While a number of the older States have
done nobly, Alabama, one Of the younger
members of the Union, has set glorious
example, which is worthy Of being follow
ed.
But very recently, too, in addition to his
former numerous and most liberal contribu-
tons, Edward Everett has given, in one j O.
nation, the sum of $4,000! From the
South and the North, as is seen by the
"Mount Vernon Record" an interesting and
valuable Journal. published monthly by the
Association, in Philadelphia, generous con-
tributons are constantly being made, and
the names of the contributors published in its
columns. Not Ladies alone, but gentlemen
also, are among these many contributors
and not always as individuals merely. but
often as members of Associations. The
Ancient Masonic fraternity, especially, Of
which Washington was ~ member, and the
head, | believe, in our country, is doing n
noble work! Shall it not be so here, in Iowa,
rs we'll as in other States!
The undersigned has recently been APP
pointed, by the regent Of the Mount Vernon
Ladies' Association Of the Union, Miss Ann
Pamela Cunningham of South Carolina--
whose patriotic, Jealous and untrng efforts
in the cause, do her the highest honor--yicc-
regent for Iowa; and thus it becomes her
duty to appeal to the people Of the State to
help in this great work. 1t is confidently
hoped that they will be no less prompt than
have been those of South Carolina and New
York. Virginia and Massachusetts, Alabama
and Maine, in responding to the call. If, in
consequence Of the severe monetary pressure
much cannot be given by any one, let it be
less, and in proportion to his, or her, ability
to give; but let all give something; and the
aggregate for the State may thus be made to
swell to considerable amount. The Yves
tern States are each being appealed to, in
their turn, for help in this matter; and let
it never be said Of Iowa that she is less will
ling, and ready. than any of them, to do her
4 sbnr H., ia hnr oh IL,
| tv. Patriotism demands this At the hands
of her peopc-and State Pride seconds the
call
The undersigned, as Vice Regent is en-
powered by the Regent and the Constitution
and By-Laws of the Association, to organize
4 State and Local Boards, for the collection
of funds in lowa-which are required to be
sent to her, with lists of the names and
amount subscribed BY every person: Lady
Managers will accordingly be appointed by
her. n every county, city, and important
village III .'hc State, upon satisfactory recon-
mendations to he t"rnlshcd-whlch she will
/ be clad to receive IA as early day as pos
sible.
Every citizen Of the Unite,. States, on be-
coming subscriber, and paying ne o1llar'
! or upwards, may become il member y: 'nc
Association. The names of ali subscribers
are to be carefully recorded in books kept
for that purpose at Mount Vernon, as we'll
as among tho archives of the State in which
they reside, that it may thus be forever
known who contributed towards the purchase
and conservation Of the Home and Grave Of
Washington
Subscriptions for less amount than one
dollar, though they do not secure member
ship of the Association, will be received,
and the names transmitted with the others.
There are various channels through which
contributions may be made, other than by
individual subscriptions, to wit by organi-
zed bodies or associations, as the Masons,
Odd Fellows, Military and fire Companies; or
from schools, the proceeds of public Lee
lures, and of Fairs, &C., &c.-either of these
plans separately, or all of them combined,
as may best suit the locality, and through
some one of them it is hoped that something
may be done in erery county in Ioua.
The subscription tathe journal above re-
ferred to, the "Mount Vernon Record" is
but one dollar per annum; and MANY ladies