The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-23
MOUNT VERNON THE PROPERTY OF
THE NATION.

Ii IL with feelings OF the highest qualification We An
nounce the public that the perscvcring efforts Of the
Ladies Mount Vernon Association Of the Union have
been crowned with commensurate with their IA
cred views and lofty patriotism, and that they have al
last secured to the American people the privilege OF ma
king the home and grave of Washington he properly u
hs Nafon 4!
On the failure OF the Mount Vernon bi in the general
assembly Virginia we renewed ovcrtures to Mr.
Washington to sell the property to the association These
ovrrtues met with favorable response, and tho 9th
OF April contract signed by Mr.. Washington
which obligated him transfer Mount Vernon to the a.
ISOLATION on It's compliance with the following terms
viz
The payment OF two hundred thousand dollars for two
hundred of land including the mansion and land
ing place, and, above all the tomb
Eighteen thousand dollars TO be paid closing of
contract and the remainder Of the sum- In four bonds
payable in yearly instaments with the permission attsr
payment " us rs bond to pay to MIR. Washington any
OF the balance DUE in Of less than five
thousand dollars which will be credited the ax
ISOLATION, in this lessening the interest.
The title to the estate and possession 10 be given on
payment Of the principal and interest, and the priv.
ege also granted vi obtaining possession, thirty days
notice at any lime as association" may b ready 10 furnish he
entire purchase money.
The price asked for Mount Vernon by It's propristor
and which has varied has long been known to
the public, and the ladies Of the Mount Vernon Assoca
ton, In offering to become its purchasers could not ex
pect acquire upon other terms than those given the
uLtiraatun to Congress and to Virginia
Yet there IN concession made tn the association BY
Mr. Washington the extension Of time and a very
important prooiso to interest which best be ex
planned by the following letter addressed to the legal
gentlemen who negotiated the purchase behalf OF the
association.
ihcaxosp, April z, 1858
GEuKMS Ia the negotiations have recently concluded
me- on behalf O. the ladies' association for the purchase o Mount
date Of the contract while property
the only serious difficulty between
Having satisfied thai could point yoa finally
closed and believe in satisfactory way
e both parties Affords mo pleasure 10 ray 70 70" that tho
links proper pay paw the other deferred asasn. o.
or before tho 2zd day Of February 1889 inform they
TO remit to Tho association all tho interest all tho deferred
willing partly nduceen 10 the assoca
ton to obtain Of Mount Vernon early
have aeaa,sd the LADIES' Association IL The Ina undsss n'
have the honor to be- gentlemen with The h!ahs..
To William II. Mcfarland, Eq A.. a. Chapman
More than half century has elapsed since Wash
ington walked among half century of neglect and
ingfatitlde his memory Between the broken pledges
of Congress and the apathy OF his mother State the re
mains of the Father Of his Country have lain unhonorl
by the mausoeum voted in the hour Of nation grief
and his home and grave left to the fate Of private prop
erty and accessible to the public only through the for
bearance or courtesy Of its various private owners
Ever and anon voice heard to protest against re-
publican ngrattude; for and anon the heart Of
this great nation seemed to throb with remembrance OF
his virtues and Of his services and the priceless legacy no
bequeithed.
But during tho stern struggles Of a young republic
this voice WAS UNDECIDED, and since America became
power earth it either senced by the din Of party
and sectional strife, stied by the murmurs Of Nam
mon, until the generations which knew him not in
danger OF forgetting and wholly departing from those
principles which are the bnlwark Of greatness and
those warning counses which alone maintain our
| Union in safety.
But that Providence which has So often inteposed for
in the darkest days of the republic when tho
ship of State with master hand at the helm has rocked
to and fro the angry Of sectional strife aud bit
terness which threatened enguf IT, has stirred the
heart Of to revive through the rescue Of the md
ashes Of the Father of his Country that love hs