The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-03-29
The SleDsss RI Property.

W. hAvA Already noticed the tecs thht She ~
peeas Court Of Louisiana had finally disposed Of
~ poinss 10 coatrovsrsy ab~ut the partition OF
- McDonosh estate, confirming the division OF
ths property between the two cities Of Baltimore
and New Orleans, subject TO some equitable
charges, 70 carry into effect . part Of the inten
lions OF the tsstAtor. The last tribunal OF Law
hss thss scaled the overthrow Of the McDonogh
WI. and - the New 0rieans Redssns Justly re.
marks, has settled ~ utterly imprsctieable the
erotch$ts sn which this eccentric old man brooded
ir 20 many years, for the sake Of which he lived
solitary and sslfdenying life, shuaned society," and
rspuissd domestic affections, sparing for himself
only nsAers support, and adding house to house.
and sere 10 acre, until his possessions rivallsd 10
sxteat those Of many foreign principally, while
kIs own household and himself were a. pinehingly
Supplied a. those OF the poorest of his hundred
tenants. Through this long life OF nngracious
tau adds the Rcaysns, "his brain worked inces-
sanity with the single thought Of what great
thines he WAS TO do after him In binding mp this
buss estate 70 process Of increase for generation
after generation, accomplishing grand plans for
public enarity and public education, which would
make his name famous and blessed
~Immerssd In these visions, which absorbed his
Imagination and ruled his life, he allowed nothing
for the vastefulness and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. which
invariably attend the execution of public trusts of
accommodating funds, gave no weight to the mani
fold interests which would spring up to combat
sod defeat his schemes and closed bis eyes against
the obstacles which the Jealous policy and scruti-
mixing laws Of the country would oppose to the
vast eontrivances for accommodating wealth which
he was devisng with SO much intense laber. He
died IN the faith that he had consolidated bis name
and his fortune forever. Ills schemes have been
YepudIated by the common sense of the eommuni-
u ~ against public policy, visionary aud imprac
ticable, and now the estate, diminished by itiga-
tion, the costs Of double management, the want OF
prudent improvement, by waste and natural de-
cay, is divided among the iegatees, and will now
pass into the hands Of q multitude Of private own
srs. The McDonogh will Is substantially multi
~ and the McDonogh estate will be soon dispersed
Such 70 the evil of another attempt by man of
great wealth to tie up estate beyond alienation
end erect great establishments,t be administered
upon invariable rules laid down In a dead mans
will Il has rarely succeeded, except compare.
lively on very small scale, If ever perfectly,
and nearest TO success only when II was the
smallest In value, and offered least provoca-
tions TO contest or fewest allurements to covst-
business 1t 10 well that such has been the end Of
this experiment, for II It had been permitted TO
20 into operation, as intended, IL must have been
a eumbrous machine, sure to work Intellectually
fos the good objects intended, and mischievously
10 the general interests with the certainty of final
failure. It Is q lesson, too, which NIGH be prof.
tsbly studied by men of large means and benevo-
lent dispositions, who desire, out of their album
dance, 70 devote sums, large or small to the uses
Of charity or religion. How much better 1t would
be 10 be the executor Of ones own wishes, and to
provide surely in life for the application of what
IL meant to be given to the uninstructed or the
destitute; and how much more safe it is, In leav.
Ing the control of such beneactions to others, that
they should be committed to institutions objects
already recognized as lawful and received as exre
disnt-whoss responsibilities are defined and their
workings known--and not to the trial of grand
experiments and the testing Of untried theories by
new and special devises."