Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-12-14


Earh Vice Regent, on entering upon her duties
puts forth an appeal to the State over which she
presidcs. The following is the appeal OF the
viceRcgent for Virginia:
AN APPEAL TO THE LADIES OF THE
STATE OF VIRGINIA
FOR THE PURCHASE OF MOUNT VERNON,
The first "LApIEs Mourn VERNON AssocIA-
rroS OF THE UNION was formed in 1854, in the
State whose proudcst boast is, that she gave
birth to Washington and to sons worthy To
tread in his footsteps.
The originator Of the project to purchase,
preserve and consccrate the homestead and
sepulchre of the peerless Washington, was
Miss ASS PAMELA CuSSrNGmAa, of South Caro-
lima. Her untiring cxertions overcamc num-
berless obstacles. and in March, 1856, obtained
Charter from the General Assembly of Vir-
rinia incorporating the Association and autho-
; rizing the Governor Of Virginia to contract for
the purchase of two hundred acres Of Mount
Vernon. In accordance with the charter. the
treasury of Virginia was to be supplied with
! the requisite funds by the Association-thc
property to be owned by the State of Virginia
l. In March, 1858, this act. which had proved
imperative, was amended at Miss Cunningham $
solicitation, and the Association itself was au-
thorizcd to purchase. pay for, and hold two
hundred acres of Mount Vernon.
The Charter granted by Virginia required
that the Constitution and Bylaws, to be adopt
| cd by the Association, should first receive the
approval of the Governor of Virginia 4 Con-
stitution, which rendered the enterprise Mo-
roughly NATIONAL giving to all the States equal
privileges in the purchase and possession Of
Mount Vernon, was drawn up by distinguished
lawyers-submittcd to Gov Henry \. Wise
formally approved by him-a copy filed in the Of.
! flee of the Secretary of the Commonwealth
! and the Association, whose action hal hitherto
| been merely roluatdrH tcas organized IN -lprV
1853, IN strictly legal manner.
This Constitution requires that the Associa-
ton shall have Regent and that each State
shall be represented, if practicable, by Vice
Regcnt--thus allowing the States to hold uni
ted and equal possession Of the sacred heri-
tage.
The Constitution specifies that Miss Ann
Pamela Cunningham, to whose patriotism, zeal,
and never tagging energy the Association owes
its existence and charter-rights shall be the
| first Regent and shall have the power to ap-
point Vice Regents and other officers.
At the present date, twenty-one States are
represented by Vice. Regents and the Regent
is making earnest efforts to obtain the services
of efficient representatives in all the other
| States
The vice.Rcgent of each State is duly en-
powered to organize a Board for collecting
funds in the State over which she presides.
I The Association is authorized by its Charter
to hold property to the amount of five hundred
thousand dollars, including the purchase money
| of Mount Vernon.
/ In April, 1853, contract was executed, in
| due legal form, with Mr.. John \. Washington,
for the purchase by the Association Of two
hundred acres of Mount Vernon, including the
mansion and tomb of Washington, the gardens,
pleasure grounds, and landing on the Poto.
mac.
/ Mr.. Washington demanded OF the Federal
! Government and Of Virginia, when he received
an intimation Of their desire to purchase. two
! hundred thousand dollars for two hundred
acres. That sum the ladies fthe Association
offered Mr.. Washington rithout any attempt
| to bargain.
According to the terms Of the contract be-
tween the parties. eighteen thousand dollars
were paid down in cash. Fifty-sevcn thousand
dollars, with interest. were paid on the Cd De.
ccmbcr 1853 and the remainder is to be paid
in three equal annual instalmentS on the Odd OF
February, 1860, 1861, 1862. with the privilege
of paying the whole amount due at any time.
and taking possession, upon giving thirty days
notice That the whole will be paid before the
odd of February. 1852, is the hope and belief
of the Regent and her co-laborers.
If the price is deemed too great for the dctHnt
ralue of the estate, let US remember that It Is
to be paid by the tchole nation, and to the ma
! ton Mount Vernon is priceless. If the sum
! which renders it national possession had been
still larger. it would only have afforded larger
number of patriots the opportunity Of bestow-
| ing their mite in remembrance Of the benefits
conferred by him who secured to them their
homes, and whose home they would now reve-
rcnty guard in recognition of the inestniabe
debt
We can put no market price upon nation
attestations of grattude-no price upon hal
lowed memories and holy associations-no
price upon the footprints Of Washington-and
these give to Mount Vernon its value The
Association does not desire to possess this pro-
pertv because Of its almost unrivaled landscape
beauty-its abundant natural advantages-its
fertile soil-itS picturesque stirroundingS-b'it
because it was the home so dear to the grea!
commander, through his long career Of trial and
of glory; the home for which he ever ycarned,
whether at the head of a victorious army, ~
seated in the Presidential chair, the chief ruler
of his country; Ibis harbor Of rcposc, This
earthly paradise, Ibis beloved Mount Vernon,
as it has been styled by his illustrious bogra
pher In that mansion, which every storm threat
ems to destroy, and the finger Of decay ravages
uncheckcd-hc past his happiest hours. Those
doors he threw open to welcome the great and
GOOD Of other lands Those walls echoed with
the sound of his voice in mirth, in council, II
PRAYER. From that soil sprang the trees nc
planted with his own hands, watched with ten
der solicitude, and even noted in his diary
then stand there still, green as his memory lr
true hearts. There are the pleasure grounds
which he planncd-thc garden, with its centu
nv plant its lemon and orange trees, that bios
somed beneath his eycs-thc walks his feet
have trodden BY the side of his cherished part
ner There is the portico, around the pillars
of which he twined the coral honey-suckle, ant
where he has often sat at the close Of his we'll
spent day, gazing, with her, upon the sparkling
waters of the beautiful Potomac. There is the
chamber where the Christian Hero met his
Heavenly summons with the peaceful cjacula
tion-"it is wcll'-upon his lips; words which
angel voices may have fifty recchoed as they
greeted his enfranchised spirit. And there |.
the tomb, IA rcproach to the nation who loved
him. Wondering INTENDED tomb, where liz
his ashes 4 coarse, brick coach house, u'
seems no better to the cye,) holds the sarcopha
gi of Washington and his beloved Martha. =
Around, desolation reigns supreme Neglect
and decay have chief dominion.
Is there no voice issuing from that unhonor
ed, crumbling grave to bid patriots recognize
the sanctity of the place? a voice from thence
reached the ears Of at least one woman Of tht
land and through her penetrated to the ear:
and hearts Of thousands She recognized the
truth of that beautiful saying, God made
1r.i.;...<.o., nl,;l.llncc TINT The nation IniohI