Daily national Democrat., 1858-10-26
Purchase OF Mount Vernon.

Purchase OF Mount Vernon.
The Vice Regent of the Ladies Mount
Vernon Association of the Union" Mrs. Char
lotte NJ. S Conner, sends us n notice to tn,
public, which we publish in another column
and to which We invite particular attention
This Association, governed as it is by one Of
the nobest objects that ever actuated the
human bosom, was incorporated by the Leg
islature of Virginia, and the necessary pow
ers given to it to purchase and hold the
Mount Vernon Estate, containing two hun
dred acres, in which are embraced the Man
sion and the Tomb of Washington. Miss
Ann Pamela Cunningham, of South Carolina,
the originator ofths great movement, is now
the Regent of the Association, and has np-
pointed Mrs c. NJ S Conner, Vice Regent
for California, with power to use such eXer
tions rs she may deem eXpedient for raising
a contribution from this State commensurate
with the dignity and patriotism of the com
monwealth. The Association informs us in
their card that on "the sixth of April last, a
contract legally obligatory in all respects was
made with the proprietor of Mount Vernon,
for the purchase of the two hundred acres
desired, embracing the Home and Tomb of
Washington, building, wharves, &c, for two
hundred thousand dollars. Eighteen thou.
sand were paid down in cash. Fifty seven
thousand dollars are to lie paid on or before
Jan. lst, 1859, and the remainder in three
annual instalments, on February 22d, 1860,
1861, 1862, with the privilege of paying the
whole amount due at any time, upon giving
thirty days notice.
1t is the earnest hope Of the Association
that the purchase money will be all paid be-
fore the next anniversary of Washingtons
birth" The object of the purchase is to do
nate the property to the people of the United
States.
Mrs Conner, on the sth of May last en-
tered upon her task, by delivering a lecture
in San Francisco, the proceeds OF which were
devoted to the object in view. She subse-
quently notified the country at large that
she was ready to receive contributions from
al persons who were thus patriotically in
lined, but strange TO say, these expected
came in slowly-go slowly, in
act, that it began to appear that the far
AIMED Golden State, rich and patriotic and |
LIBERAL as she had been represented to be,
was about to disgrace herself by little, pitt
ful and meagre response to the call which |
was made upon her to do honor to the mighty |
shade of the Father of his Country. Mrs,
Day, the noble minded editress of the Hes
perian. was associated with Mrs. Conner as
assistant agent, and with her eloquent pen
and active, stirring energy, did much good
or the cause But no proper response came
rom the State at large, and Mrs Conner
hought it necessary to send an agent on a
our through the country, Judging, very nat
lrally, that many persons might contribute
we're they asked, who would never think of
t otherwise, or would put off their good in
entions to some indefinite future time. For
his business she selected Mr.. John p. II
W Wentworth, who is now in this city, and who
comes well recommended as o high-minded
and honorable gentleman. Mrs. Conner,
Mrs Day and Mr. Wentworth are
The only persons authorized by the Associa.
ion to collect subscriptions for this fund in
California, and the public, consequently. need |
'e under no apprehensions as to the proper
disposition of the money which they may be
Inclined to contribute.
We differ with our contemporary, the TX
press, as to the propriety of this mode of
raising money for the purpose specified. We
think that that paper takes a wrong view of
it. If the original plan, for purchasing the
property in question, is right, we see no rea-
son why every honest means of carrying out
the plan should not also be right The en-
ployment of a travelling agent, with a com
pensation sufficient to bear his expenses, has
been a common course of action, with the
Association, in other States of the Union as
well as this. There must necessarily be some
Nl'NhSN III N'AiNNAlhSt D1 NOhAiiOuAlbhy ob
large an amount of money as is required in
-his case, and it matters not in what way
hat expense may be incurred so that it be
legitimate and necessarily appertaining to
he scheme, Edward Everett was nothing
more than travelling canvasser" ona large |
Gale, when he went around the country, de-
apin lia Al
Character of Washington, by which he re-
allied, for the same Association, fifty thous-
and dollars. His expenses must have been
considerable, and were doubtless deducted
from the munifcent sum which his eloquence
We are honest in the opinion,
not doubling that our cotemporary is equally
so in his, that the plan adopted by Mrs Con.
ner is really the only plan that has any very
fair chance of success in the praiseworthy OBJ
lect in view, and must therefore wish Mr..
Wentworth kind and courteous reception
at the hands of the public.
s5B- We observe, says the Herald, by late
numbers of Wilmer and Smiths Times, pub.
shed at Liverpool, that the Queen has been
pleased to appoint James Douglas, Esq, Com
Chief of Vancouver's Island, to be
Governor and Commander n-Chief of Bri
ish Columbia and its dependencies; and
Matthew Baiie Rigbie, Esq, to be Judge of
aid Colony. Col. Moody, Royal Engineers
las not received the appointment of Lieuten.