The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-11-24
An Appeal for Mount Vernon.

AL appear l0f hlOuHt EtiHUH'
The following admirable appeal Of the
Ladies' Mount Vernon Association of the
Union should go to the heart of every
patriot of the land, and arouse new inter
est and zeal in a glorious cause. 1t is
proper to state that the "Sou thern Ma
tron," in signing her baptismal name to
this document, yielded to the solicitations
of Mr.. Everett and other friends:
MOUNT VERNON THE PROPERTY
OF THE NATION.
1t is with feelings of the highest graft
fication we announce to the public that
the persevering efforts of the Ladies'
Mount Vernon Association of the Union
have been crowned with success commen-
surate with their sacred aims and lofty
patriotism, and that they have at last Sc
cured to the American people the privil-
ege of making the Home and Grave of
Washington the property Of the Nation
On the failure of the Mount Vernon
bill in the General Assembly Of Virginia,
we renewed our overtures' to MIR. Wash
ington to sell the property to the Asso-
citation. These overtures met with fa-
vorable response, and on the 10th of
April contract was signed by Mr.. Wash
ington, which obligated him to transfer
Mount Vernon to the Association, on its
compliance with tie following terms,
viz:
The payment of two hundred thousand
dollars, for two hundred acres of land, in
Guiding the mansion, gardens, landing
place. and, above all, the tomb
| Eighteen thousand dollars to be paid on
the closing of the contract, and the re-
mainder of the sum in four bonds, payable
in yearly installments, with the permission,
after payment Of the first bond, to pay to
Mr., Washington any amount of the bal
lance, due, in sums of not less than FIVE
thousand dollars, which sums will, be
credited to the Association; in this man.
ner4 4lessening the interest.
The title to the estate and possession
to be given on payment of the principal
and interest; and the privilege also grant
ed of obtaining possession, on thirty days
notice at any time the Association may be
ready to furnish the entire purchase money.
/ The price asked for Mount Vernon by
its proprietor, and which has never vari-
ed, has long beer known to the public
AID the Ladies of the Mount Vernon AS
sociation, in offering to become its purcha
sers could not expect to acquire ii upor
other terms than those given as the ulti
matum, to Congress and to Virginia.
Yet there is concession made to ths
Association by Mr.. Washington, as to tht
f extension of time; and very impor;an
. provso. to save interest, which can best b.
l explained by the following letter addressed
, to the legal gentlemen who negotiated th'
V purchase on hehalf of the Association:
RICHMOND, April I, 1858.
r To Wm. IT. Mcfarland Esq and Gen
r n. Il. Chapman. f ....-...
s GENTLEMEN:-In the negotiation 20,
: have recently concluded with me, on be
/, half of the Ladies' Association for tn
d purchase of Mount Vernon, the paymen
n of interest on the deferred instalment
from the date of the contract, while re
e tanned the possession of the property
y was tbe only serious difficulty betwee
e US.
d Having satisfied you that could nc
IS yield this point, you finally conceded it.
s. As the contract is now closed, and
Of believe in satisfactory way to both pa
rs ties, it affords me pleasure to say to 20
r that if the Association meets its engag,
ments with me on the first of Januar
lie 1859, and thinks proper to pay, and do,
ID paw the other deferred instalments on
ID before the 22nd Of February, 80, as &c
ne inform me they will probably be .bo
x, willing and able to do it. it is my inte
r; ton, in that case to remit to the Associ
Mt tion all the interest on all the deferrt
is payments. -... ... .....-.. ....-
This shall be willing to do, partly
be an inducement to the Association to o
ke tain possession of Mount Vernon at
u early day. but more particularly, as
lfe evidence of my appreciation of the m
dc tives that have actuated the Ladies' A
cd sociation in the cause it has underta
ce en-. t.... .-... ..,..,..-. ...a
have the honor to be, gentlemen,
With the highest respect,
+ Your obedient servant,
,r JOHN A. WASHINGTON.
st. More than half century has n
len elapsed since Washington walked amo