Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-04-24
Mt. Vernon the Property OF m, y

Association of the Union, have been c,,n
with success commensurate with tba;,
views and lofty patriotism. ard tba, ,' u
have at last secured 20 the American w. -.!?
the privilege Of making the home and f.E;
of Washington The property ofhe Nqt,6. "
Ga the failure Of the Mount Varr,, .,,
in the general assembly of Virginia n, w.
newed our overtures to Mr. WashinO,o. *
sell the property to the ASSOCIATE n n, 7"
cvertures met with a favorable re,pon.s -,
on the 9th OF April contract wa, sion, .. :.
Mr.. Washington. which obligated him !
transfer Mount Vernon to the a ,soe;.,,"- >
it's compliance with the following term.
The payment of two hu1dred thousand A.
lars for two huodred acres of land jDcn3..
the mansion and landing place, and A..
ell. the tomb.
Eighteen thousand dollars to BE- p,i4 ..
closing of contract, and toe remaiuder :, ii.
SUN. in four bonds, payable in yearly ir,,'
ments with the permission, after payI,r, :.
the first bond. to pay to Mr.. Wasnlps,on a.
amount Of the balance due, in sun, # >.
less than five thousand dollars which .,,.'
will be credited to the association, in -.
manner le.sening tho interest.
The title TO the estate and possession 81.
given on payment OF the principal and ir,s,
est, and the privilege also granted Of oh,,.,
ing possession, on thirty days notice q, A.
time the association may be ready 10 firm,
the entire purchase money
The price asked tor Mount Vernon he r.,
proprietor, and which has never varied h.,
long been known to the public, and toe It...
Of the Mount Vernon Association, 10 f.,
ing to become its purchasers, could no, e.,
pect to acquire it upon other terms ,s,,
those given rs the ultimatum u Cypgr,.. A..
TO Virginia.
Yet there is concession made to the as,
citation by Mr.. Washington, as to the et.,.
sion Of time, and very important yro,
save interest, which can best be expa.ntl b,
the following letter addressed to the ..,,
gentleman who negotiated the purchase
behalf of the association.
RICHMOND, April : Is,
GEsTLEnES:-ln the negotiations YOU s...
recently concluded with me. on behalf on.
Ladies Association, for tue purchase o. No
Vernon, the payment OF interest on toe ie-rr.
instalments from the date Of the con'rat'. -.
retained possession OF the property w5st
only serious difficulty between US
Having satisfied you that ! could no, 81.
this point. you finally conceded II.
As the contract is now closed and biz.
in satisfactory way to botn parties, 4 al
me pleasure to say TO you that Il the a,,ocs.
meets It's engagement with me OF the IT, % j.
uary, 1889, and thinks proper topy. an
pay, the other deferred IHsJalmeuls On or /.
fore the 22d d:y OF February 1893, as s..
form me they will probably be both "Ia.
able to do, it is my intention, 10 that case 70
init 10 the association all the Iueres; Oh q
deferred payments.
This shall be willing 10 do, partly a. az
ducement 10 the association 10 obtain posses
OF Mount Vernon at All early day, but no -.
ticulafly as al evidence of my aPPrrraa
the motives that have actudred the Llt.r, See.
citation in the cause it has undertaken
have the honor 20 be, gentlemen, WI
highest respect, your obedlent servant
JOHN A. WASHINGTON
TO William II. Mcfarland, ESQ. AM Us. !
A. Chapman.
More than half a century has now e'ar"
since Washington walked among U.S. BE-
century of neglect and ingrattude % B.
memory. Between the broken pledge
Congress and the apathy Of hls mother ~
the remains of the Father Ul his Cg.H
have lain unhopored by the maas'eum' ?.
in the hour Of a nations grIei, aud h.s
and grave left to the fate ot private Ffl'Hf
and accessible to the public only tlr.u1.
forbearance or courtesy Ol It, yarIyu' FH'~
owners.
Ever and anon voice was heard to 2
test against republican mgr titude; Tor %
and anon, the heart Of this great o..
seemed to thrOb with q remembrance o.
virtues and of bis services, and the pro
legacy be bequeathed
Blu, during the stern struggles oI
republic this voice WIS unbeeded, gu ~
America became power on earn
was either sileuced by the din OF party So
sectional strife, or stihed by the ma'n'''
Msmmon, until The generations "hIeh H'
him not we're in danger OF torge'uf; D.!
wholly departing from those pratp,' 40.
are the bulwark Of our gTcatness, aoi 70
warning cOunSetS which can alone Gai-a.
our Union in safety.
But that providence which has 50 "'
interposed for our rescue 10 the diiEe'' ''
of the republic, when the hip Of St''s' .
no master hand at tho helm, has roc'.'
and fro on the angry waves OF 's.'...'
strife and bitterness which threateuei
gulf il, has stirred the heart Vi womf
revive through the rescue OF the SieIsI
Of the Father Of his Country, THAI i.'.
his memory, slumbering bot not deal
could be made all po'reJm 10 reSeH3'-'
and healing influences. u
A cali was made to he rom"
South, to gather around hl- grave az
come vestals 10 keep alive the tires Of y
otism. The motives were pure, the J.
tons generous; but they failed. T. III
watch the signs of the tunes, know Y
wherefore? Washington Jsi0Hyel NJ
TO The South. II
Again the call was made, and th'
to the uon,en Of tie nat,oH. Aeah y
Aud wneretOre2 Tie title amd al m II
ucre to be g,ren TO State, srd ba-"'
belonged not to one State aion: u
Devoted woman would be neI'hei y.
nor conquered: but sbe only triumph,
the common homestead can be PFl''
common heritege for the esiTa0gel E',.
Of common father. the spell "
memory will yet have the power =, 80
them around bis haifOwed sepU!'a's
Unexnec,ed success has cf0wns' ~
forts. Gar country can be sa'e1 ".
iudissolub!e forever; tor wom'o - ..
cume her guardian spir'. IN t'1
groves Of Mount Vernon che y" w.,
those lessons which viii never -.
without a Mary to train N"'l''
her country's hour Of need. Inn,