The prairie news. [volume] (Okolona, Miss.) 1851-1875, 1858-06-24
TIE SOUTHERN MATRON.

France may boast OF her j loan OF Arc
England may chant in triumphs of The
many virtues, the selfsacrilicing gene
rosity of her Florence Nightingale, bu
to our own loved land belongs the honor
/ the glory of possessing an ANN PANEL
i CUNNINGHAM. She it is who has devo
ted her life and fortune to the cause Of Mt
Vernon. Determined the resting place
of Washington shall be national prop
erty, she has never relaxed in her no.
bic exertions in its behalf. The follow
inc is a correct account of this remarka-
bic woman:
The SOUTHERN MATRoN--The name
of the Southern Matron has been fol
years familiar as a household word among
us, yet Il proper feeling of delicacy and
gallantry forbade the mention of the real
name modesty concealed behind this
aom0e de plume 1t was our fortune to
have known her since our boyhood, to
have been near neighbor, and also to
have known her connection, from the be-
ginning, with the noble effort which will
consecrate her name as immortal. Re
Gently at the earnest importantly of Mr..
Everett and other friends, she has been
induced to- drop her title of Southern
Matron and sign public document in
her own proper name, Ann Pamela Gun
ningham. Some paper recently spoke of
her as Virginan. This is "a mistake.
As we are better acquainted with her and
her history than any one else here, and
since the matter has already assumed u
publicity which iustiieS the freedom, we
will crafty public curiosity as far as deli
cacy will permit. The Southern Mat
ron, them is Miss Ann Pamela Cunning
ham, native of Laurens District, tour
native District,) South Carolina. The
family residence now is Rose Monte, on
the east side of the Saluda, in Laurens
District. Her father, Robert Cunning
ham, is a wealthy planter and II noble
gentleman. Miss Cunningham received,
of course, the most liberal and thorough
education. Several years ago she wrote
with much spirit and ability historical
work upon some incidents Of the Rcvo-
luton. Though rich, beautiful and high
ly accomplished, and of course wooea by
innumerable suitors, yet she never mar
ried. She is small in figure and blonde
In 1853, she conceived the noble de-
sign of arouSing her countrymen to the
purchase Of Mount Vernon. Well do we
remember her first appeal, nan eloquent
letter signed "A Southern Matron. -
We were then editor Of a paper in South
Carolina, and she sent as the letter to
publish. 1t will always be our pride to
remember that we were so early eomec-
ted with this patriotic effort. BY her III
fiuence an address was made near her
home, at Liberty Springs, intse District
of Laurens, for the benefit Of the cause
which she had adopted. On this occa-
sion the very first dliaan--a.. coutribatad
to the purchase of Mount Vernon.
Her eloquent appeal electrified the ma
ton. All hearts were touched, and hosts
of gallant men came to her help. A
large amount was contributed, but it was
cloves labor lost" for churish Mr..
Washington changed his mind, and re-
fused to sell the estate Thus was the
labor of years lost at once. A great part
of the money was returned to the con-
tributors. But still this dauntless woman
did not despair She appealed to the
Legislature Of Virginia, and she made
appeals to individuals. Then, as we'll as
for years before, she was a hopeless inya-
lid. Many of her splendid productions
i'll this cause were written while unable
to sit up, being proppcd on pillows to
write during intervals of pain. Now her
work is accomplished. Mt. Vernon is
purchased. True it is not paid for but
we believe it will be. Surely now the
people of this great country will not al
low Mt. Vernon to revert, by forfeiture,
to It's sordid proprietor.
For the accomplishment of this great
work, the country is mainly indebted to
three persons--a noble triumvirate.-
Ann Pamela Cunningham, Madame De-
tavia Walton LIE Vert, and Edward Eve
rett. These three names deserve to be
inscribed on the marble slab that covers
the grave of Washington. A grateful
and admiring nation will not forget them.
Marion { Ala.J american.
TIE Wisdom Of Legislators.-There
was discussion recently in Congress, be-
tween Senators Davis and Simmons, rela-
tive to the tariff, in which the former
took it for granted that be had on coat
of American broadcloth, but was assured
by the other, from his own knowledge,
that there was no such article. Mr.. Sim
mons, however, showed that he didn't
know everything, and manifested some
degree of incredulity when informed (by
Mr.. Clay that the Southern Safes raise
A great deal more breadstuffs than they