Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-21

mr.. Dawson on Mount Vernon Affairs
Mr.. Andrew ii. Dawson, Of Georgia, de-
livered lecture in New York on Monday
evening, on the subject Of the purchase OF
Mount Vernon. The Pos. gives the annexed
synopsis of his remarks:
'.Mr Dawson urged the purchase OF Mount
Vernon, that it might be converted into an
American Westminster Abbey-a place OF
sepul,ure for the great in all departments OF
life. lie then entered upon the defence OF
shat much abused gentleman, known as MIR.
John a. Washin ton" lie appealed to the
audience to divest their minds Of prejudice
and promised to present facts. 1t had been
asked why Mount Vernon was sold at all,
and the proprietor bad been charged with ex-
tortion and other offences. Having been re-
Gently the guest of Mr.. Washington at Mount
Vernon, he would be able 10 give facts and
not random speculations.
In the first place be never did offer Mount
Vernon for sale. Purchasers had sought
hin. but he had not sought market. lie
had been impor,uned to sell, but had SAID
buy" to nobody. A lady representing the
Mount Vernon Association had spent week
there, negotiating, and Mr.: Washington had
finally consented to sell. The next question
was, Why did be consent to sell? lie had
reasons in plenty. Visitors thronSed to the
spot, some impelIed by patriotism. and 9th
ers by mere curiosity; and Their vandalism,
had stripped the trees and shrubbery, laid
waste the grounds, and they were constantly
invading the privacy Of his family. For
over forty years they bad been lodging and
feeding visitors to Mount Vernon, AID no
private family could Justly be charged with
su,h an expense. When first applied to he
absolutely refused to sell, as be had right
to do and for that he was abused. Then he
reconsidered that determination and consen-
ted to sell, for which ne was again lampoon-
ed. He fixed his price a, 900 less than
be had been offered by private parties, and
yet be was charged with extorlou!
Ia answer to the charge that Mr.. Wash
ington proposed to remove the remains OF
the Father of his Country from Mount Yer
non, be read the following extract from
letter received only the day before from Mr.
Washington:
1.-The charges made in the slips of newspa-
pers you have inclosed to me-that wished
or designed to remove the remains OF Gen.
Washington from the vault at Mount Vernon
are simply ridiculous falsehoods. The
prohibition OF the removal Of Gen. W ASKING
toms remains was one Of tue stpulatlons
which insisted upoG having inserted Ia the
charter and in the contract; and my deter
minltion to make 10 contract without this
prohibition, seemed at one time almost al in
superabie obstacle to making any arrange
ment whatever with the Association, but the
opposite parties were Obliged to yield 10 M
views on this point, or not make any contract
with me Tor tue purchase OF Mount Vernon"
lie then called attention to Il serious Oh
iestiou to the purchase OF Mount Vernon un-
der the present charter, granted by the legis-
la!ure of Virginia. The 4th section provided
that it, from any cause, the association shall
cease to exist, the property shall revert to the
Commonwealth of Virginia. lie protested
against this. Ii the people OF the Unlied States
purchased Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon
should belong to the people OF the Unlted
States. II suggested two remedies; FIRST,
that the AssOciltion obtain new charter
from some moro liberal State, making the
United States government The Tesliuary leg
atee; or second, that the Mas ouic fraternity
be made the residulTy legatee. Ii the latter
course were pursued, be pledged the iratern-
ity to raise the necessary fuad' within ninety
days.
Until one or the other was done, DC blamed
no man for Withholding his contrl5ution.-
The prese Mt charter would make Mount Yer.
non a sectional intitution, end he condemn
ed sectional ianaticisn whether OF the \ nth
or South"