Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-03-02
Very respectfully, yours,
NJ. VAN BUREN
F,sm the Governor Of .N,ssissippt.


EXECUTIVE OFFICE, JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI,
February 3rd, 1858. (
Gentleman Your very kind invitation, under the
authority OF the General Assembly Of Virginia. to be
present az the guest of the State at the elevation Of
the Statue of Washington, In its position on the Vr-
guia Washington Monument, on the 92nd inst was
received by ma few days since and such was my
anxiety to participate with you on that Joyous occa
sion that have until now suspended an answer,
hoping thst l might De able TO reconcile my public
and private duties, with my most cherished wishes;
but on mature reflection, find myself constrained
to forego the personal qualification, and remain in
ths line Ct duty. | trust, however, that you will
give me the credit of being most grateful for go
marked an attention, and that you will believe my
assurance, that nothing could give greater plea
sure than to be the honored guest of the Old DomiD
ion. need say nothing of how my heart responds
to the glorious event or how much | should delight
to be present and unts with you. in doing honor 10
the name and fame of Washington. He truly was
the Father of his Country, and all his children now,
and ever will delight 10 do him honor 1t would be as
much act of supererogston TO cay that he was the
greatest and best of men, to say that the sun had
light and heat; for the one ia as fully acknowledged
AZ the other is seen and felt, throughout the
civilized world. ! am, however, notwthstand-
ing, much gratihed TO see the people of Vir-
ginia erecting go noble a statue TO the memo.
ry of the greatest Of all her great men, and hope
that the time ia distant when every city and town
and village in the Union may have astatue of Wash.
ington-not that "storied urn or animated bust" or
marble statues are necessary to the perpeua,on o!
his great name-but want them for their associa-
ons, for the patriotic and viruous sentiments that
they must inspire in the American heart 1t
would be impossible that OF his countrymen
could look upon his statue and imagine treason or
disoysty to the Constitution or the Union The
more that We may see read of Washington, the
better il will be for ourselves and our postsr,y If
he had never written any thing but his farewell ad-
Dress that great political bequest to his countrymen
he would be entitled to inmortslity-f for assarediy no
other production of unnspred man has ever before
partaken much Of the character of revelation and
prophecy. 1t ought to be read of all men; and if We
az people will only follow out its teachings, our
government must go forward prospering and to pros
per; and even when the slow tide of ages shall have
passed by, when the fsrthest land marks of time
shall verge upon those of eternity, and when all the
monuments OF marble and Of granite, that va now
erecting. shall have crumbled into dust, then,
them our country shall be great and free and happy,
and the virtues and fame OF Washington shall fill not
only the hearts of his couutrymen but the hearts
and minds of the people of all the earth and that
such may be the case is the fervent desire of every
patriot. Yours, very respectfully,
WILLIAM McWlLLIE.