The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1858-11-25
From tho NJ Vernon Record.
iN APPEAL FOR MT. VERNON.

], IAN APPE1LFUt MIL . VEtNUN.
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 interest and zeal in a glorious
cause. It is proper to state that the
Southern Matron," " in signing her bup-
tismal name to this document, yielded
D to the solicitations Of Mr.. Everett and
< other friends:
7 MT. VERNON, THE PROPERTY OF rue Ma
TIoN.
It is with feelings of the highest
qualification we announce to the public
that the porseveriug efforts Of the La
q dies Mount Vernon Association of the
y. Union have been crowned with success
+, commensurate with their sacred aims
/ and lofty patriotism, and that they have
% at last secured to the American people
J.. the privilege of making the Home and
4 Grave of Washington the PROPERTY OF
q THE NATION
- On the failure of the Mount Vernon
, Ibill in the General Assembly of Vir-
>, ginia, we renewed our overtures to Mr..
/. Washington to sell the property to the
A., Association. These overturcs met with
=. a favorable response, and, on the 9th of
+, April, contract was signed by Mr..
q Washington, which obligated him to
Il transfer Mt Vernon to the Association,
/. on its compliance with the following
, terms, viz:
' The payment Of two hundred thous-
and dollars, for two hundred acres Of
h land, including the mansion, gardens
IN landing place and, above all, the tomb
Mt Eighteen thousand dollars to be paid
n on closing the contract, and the remain.
el der Of the SUN in four bonds, payable
ne in yearly installmcnts, with the permits
te sion, after payment of The first bond, tC
d, pay to Mr. Washington any amount of
to the balance due, in sums Of not lest
ny than five thousand dollars, which sums
ig will be credited to the Association, il
e. this manner lessening the interest
oy The title to the estate and possession
nd given on payment of the principal an,
ly incst, and the privilege also granted Of
be obtaining possession on thirty days no
Is tice, at any time the Associ0tioR mag b
r. ready to furnish the entire purchase
is money.
IT, The price asked for Mt. Vernon 10y it
is; proprietor, and which has never varied
ce has long been known to the public, an,
be the'ladies of the Mount Vernon Associ
'st alton, in offering to become its purcha
- ser, couid not crPcct to acquire Il upor
Tx other terms than those given as the ulti
en- matum to Congress and to Virginia.
b. Yet there is a concession made to tn
. Association by Mr.. Washington, as t
ay the extension of time, and a very i'm
IT, portant proUiso, to save interest, whic
it can best be explained by the followin
OF letter, addressed to the legal gentlemc
err who negotiated the purchase on behal
Ius of the Association:
"RICuMoND April Z, 1858.
ITO William H. Macfarland, Esq, an
1@oa @ Gen. A. A. Chapman:
'o' "GENTLEMEN In the negOtiatio
'In you have recently concluded with II
d on behalf of the Ladies Association f,
'5r the purchase of Mount Vernon, the pa
~ ment Of interest on the contract, viii
'"5 1 retained possession Of the propcrt
was the only serious difficulty betwec
us.
at Having satisfied you that I cou
IN IN not yield this point, you finally conce
Iew ed it.
red CAS- the contract is now closed, al
IL L believe in a satisfactory way to bO
eA- parties, it affords me pleasure to say
ing you that if the Association meets its e
gagements with me on the lst of Jan
. ary, 1859, and thinks proper to pa
and does pay the other deferred insta
ments, on or before the 22d of Febru
. ry, 1859, as you inform me they will
/, both willing and able to do it, it is I
intention, in that case, to remit to t
k. Association all the interest on all the {
ngI fcrred payments
.sou "This shall be willing to do, par
om- as an inducement to the Association
obtain possession of Mount Vernon
Is. an early day, but, more particularly,
an evidence Of my appreciation of
motives that have actuated the Ladi
Association in the cause it has under
bird ken.
mal 81 have the honor to be, gontlem
"With the highest respect,
"Your obedieut servant
ltsr. JOHN A. WASHINGTON
O'' More than half a century has n
L. elapsed since Washington wall
among us-a half century Of negl
and ingratitude to his memory,
tween the broken pledges of COngrC
and the apathy Of his mother State,
~ remains of the Father of his Coun
' have laid unhonored by the mousole
voted in the hour Of a Nations gr
and his Home and Grave left to the
of private property, and accessible
the public only through the forbeara
or courtesy Of its various private or
ers.
Ever and anon, a voice was heard
aPer' protest against republican ingratitu
$40" for, ever and anon, the heart Of
great nation seemed TO throb with a
sem membrauce of his virtues aud Of
plain services and the priceless legacy he
queathed. But, during the stern str
''P"' giles Of a young Republic, this "
-or Of was unheedod, aud, since America
y are came a power on earth, it was either