Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-02-26
WasIaInQf0N.

of music will be invoked to add to the interest and I'M
pressiveness of the scene And it is well; Washington
needs no monument but we do. His glory is immortal
but every means should be adopted to keep his great
example ever present to the eyes well to the hearts
of the American people
But another work is quietly progressing, under the
auspices of the women of the Union, who aspire to the
custody of the home and last dwelling Of Wash
ngton. To them it belongs to beautify and halow MS
tomb-to guard the spot wherein he reposes haowed
ground And to their aid they have invoked all that is
most chivalrous in man-al that is most patriotic IN
American citizens
We have before us some extracts from an address re-
Gently delivered at Richmond, Va, by A. IL. H. DaW-
son. in behalf of the Mount Vernon Association, which
we give as appropriate to the OCCASION and the purpose
of our remarks which is to draw attention to the fact
that lecture in aid of the Mount Vernon Fund will be
delivered here ON Monday evening" by Rev. c. F. Deems
Taking into consideration the day. the orator. and the
cause we cannot doubt but that large audience will
be present
Gracefully introducing his theme by comparison of
the results OF Caesars rumphs with those naugurated
by Washington by alusion to the reverence every
where cherished for his name Mr. D. proceeded to speak
in glowing eulogy of his character virtues and achieve
ments Naturally he reverted to Mount Vernon as as
ISOLATED in the minds Of the people with the life and deeds
Of Washington. Among these associations ne thus
tOuchngy referred to the customary prayers OF wash
npton in that dear home In the prayers that from
the npsde altar assembled so oft from his pure lips to-
Our Father in Heaven, for his country-our country
vou-your children-your chdren's children and their
descendants to the latest generation OF reemen who are
to be dweers in this land benign benedctions were in
voked Ell natl natorena ct gu nascenV ab aAls. How
unuttcaby sacred that spot ought to be to every Amer
can heart How pregnant with potential awe are the
mighty memories which cluster around 1t. From thence
it was those nvocations went up Heavens answer TO
which sent the glad dings of political regeneration re-
sounding round the world. What other scene known
TO the history of the human race equals III It's moral sub
Unity the spectacle made then at Mount Vernon, OF
Washington at prayer? court IS IN
session. and it is the court of Heaven cause is pro-
crossing and it is nations cause. The advocate is
patrot-The Judge Jehova-The complaint, oppression
THE Decree resistance-The consequence, Revolution
The result, Liberty
| He then referred to the anomalous and humlllatng
fact that among the tOmbs of the great heroes OF earth
that of Washington alone, is "priVate property" He
spoke of the possibility of it's being brought into the
market and perhaps sold to foreigner whose avarce
might turn it into bear garden and whose strange &C
cents might bid the patriot pilgrim from his soil. He
insisted that gratitude demanded its rescue from the
possibility of Dissertation Of any kind. Here, said he,
is tax sought to be levied upon the gratitude and
national pride of the American people, by the legislation
of events. Its prompt payment is pressed by Crisis
|
preservation of the honor Of enlightened nation Now,
am to be met with the You have no authorl-
IT, sir to levy such tax legal power whereWlth to
enforce its payment! Can those be found capable of
replying to such call, you cannot compel me to give
anything? My reply to such magnanimous patriots
would be, Washington was not drafted; but when he
was not compelled to his country, did nevertheless
volunteer to do it. But cannot believe that because
forsooh control no compulsory process cannot tile
petition enter up Judgment issue n t0 and make
| fail;
lie spoke OF the proposal To convert Mount Vernon
into a National Cemetery-a grand American West
minister Abbey-where the honored of the nation might
sleep together after es ful fever and of the infu
ence which such an ambition might exert over the ener
gies vaor or patriotism of the living, citing among the
many illustrations the aspiring war cry OF Nelson,
Victory, Westminster Abbey!"-
Mr.. Dawson then stated strongly the objections that
were urged against this scheme and gave the answer to
them all.
If the price demanded is above the intrinsic value of
the property it asks no larger contribution from each
man than each ought to be ready to give if were less
If too much to ask it is not too much for great
nation to give. 1t may require more labor to gather
but not larger contributions from individuals.
After dwelling in eloquent terms upon the Httleness
and avarice that over the grave of Washington would
handy words about its value he proceeded to meet the OBJ
lection that the plan projected and IS fosered by
woman He deemed the most hopeful feature OF the
scheme, and said:
But its origin is feminine. That is true, and as
American citizen my heart exults with pride alike
the fact that country has produced woman capa-
BILE of conceiving thought of such infinite moral gran
dure and thousands of women equally capable of appre
cating such thought. There is in it the germs of a
countrys salvation. Like the auroral beauties OF the
god of day break through the tagging msts of the morn
ing its redemptive efugence flashed through the urd
haze of that prejudice in which party chickering's and
sectional strife would fan shrOud the dearest hopes OF
mankind Over the green sward of Mount Vernon,
hpautfu as the feet of angels upon the mountain
its spangng corscation, tripping like winged waveets
hutterng DER an ideal sea- lts promises prosperity
happiness and honor Amid the ftful pauses of Fanati
csms ercest blasts its silver voice is heard whispering
in tones sweeter than the music of angels harp
Peace, be STILL 1t points to the involable spot where
he who l0ued as all sleeps his last Sleep and counss
us to meet there aernay together to bow there devo
tonally to there affeconately, and often
threatened with internal dssensons to return there
frequently 1t has already electrified hemisphere and
e interviewer the sympathes of millions of strangers AL
ready have the lips of millions repeated the involuntary
exclamation, GOdb less Southern Matron-and down
the tide of time that coy de plume is destined with
e the name of Washington to
t 'Rol minglng with HIS fame forever"
y Numerous instances were adduced in which woman
had originated measures of great practical utility anc
sustained them with courage energy and perseverance
that masculine powers had eXcelled. He insisted
a that woman's patriotism enduring intense ant
purer than mans, and he copousy Illustrated the posi-
ton from the pages of history He commended that wo
man is more dsnterested less selfshy egotstic thai
man. and that therefore the work in the best hands
Daily Journal, 10th inst.
r FIRE AT MAsoNBoRo' We learn that, on Thursda,
n night last, house on Masonboro' belonging to Mr.
j. Hewlett but occupied by Mr. Sterling Sallings, wa
burned down. all the furniture and clothes of the
pants being also lost, with the exception of one bed
d three chairs. Loss on house about $500. What tn
Il 4