Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-12-21
MISCELLANEOUS.
NATIONAL CELEBRATIONS.

The festival IN AID oil the patrlotlc MOUNT
Vernon fund commences on Saturday. and
from the array Of distinguished names pub,
lished as its patrons; it promises to DC one oil
the most brilliant and memorable affairs OF the
kind that has ever taken place in this country.
1t is hardly necessary for us to recapitulate the
circumstances which led to the formation OF the
Mount Vernon Association. 1t is sutti-
Gent to state that it is composed OF the
most distinguished ladies of New York and
other cities Of the Union, who have patriot
ically enrolled themselves into a society for
the purpose Of raising fund for the purchase
of the home and tomb of Washington This
our only great national shrne--they seek to
Mace beyond the chances of dissertation. by Sc
curing it in fee to those who have the strongest
interest in such memorial As i. is impos-
sible for Congress to establish precedent
so likely to lead to abuse by the appropria
ton Of money for such a purpose, these
ladies have periodically taken upon them
selves this labor Of love. No body Of men
could have worked more energetically, or
have exhibited greater fertility Of resources
than they have DONE Means which the
other sex would, perhaps have overlooked
have been turned to account by them with
success which can only be attributed TO their
pose. Amongst the most numerous expcdients
hit upon were the calling into requisition. as
lecturer, of Mr. Everett, one Of the most dis
tinguished orators Of the day; the eccentric but
happy notion Of employing the pen Of the same
gifted writer in the pages Of that popular week
", the New York Ledger: and lastly, this NAM
moth festival, the precursor Of 4 number Of
similar tetes which it is proposed TO give all over
the country.
As national anniversaries may be said to con-
stitutc the landmarks in the history Of n peo-
pie, it is to be regretted that hitherto so little
reverence should have been paid to the memo
nv of the events and cpochS which have signal
lied the growth of our independence. All
other countries have their joaTs q. .rtfc. com
memoratng some passage in their national his.
tory, which it affords qualification to the popu-
lar mind to look back to. With the exception
of the Fourth Of July. We may be said to be
utterly destitute in this respect, although our
annals are rich enough in memories and tradi
tons to furnish as full calendar Of cclcbra
flows as that Of any people-cvcn the most
catholic.
II 1, gratifying to find that the Indifference
hitherto manifested on this point has been
warmed into enthusiasm by the appeal made
TO our sentiments OF national pride by the
Mount Vernon Association. All classes, with
a single exception, have eagerly rushed for
ward to participate in this tribute to the me-
mory Of the great man who was the principal
instrument Of our independence. All the most
distinguished and cStlnablc Of our citizens. the
leading members Of the bar. the officers of the
army and navy resident amongst Us. the prcsi-
dents Of the banks and our wcalthcSt mer-
chants, have zealously concurred in this move
ment and will by their money aud presence
contribute to render it one Of the most i'm
posing and successful on record. The only
exception 10 this universally Of sentiment Is
that of the clergy. They have given no sign
which can be construed into an evidence Of
approval. Had the obec. of the festival been
a niger sympathising demonstration, we
should to certainty have heard all the pull
pits in the city ringing with the voice of help
and encouragement. 1t is only the tocsn Of
abotionism or the alarm Of invaded clerical
privileges which can succeed in waking up the
energies of the priesthood They have no pa
triotism, and the memory Of a statesman is with
them only to be cherished when allied with his
services to the church.
The Festival will, we trust, inaugurate new
order of ideas amongst us, and add something
to the reverence Of great names, in which, up
to the present time. we have been far too def
cient. As it is intended to extend this great
national and patriotic experiment to all parts
of the country, it is to be hoped that the gra.
LITIGATION and enjoyment that will be derived
from it will lead to its perpetuation on Wash
ington's birth day, and its imitation on the oc-
casion Of other anniversaries. On the refining
and eevating influences Of such gatherings it
is not necessary for us to enlarge. They ex-
hilarate the spirits, promote social intercourse
between the different classes encourage art
and teach men that for patriotism there are
more cheering rewards than the cold isolation
Of the tomb .New York Herald. De- Is