Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1858-05-05
tives that have sctuated the Ladies' Association In
the cause t has undertaken.
have the honor to be. gentlemen,
With the highest respect,
Your ohedient servant
.IOHN A. WASHINGTON

Your ohedient servant
JOHN A. WASHINGTON.
More than half century has now elapsed since
Washington walked among us-a half century OF
neglect and ingratitude to his memory. Between
the broken pledges of Congress, and the apathy OF
his mother State the remains Of the father OF his
country have lain unhonored by the mausoleum
voted in the hour Of Nations grief, and his Home
and Grave. left to the fate of private property and
accessible to the public, only through the fobear-
ance courtesy Of its various private owners!
Ever and anon, voice was heard to protest
against republican ingiattuoe. for. ever and anon,
the heart Of this great nation seemed to throb with
remembrance Of his virtues and OF his services,
and the priceless legacy he bcqueathed But, dur
ing the stern struggles of young Republic, this
voice was unheeded, and since America became 4
power on earth. il was either senced by the din OF
party and sectional strife. siited by the murmurs
of Mammon, until the generations which knew him
not were in danger Of forgetting. and wholly de-
parting from, those principles which are the bull
walk of our greatness, and those warning eounsets
which can alone maintain our Union in safety. But
that Providence which has so often interposed for
our rescue in the darkest days OF the Republic,
when the ship Of State with no master hand at the
helm. rocked to and fro on the angry waves Of sec
tonal strife and bitterness which threatened to en-
gulf it. has stirred the heart OF woman to revive,
through the Of the sacred ashes of the Father
of his Conntrv that love for his memory, slumber-
ing but not dead, which could be made all posoer
tuI in regeneraing and healing infnencesl
A call was made 10 the toomen Of the South, to
gather around his grave and become the Vestas to
keep alive the fires Of patriotism. The motives
were pnre-the intentions generous-but they fail
ed! Ye who watch the signs of the times, know
We not wherefore? Washington belonged not alone
tn the South!
Again the call was made, and this time to the uo
men Of the .Nation.-Agan it failed!-and where.
fore2
The title. and all the po,eer arsrs to be giren TO q
State; and Washington belonged not to one State
| alone!
| Devoted woman would he neither baffled nor con
! ouered; hut she only trumphs when tine common
! homestead can he procured as q common heritage
for the estranged children Of a common father, TIT
| spell Of whose memory will yet have the power Il
! re unite them around his hallowed sepulrhre.
/ Unexpected success has crowned her efforts Ou
co.ctry can be saved and in6issolnble forever
for ,comG,t-ha has become her guardian spirit In III
sacred groves OF Mount Vernon she will learn thns
lessons which will nevef leave us without Nars
10 train Washington for>asr Countrys hour
need
Orators-Statesmen-the noble brstherhod OF Ms
! sons-Odd Feows-patrios, one and all maze com
promptly to the aid Of woman! And ye. woncnt
the North and of the South. Of the East and Of IN
West will We not rally to the work? VIII We nc
vie, one with another, which will girs most and d
most that may, on the twenty-second Of Eel
ruarv 1889, claim and take possession Of the Hon
! ard Grave of him. who loved us all, and thus mai
his rth-dav. the birth dav also of Republican gra,
tude, justice, and fraernal love,
ANN PAMELA CUNNINGHAM
| Regent Mount Vernon Ladies' Association.
April 10th, 1858.