The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-04-23

1
The Purchase OF Mount Vernon.
Tue Hsgent Of the Mount. Vernon Assoc;a,ion--
iohg Known as the Southern Matron." but who
now assumes her real name, as il is stated In com
p''ahee with the entreaties of her friends-ad
afesses the following appeal TO the ladies of the
Aoant Vernon Association.
| houNF VERNON, THE PROPERTY OF THR NATION
~ = WIN feelings OF the highest qualification wa
81 20 .he public that the pefseyering efforts
oi i the Ladies' Mount Vernon Assoc iaiion Of tha
obion, nave been crowned with success ronn,an.
suiate WITH their sacred aims and lofty patriot.
isih' ana that they have at last secured n the
nhie1leah people the privilege of making the Home
| ttOa! 1'' y ~" w"
oh Tie failure Of the Mount Vernon lin in
.he oeherai Assembly of Virginia we renewed
our oSertares tn Mr.. Washington to sall the pron-
efty TO tue Association. These overtures met with
a favorable Response, aud the 9Th of April. a
contract WAS signed by Mr. Washington which
obligated him to transfer Mount ysTncn To tba
assoeiatioh, on Its compliance with the following
| terms, viz e
The payment OF two hundred thousand dollars
| Tor two hundred acres of land, Including the man
tomb. ' WV
| Eighteen thousand dollars to be paid on closing
oi contract. aud the remainder of the sum- in fonr
bonds payable IN yearly instaments, with the Dor
mission, 0jteF ute payment Of Mc first t0ad to nav
10 hr. washington any amount of the balance
que IN sums OF not LEES thar five thousand dol
hrs, which shms will be credited to the Associa-
| tlon in this manner essening the interest
The title to the estate aud to be given
on payment of the principal and interest and the
privilege also granted of obtaining possession, on
'hlrty days notice, at any time tie Association
may De Teddy 10 furnish the entire purchase D0n,y
The price asked for Mount Vernon by its propri-
etor and which has never varied has long been
known to the public, aud the Ladies of the Mount
1 iafI i'm
ehasers, coUtd not erpecf 10 dcgirc az unop other
terms than those given as the ultimatum, to Con.
| gress and Virginia.
Yet there is Il concession made to the Associa.
| ton by Mr.. Washington, as to the extension of
| time; and very important pr0riso to save in
teresf, which can best be eX planned hy the fol-
lowing letter addressed to the legal gentlemen who
negotiated the purchase on behalf of the Associa-
tiOn:
RICHMOND, April I, 1858
10 Wa. H. A'cflriand, Esq and Gen. A. 4.
CtopMda:
GE3rLEAEN-In the negotiations you have re-
GENTLY concluded with me, on behalf of the Ladies'
ASSOCIATION for the purchase of Mount Vernon
the payment OF interest on the deferred iustsI
ments IRON the date of the contract while | re-
tainea possession OF the property, was the only
serious difficulty between Ms.
Having satisfied you that | could not yieId this
point yOu finally conceded it.
As the contract is now closed, and believe in
satisfactory way to both parties il affords me n,ea
sure to gay to You, that If the Association meets
Its engagements with me the first of Jappary
1883, and thinks proper to pay, and does paw the
ether deferred instalmeBis on or before the nd
day OF February 1859, as You inform mo they will
probably be both willing and able to do, it is nv
iut6ntlou, IN That case to remit To the Association
all the interests on all the deferred pa yments
This shall be willing to do partly as an in
ducenent TO the Association to obtain po.sassi,n
of Mouut Vernon at an early day. but more
particularly, as an evidence of my apprecation of
the motives that have actuated the Ladies' Assoca
ton in the cause 1t has undertaken
have the honor to be- gentlemen,
With the highest respect,
Your obedieDt servant
JOHN A. WASHINGTON.
More than half century has now elapsed since
Washington walked among us-a half century of
neglect and iDgrattude to his memory. Between
the broken piedgesW Congress, and the apathy of
his mother State, The remains of the father of his
country have lain uuhOnofed by the mausoieum
voted In the hour of a Nations griefa his Home
aud draVe, left to the fate OF private property aud
accessible 10 the public only through the forbear
anee oi courtesy OF It's various private ownersI
Ever and anon. voice was heard to protest
against republican iDgratitude for, ever and anon
the heart of this great nation seemed to tbrob
with remembrance of his virtues aud of bis ser
vices, and the priceless legacy he bequeathed
But. during the stern struggles of Young Repub.
lie, this voice was unheeded, and since America
became power on earth, it either silenced
toy the din OF party and sectional strife, or stified
b4 iHe OF maI0n0E, until the Vp
TINS, which knew him not were in danger of for
getting aud wholly departing from those prfaci
pies, which are the bulwafk of our greatness aud
those warning cOUiSei$ which can alone maintain
our Union in safety. But that Providence which
has so often lnterposed for onr rescue in the dark
est days OF the Republic, when the ship of State
With no master hand at the helm, rocked to and
irO On the angry waves OF sectional strife and bit.
terness which threatened tn engulf it; has stirred
the heart oI woman to revive. through the rescue
Of the sacred ashes of the Father of his Country
that love Tor his memory, slumbering, but not
dead, which could be made all pO,oerfiI, in regen.
Grating and healing influences
call WAS made to The ao0hfR of the south to
gather around his grave and become the VestaIs
to keep alive the fires of patriotism. The motives
were pure--the intentions generous-but they
failed! He, who watch the signs of the times,
know ye not wherefore? WaShiRgt1a Jeioaoed not
atone 0the Sath!
Again the call was made and this time to the
.01men ct tie Nation. Again it failed land where
fore?
The tile and all the po,oer rcere. 10 be oicsn 10
State and Washington belonged not to one State
alone.
Devoted woman would be neither baffied nor
conquered; hut she only trumphs when the COM
mon homestead be procured as a common he
r'tage, Tor the estranged children Of a common
father, the spell of whose memory will vet have
the power to re-unite them around his hallowed
sepuchre.
Unexpected success has crowned her efforts-
puf country can be saved, one and indissulube
ioTeVcf-ior loOAdH has become her guardian sti-
rlt In the sacred groves of Mount Vernon she
Will learn those lessons which will never leave us
without Nary to train a Washington for her
countTy's hour OF need.
'Orators-Statesmen-the noble brotherhood of
ha6ohs-odd feliows-patriots, one and all, have
come promptly to the aid OF woman! And We wo-
men OF the North aud of the South of the Fast and
OF the West will ye not rally 10 the work! viii
ye not vie, one with another, which will gfue most
aud ds most. that we may, on the 22d of February
1859, claim and take possession of the Home and
Grave OF him who loved lis all, and thus make his
birthday the birthday also OF Republican graft
tude, Justice and faternal lovel
ANN PAMELA CUNNINGHAM
Regent Mount Vernon Ladies' Association
Auril