The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-01-09

Mouut Vernon.
We have lately examined with considerable In
terest correspondence that passed eleven years
AFRO besvces Vice President Dallas and other high
fuuctionsriss OF the federal government, and John
A. Washington, Esq touching the purchase Of the
burial place of Washington BY the United States.
srhe request TO Mr.. Washington for this transfer
No the Cnited States was signed by q. n. Dallas,
then Vice President, D. r.. Atehiscn, President Of
she Senate, John W. Davis, Speaker Of the House,
James Buchanan, Secretary Of State, wm. L. Marcy,
War, Bancroft, Navy, Walker, Treasury and various
members Of the ssnate, Lower House and depart
ments. In bis reply Mr. Washington states that
Gen. Warrington, In his will, gave Mount Vernon
to the late Judge Bushrcd Washington, who be-
eaea,hed II to John A. Washington, father Of the
presen, proprietor. Mr.. John A. Washington, Sc.
nior at his death LEFT It to the mother Of the pro-
cent Mr.. Washington, and empowered her to sell
IL to the General Government Of the United States.
81 the government desired 10 purchase, and she
thought It advisable for the interest Of his chill
dren to sell It. Mrs. Washington. who was living
at the time Of this correspondence, authorized her
son to sell to Congress hundred and fifty acres
Of Mount Vernon including tho buildings, grounds
and tomb, upon condition that the remains OF
Gen. Washington and bis family shouid never be
~sy IL away, and that in the event Of the disso-
luton Of the Union the property should revert to
the heirs Of John A. Washington, the Oldest son OF
the present proprietor-for The sum IF one hundred
Gsossond dollars.
Accompanying this correspondence IL an appeal
70 the people. setting forth that though, sat first
sight, the sum Of 100000 for only $50 acres Of
poor land, having nothing of visible importance
upon them, saving few ancient and dilapidsted
buildings, with an old and uutenanted tomb, rap.
idly crumbling to dust, and . plsinly constructed
new Tomb, may appear to he an exorbitant price,
yet Il cannot be 80 viewed by true hearted Amer-
cans, Vhen they take into consideration the inn
mite number OF purely patriotic "reminiscences that
must be forever associated with the spot" Ac
companying the correspondence and appeal IL =
Memorial of American citizensto Congress praying
that Mount Vernon may become the property Of
the United States. The principal agent In this pa
triotic movement, q gentleman Of extraordinary
energy Of character, well as great intelligence
fs now In this city, and he informs us that he pro-
cured not less than ten thousand signatures to that
memorial
President Fillmore, by resolution OF Congress,
which had appropriated 100000 for the purchase
of land for Military Asylum, addressed letter to
Mr.. Washington, desiring to know upon what terms
1ouut teTuUu Coutu putthhScus 40 thso'otsct "l'
Washington replied that, having been offered ttro
hundred thousand dollars by Northern compa-
ny, he presumed 1t was worth as much to the govs
eminent of the United States as It would be to
private association wherefore II could be had for
the sum of two hundred thousand dollars. This
unexpected reply put an effectuai quietus to the
project. It had been the intention to employ the
one hundred thousand dollars appropriated for the
Military Asylum, to the purchase Of Mount Yer
non, on which the Asylum would have been placed,
Botanical Garden established, and summer res.
idence for the President been built. But when
Congress found that, instead of the one hundred
thousand mentioned in the reply to President Dali
las, f~o hundred thousand were demanded, they
dropped the whole project like hot potato. Tile
gentleman to whom we have referred, one Of the
mest practicable men In the country Is of opinion
that IL the purchase had been made, sodilapidated
is the present condition Of the estate that 1t would
require at least an additional $lO0Co0 to put 1t In
complete repair, and that an annual expenditure
Of $4,000 would be necessary to keep 1t In proper
order.
Our readers are aware that the ladies Of the
country are now engaged In endeavoring to &C.
complish purchase In which the gentlemen failed.
We trust they may be more successful than their
predecessors aud that the "Knights of Mount Yer
non," when they have rallied to their banner, may
achieve brilliant victory.