The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1858-05-04
Your obedient servant,

JoHN A. WASHINGTON.
More than half century has now elapsed
since Washington walked among us-a half
century of neglect and 'iihhgratIsude to bis memo
ry. Between the broken pledges Of Congress,
and the apathy of his mother State, the remains
Of the father of his country have lain unhonored
3; The mausoeum voted in the hour Ola ma.
lions g'icf, and his Home and Crave left to
the fate of private property, aud accessible, to
the public, only through the forbsarance and
courtesy Of its various private owners! 80,
Ever and anon, a voice was heard to protest
against republican ingratisude, for, ever and
anon, the heart Of this great nation seemed TO
throb with n remembrance Of his virtues md
his services, and the priceless legacy he be.
queathed. Bus, during the stern struggles, ola
young Republic, this voice was unheeded, and
since America became power on the earth, il
was either sileiced by the din of party, and
sectional strife, or stifed by the murmurs Of
Ma,nmon, until the generations, which knew
him not, were in danger offorsetting and wholly
departing from those principles which are the
bulwalk Of our greatness, and those warning
counsels which can alone maintain our Union
iii safety. But that Providence which has SO
often nleriosed for our rescue III the darkest
days Of the Republic, when the slip, Of State;
with no master hand at tie belE, rocked to
and fro on tile angrt waves Of sectional strife
aud bitterness, which threatened to engulf it;
has stirred the heart Of woman to revive. through
the rescue of the sacred ashes Of the Father OF
his Country, that love for his memory, sumber.
ing, but not dead, which could be made oil
powerul, in regenerating and healing inAu
ences
A call was made to the womcn Of the South,
to gather around his grave and become the
Vestas TO keep alive the fires of patriotism.
The motives were pure-the intentions gener.
ous..-but they failed Ye. who watch the
ssrs Of the times, know We not wherefore
Washingl0n belonged mo-, fGlone TO, tie South.
Again the call was, made, and this time to
tie ;"omen cftAe Nation:-Again it failed -
TSr tile, aid ali al tie po;cDr p were to &c giges a
to Il STATE; and Washington bonged not to one
State alone. ,
Devoted woman would be neither baffed
nor conquered; bit she only ,riumphs when
VIC co'I'Nou E'Hiesteuu Cou ue pIOCuIcu rs Il
common heritage, for the estranged children
Of a common father, the spell Of whose memory
will yet have the power to reuuite them around
his laIowed sepulchro.
Unexpected success has crowned her fforts
Our country can be saved, one and iudssolu.
bic forever-for woman has become her guar.
dian spirit. In the sacred groves Of Mount Yer.
non, she will learn those lessons, which will
never leave US without Mary, to train Wash.
ingtoH for her country's hour of need
Oralors-Statesmen- noble Brotherhood
of Masous Odd Fellows paartrioIs, one and
all, have come promptly to the aid Of woman !!
knJ ye, women of the North and of Tie South,
Of the East and OF tie West, vii! ye not rally
to the work ! VIII ye not vie one with another,
which will give most and do most, that We
may. on the :Yenty second Of february, 1850,
claim anG taIse possession cf the !1Pms and
Grave Of him, who loved us a =, and Has make
Sis birthday, the birth dny also of Republican
gratitude, justice and fraternsl loye! .
ANN PAMELA CUNNINGHAM,
Regent Mount Vernon Ladies' Association.
April Is, lS3s,-Riehmond Enquirer.