Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-12-20
NJ Ount Vernon.

| The Richmond Enquirer contains beauti-
| full and eloquent appeal of Mrs. ANNA CORA
| Richie, the patriotic and accomplished Vice
| Regent of the Mount Vernon Association of
| Virginia, To the ladies of Virginia, for the
| purchase of Mount Vernon" which will
apply with equal force to every other section
of the Union.
After recitng the history Of the contract
| with Mr.. Washington by which he is to re-
ceive two hundr' dollars for two hundred
acres, the Vice Regent states that eighteen
| hundred dollars were paid down in cash at
the time of executing the contract; that fifty
seven thousand dollars, with interest were
paid on the 22d December, 1858, and the
remainder is to be paid in three equal
| annual instalments on the 22d of February,
1860, 1861, 1862, with the privilege of pay
ing the whole amount due at any time, and
taking possession, upon giving thirty days
notice. That the whole will be paid before
the 22d of February, 1859 is the hope and
belief of the Regent and Der co-labOrers."
We make the following extract from this
patriotic appeal:
''If the price is deemed too great for the
actual value of the estate, let us remember
that il is to be paid by the whole nation, and
to this nation Mount Vernon is priceless. If
the sum which renders it national posses
sion had been still larger, it would only have
afforded larger number of patriots the
opportunity of bestOwing their mite in re-
membrance of the benefits conferred by him
who secured to them their homes. and whose
home they would now reverently guard in
recognition of the inestimable debt.
1--WE can put no market price upon ma
tons attestations Of gratitude-no price up
on haIlOwed memories and holy associations
no price upon the foot prints OF Washing
ton-and these give to Mount Vernon Its
at desire
possess this property because of its almost
unrivalled landscape beauty, its abundant
natural advantages, its fertile soil, its
picturesque surroundings, but because 1t was
the home SO dear to the great commander
through his long career of trial and OF glory
the home for which he ever yearned, whether
at the head of a victorious army, or seated IN
the Presidential chair, the chief ruler OF his
country: chs harbor ofrepOse. ibis earthly
naradise, :" "bis beloved Mount Vernon" as
il has been styled by his illustrious
Biorraphcr In that mansion. which every
storm threatens to destroy, and the hnger OF
decay ravages unchecked - he passed his
manifest hours Those doors he threw open
TO welcome the great and good OF other
lands Those walls echoed with the sound OF
his voice in mirth. council, in prayer From
that soil sprang the trees he planted with his
own hands, watched with tender solicitude,
and oven noted in his dairy: They stand ther"
still. green as his memory IN true hearts
There are the pleasure grounds which he
plantCd-the garden, with its century plant,
its lemon and orange trees, that blossomed
beneath his eycs-the walks his feet have
trodden by the side of his cherished partner.
There is the porticO. around the pillars OF
which he twined the coral honey-suckie, and
where has often sat, at the close OF his well
spent day. gazing, with her. upon the spark
ling waters OF the beautiful Potomac. There
is the chamber where the Christian Hero met
his Heavenly summons with the peaceful
eiaculatiOn-''it is well''-upon his lips
words which angel voices may have fifty re-
echoed as they greeted his enfranchised
spirit. And there is the tomb, "a reproach
to the nation who loved him. mouldering
INTENDED tomb, where lie his ashes! y
coarse brick coach house, Gt seems no better
to the eve.) holds the sarcophagi OF Washing
ton and his beloved Martha. Around. desOla-
ton reigns supreme. Neglect and decay
have chief dominion"
1t appears that Vice Regents have been
appointed for twenty-one States, and that all
of these are Zealously ut work, collecting
funds. The first duty of the Association. 1t
is stated will be to repair the mansion; to-
gather within its walls all the relics of Wash
ington: to restore the garden and pleasure
grounds to the order in which Washington
left them, "a chart in his own hand remained
TO guide in the labor;) and to erect fitting
monument over his grave. What more Is to
be accomplished, will be matter for future
discussion and decision.
Each subscriber of one dollar and upwards
becomes u member OF the Association.