New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-12-21
THE MOUNT VERNON PAPERS.


The ". Y. Ledger, containing the fret Of NJ, e.
eretts Mount Vernon Papers was issued ye.tsris!
The article was longer than is usual in Mr. B,csSl
journal, Occupy ing nearly three columns; but / 8
written with Mr.. Everett's accustomed elegance ssi
is a mocel Of pure aud admirable English Tie VI
thor discusses, first, the title he has chosen ia 10
series Of articles; then he goes 10 state he b
Iect in aid Of which he writes; then speaks Of "a
present situation Of the Mount Vernon estate, VI
Of the means to be adopted TO convert il into pax
property. We make few brief extracts, BY wya
showing the quality Of the paper:
ut can rarely be proper to mske the conduct Of r'
yste citizens, and the manner in which they mslas;
their affairs the subject of pubic comment. Son
as they keep within the bounds Of morality and "a
law, belong to the sect aud party with oursef
vote for the candidates, use the same dctlosE
read the same newsps per, and tske OIL Their hw
the ground when pass for If they fai IN say q
these things there is nothing too bad 10 say or p2
Of theml they ought not TO be intertered with. la
not aware of anything which ought to deprive the r.
prietOr Of Mount Vernon OF the benefit vi TINS pro-
pie CO rtainly not as far as am concerned indess
as am to him ard bis amiablc family for "a
friendly and bospitable reception.
Z" Ii could never, think, have been prcistr
property nor one capable of being kept in high nst
ton, without considerable annual outlay. Il II
sceIded TO the present proprietor, II am not rss
formed-for not derive the impression from hs-
in neglected state. SupposDg It true thst be ~
shown hin sef lot duly sensible 10 the intefaeg
character Of the spot, it does not, think, lie with
fellow citizens to reproach him. IL will be- time es't,
to DO so, when, either by the acts OF their pubNT
resentatives or any more informal dcnonsns9i
they shall themselves have manifested a sincere "
eff, ctiye interest in the care and preservation Of As
Vernon. While il remains fact that nothing "
been doLe by the leaders Of public opinion IN 7.
Of Congress, or by any general popular moyemem =
its election, It is Unfair TO reProach Mr.. Wssnnp
for supposed neglect Of it. Considered merely :,
potrimOna iarIo he surely has night to take carr
it neglect il at bis pleasure. Consideredn ~ Te''
national and patriotic associations, vii Dc ~
enough for the public 10 rebuke him when tae pun
has done its own duty. al
But leaving reproaches aside, which seldom &c
much good TO mssses Of men oT 10 individuals, ana
in general most literally dealt out by those who 'ss
little else 10 deal in, al persons must simf tnn -
state Of things at present existing at Mouat VIZ.
ought 10 cease. Nominnly private properly aSa
longing u private individual, the Pubic 10 eD
lays claim to II, takes possession Of it, occupies
at least OyeTrnrs II. Visitors OF every kina ~.
vast numbers, tourists ana pilgrims, OF our on
foreign lands ted by every motive, from Tile col".
TO patriotic feeling, resort 10 Mount vernon
pleassBt season vi the year, and more OF ss'
seesoIs. Iaey wancer over the grounds ana INV
the house, the greater part OF them, no d1uys ~
duciIrg themselves with the decorum which Dsess !
the place, ard the civIlity which belongs 70 az
But in ADDITION 10 the ciyll and we-bfed Ioe..
enough Of an opposite description 10 iaflcs - I'll
Injury on the grounds AID the house, and 70 So, 4,
greatest anLOyaLce 10 its inuiat. 8. Thef Ielue,
iuvaced in the most dnseemly and distressing ma
articles easily removed must be closely wac ,,I
prevent their being carried OF; whate yer can rssI
ken or cut is liable TO be mutiesed ana aslacea
doors, and the shrubbeTy in the waIAs anu
apnroprist.d without scruple. Three or foufa III
nj, have be,n wr.nched IRON the baluara is =
fro1t staircase. s1d carried away. An sttemP
made las. wear 70 break the glass case which coaSs
The kev of the Bastile given by Lafayette 10 VIZ
,o.on ard 10 puroin .bs remarkable relic. MO-
The email projecting portions of the wrought mS
mantsl -piece presented to General Washing'@ !.
Samuel Vaughan, esq, Of Lonaon, and forming ..r
ornament Of the fire place Al the din9g -
been rutblessly broken of; srd in one csse e.
ourg msgnohas plated In the grounds have -
cut down by touIists, who were, II may be
particular as to the quality OF their wsEbs
Were the fortune Of the proprietor sucn o s,s
enable him TO recover place ike Mount efs
the effects of half century Of neglect and 70
INTO state vi ornamental culture, 1t II PIAh.
could not be Kept in that condition witeo~ ~ llI
ditiorsl ,xpelse IL there were 10 other difheu'H
number OF wa.chnen and guards. ,,-ArI
" II vs. quite natural that the people shoali va
visit Mount Vernon but if they insst on ooi.e rt
Numbers thst pm. TO fight al ideas OF pnva%
erty, 10 cay nothing OF the secuslon when
charm Of rural lfe n-y ought 70 be wiing ~ o.iys
a right TO 90 They ought y posse's .nsa
legally Of the property and Lot insist upon u'ins
i pally. They not oly ought not TO rePr a. III
Washington with letting it 10 TO decay VIZ. oas
are themselves tearing il to pieces, but tney NJ
bot to pernn him to be burdened with nc'in .-,t
session, unaecomPsnied BY any genuine s"'''A