Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-04-06
MOUNT VERNON TO BE PURCHASER
THE LADIES.


THE LADIES.
In publishing the following correspondence
tween "a Southern Mstron" and Mr.. Wa.br,,,
we are happy to announce that the transfer Of st..
Vernon 10 the Ladies Mount Vernon Associ..
ia now fixed fact.
The evidence Of this will be laid before the D,,
as soon az certain necessary legal preliminsre, :.
he arranged:
Dir. JOHN A. WASHINGTON.
Dear Slr-The bill providing that Virginia A..
purchase Mount Vernon, on the faith that thu :
chase money was TO be refunded by the Noun, 5
NON Ladies' Association of the Union, wss csIl,t
in the House OF Delegates, to-day, and defeated
vote of 29 to 81.
For more than four years, through three /,
cessiys Legislatures, has the Mother Stats -
inportuned 10 secure to herself the possession, Fl,
time of the grave of that immortal son, whoa. f.,
has been tine glory of her past history, and i,
source OF her present power and Influence in a e.
federation Of States.
To our earnest petition to grant Virginia. 81
again, an opportunity to become the custodian al
grave, you reluctantly yielded, and only with Il,
surance that this, the third, should also be the Ian
portunity offered her, ever to secure tba >; -se1
charge.
We joyfully accepted this condition, with Dc Al
"a TO the result, for we knew that pstriots =; y
most every section were anxious to be perni,.|
share in this custodIsnship; and would pledge ~
selves TO pay the purchase money, and besr ii.
pense Of future care and preservation, only to OBJ
that simple boon.
We grieve TO announce 10 you, that We ere
Judgment, and that Dsjority of the General A..l
Div of the old Commonwealth, has placed On ~
never to be effaced from the page Of Virgi.
hiatory-that she did not desire 10 possess u:
Vernon, either as a gift or purchase.
BY the law Of our confederated government
gress cannot purchase land in sovereign s.
without the consent OF, and cesson OF the iii.
the State in whose don ain the property lies
ginia, through her Congressional represen,st
has declared emphaticslly, that che will never
TO Congress the title to Mount Vernon.
In your desire TO procure for il a sacred des:.
to place it beyond the contingencies Of time
change, inseparable from private possessioua
have announced that you would only sell 10
United States, or to Virginia. For seven year.
have received advances which induced you 10 b..
that the Federal Government or the State intepdI
purchase. For seven years you have au si.ed
final decision and the result is now before YOU. n
you not done all that consistency, self respec,
ancestral pride require, in furnishing these reu.|
opportunities to the State and nation, 10 brcO,n.
sessors and guardians of the home and grave Of !
illusir GUS ancestor Because one csnuot Dur.
and the other will not, will you continue TO refu..
overture of parties who pledge themselves TO sccf
plish the end in view-both for the place and h.
tion'
May we not hope that the events Of the ps.. J
alone have been sufficient 10 convince YOU ,hs4
people cherish the memory of the father OF Il
country, and would be the most proper guardi.1
his remainsi Over the length and breadth Of |
land there is but one voice 10 be heard from
bound New England reverberatirg over the : h
Il -EaI,ra a e..
of California, that as Washington belongs tt
hole country. his grave should be The proper{
the nation. The nations representatives hsys II
power 10 make it co. and Virginia refuses TO do
Hrlf, or To aid others to crafty nations Year,
Yes. a naiion's yesrniDg. for The heart Of thi, ID
people has been touched. and the old and the ~
men, women and children, orators and stat,
Masens Sc, the children of Washington Of i.
clSss-pOticsl, religious aud sOc!sl-Unting i'll
common brotherhood, pledge themselves, an. In
descendanrs to the latest time, TO guard the gr %
their renowned father, whoae memory alone ca,
the power willis il remains first in their hes
bind them together in bonds too strong TO b. l
ed.
In the name and on behslf Of the Ladies
Vernon Association OF the Union, We now api n,
you to renew our offer to purchase Mount VI !. 10
We do 40 with the hope that you will not se,1 g
fuse, for we know that you appreciate the utk r
patriotism and devotion which prompts and ID !:
this movement. We will place before you suc.I OF
depce OF past successes, and present prospe1c
mist convince you that, in relying on the pair fHd
Of our countrymen for the means 70 rederr Pas
pledges tn you, we rely on an eXchequer whic ro e
not be- exhausted by our demands. We offer %
tain every legal guarantee neediul for the pro$s
of your Interests, and not inconsistent with the h
otto object We wish to keep steadily 10 view
beg your most serious consideration oil the iacter
there is non no party or power in the United Ahct
excep. the Mount Vernon Association whitf "
make. or desires to make Mount Vernon the n
ty Of the nation-with grateful woman p!ec4 =.
guard the sacred ashes of Washington, and toV, "a
his home for national shrine. No
Such hsing the case, We cannot doubt YOUR III
sion. With sentiments high respect, In,
A SOUTHERN MATRt 81
MOUNT VEnSoS, March 18th i've.
To "A Southern Mdir0n": Is
NJ, dam:-Your letter of March Eth has b4 IT, \
ceived in which you inform me thst the b cteC
vding for the purchase Of Mount Vernon Jus
GINA, has been defeated in the House at Deh1o
and in the name and on behalf Of the Noun; rho
Association. you renew your offer 10 purchsi req
place. ksry,
Heretofore, have only been willing to d.;t exc
Mount Vernon to the United States. or to tn,
as believe that in the hands ct one or the o en-
would be better protected and preserved. ,hsr a /
possession of any individual or associated
events Of the past aeven seara, however, see@ tin
dictate, that neither Virginia, nor the United omr
with to acquire the place. Under these FL o
stances, aud believing that after ID; ight
highest powers In our country, the women Of Fch
will be the saitst-as they will certainly be h. W,
guardians Of national shrine, an willE
TO comply with your request, as to await fora 6ITs
ably limited period OF time, the propositions gain
TO make to mo on behalf Of the Associsi su,
which you preside. And assure you that ura ms
proposals are inconsistent with what bels opu
my duties upon the occasion, shall BIZ it: sa as
give them the most favorable consideration s,o
With assurances of the highest rspec., mac
have the honor 10 be, the
Your obedirnt servant, tlcct
JOHN A. WASHISGI and