The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-11-10
AN APPEAL FOR MOUNT
VERNON.


preservation of the Home and Grave OF
Washington, has existed since the winter
of 1858. Subsequently the Association
then formed was enlarged and re-organl-
zed under the title of the ''Mt Y. L. A.
of the Union" in May, 1855, to which
charter was granted by the General As
sembly of Virginia, in March 1856.
By this charter the Associate is en-
powered to purchase and hold two hun
bred acres of the Mt. Vernon estate, in
Guiding the Mansion and Tomb of Wash
ington, the Garden, Grounds, and Land
ing, on the Potomac River.
The sum to be given, of which $4,000
was PAID upon signing the contract, in
April of the present year, is 100000;
tho remainder pa fable in four annual in
stallmonts. By the terms of the contract
between the proprietor, Mr.. John A.
Washington, and the Association, non
payment of any one of the installments is
to be forfeiture of whatever has been
paid up to that time; while, in the event
of a liquidation of the whole Indebtedness
on or before the 22d of February Of 1859,
Mr. Washington generously proposes to
remit the entire interest due. Great eff
forts are being made to secure the whole
amount before that time, and large sums
have ben raised in most of the Southern,
Eastern and Middle States, while, as yet,
the West has done but little.
The plan proposed, is, by individual
contributions, and one d0LLur constitutes
the person who pays it member Of the
Association; an additional dollar, on or
before the 22d of February of any year,
gives the member so paying vote at the
annual meeting of that particular year.
A Constitution and Bylaws, under
the charter have been adopted, by which
the business of the Association is to be
managed by Council. composed of a
presiding officer or Regent, and Vice
Regents, selected, one from each State in
the Union.
The Association is, furthermore, bound
by its charter, to keep the Mt. Vernon
estate, thus purchased, forever sacred to
the object for which it has been secured
Here, then, is the scheme: Mt. Yer
non Is to become a National Property,
not through purchase by Congress to be,
peradventure, " a bone of contention" in
tho exigencies of our uncertain future
not as gift from the sovereign State
honored by the birth and ashes of the
Hero of the Revoution-but by volun-
tary individual contributions. through an
Association of earnest hearted, devoted
women.
Almost two generations have passed,
of unparalleled growth in wealth and
power, since the First President of our
Republic rested from his Iabors, and was
laid, amid nations grief, in that humble
grave on the banks of the Potomac-a
grave yet, to this day, unhonored by ma
t'onal mausoleum or care.
And now that the women of America
have undertaken to wipe out the ingrati-
tude and neglect of the past, by rescuing
from decay, that they may protect and
beautify, and keep forever sacred to his
memory, the Home and Grave of Wash
ington, they call upon all who are enjoy
ing the blessings for which he labored to
aid them in the work. Once secured to
the people of this Republic, by their own
united contributions and efforts, that
Home and Grave must become a ralying
point for the patriotism of coming ages
bright, green spot around which will
cluster the glorious memories of that time,
when our heroic ancestors pledged life,
fortune, and sacred honor, to cause that
was to "giye them liberty, or give them
death -
Who does not want an interest in that
beautiful homo where his great soul was
strengthened by communion with nature,
for public tolls, and where, in the decline
Of years, he left the lustre of a life I'M
dimmed by single personal ambition
w no would not rather esteem it blessed
privilege to become a co-partner in the
ownership and protection of that hallowed
spot where come the great and good of
every cline that they may-if but once
tread the soil he trod, and do reverence
l. the sublime virtues of bis life? The
groves of Mount Vernon, though sacred
u ;he freedom, not of America only, but
% the world, must vet be ever dearest to
the American heart for Washington aUas
orr ora!
Men and women of Wisconsin. Ye
whose homes are on the broad prairics.
and beside the beautiful lakes, under the
shade Of that Tree of Liberty whose roots
were nourished by the blood of the Revo-
luton, VIC call upon you-upon each
father aud mother of the thousands who
teach your little ones to lisp with rever-
encc the name of Washington, and to I'M
6erstand tie meaning of our "Grcat
July"-anl surely no ono of you will fail
10 give y>Ir name and contribution to
the noble record upon which your chill
dren may go and look with pride in after
years And yo sons and daughters of
Freedom-tyoung men an madens-ve
who are to be the Marys and Washingtons
of our country's future-come Law your
offering upon this sacred altar, and give
Sour names TO q triumph for all timel
Patriots of the Northwest Orators
and Legislators-the great brotherhood
ct MaSonS, Odd Fellows and Good Tenn
PIers-we want your aid--the patriotic
word, the generous haad. And We breth-
rem OF the Press-guardians of Liberty,
and leaders of this great people-lend ms
yonr influence in earnest. helpful words.
90 shall we not only have an individual
interest, but noble State pride in doino
our part IN this glorious work.
Mrs. E. o. SAMPSON HOYT