The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-10-28
Far the Gate City.

MEssks. EprToRs:--fou published, H.
week, letter addressed BY the Regent Of sep
ssMount Vernon Ladies Association OF ~
Union,o to Mrs. Van Antwerp, Of this city,
asking her aid to enlist the cooperation Of
the citizens of Keokuk in support Of the pro-
ject for the purchase and future preserva-
ton az the property Of tho Nation, Of Mount
Vernon the homo and grave Of Washing
ton.
This letter was accompanied by note from
Mrs. v. A. requesting meeting Of our citi-
xens to consider the matter, which according
~ took place, on Saturday last, with Govern
or Lowe In the Chair. The meeting, after
taking the necessary steps lnitiatory to a plan
for carrying out the objects proposed in the
call, by the organization Of an auxiliary So
ciety, &C., unanimously passed a resolution
recommending to the Regent the appointment
of Mrs. Van Antwerp as Vice Regent--one
being appointed in each State Of the Asso.
ciation, for Iowa.
This action of the meeting, however, seems
TO have been anticipated by the Regent for,
on Monday, Mrs. Van Antwerp received an
other communication from her, containing q
voluntary and very handsome offer Of the
Vice Regency for this State, copy of which
having been requested and kindly furnished,
is herewith enclosed.
The "Mount Vernon Ladies Association Of
the Union" is body organized under spe.
cial &C. Of the State of Virginia, for the pur-
poses already indicated, the Mount Vernon
estate being part of her territory. The
constitution of the Association gives to its
presiding officer, or Regent, the authority to
appoint Vice Regent for each of the States.
The Regent is Ann Pamela Cunningham, Of
South Carolina, lady Of superior intelli-
gence and worth, who, over the signature of
a"Southern Matron," some years ago, called
public attention in number of able, elo-
quent and patriotic articles through the press,
to the pious object which she has never since
relinquished, but is still engaged in carrying
out, with the most cheering prospects of sue
cess, some $4,000 or $50, 900 having al
ready been raised through the instrumental
ity of the Association, of which she is the
worthy and honored head.
The Vice Regents Of this Association, as
We gather from the Record--a neat little
journal published monthly under i.s auspices
ARE selected both in reference to their own
merits and qualifications for the important
and honorable trust, and, so far as may be
found practicable, their connection with the
compeers Of Washington in the Revolutionary
struggle.
Thus, the Vice Regent for New York, ia
Miss Mary Morris Hamilton, grand daugh-
ter OF Alexander Hamilton; and for Ala
bama, the highly accomplished and popular
Madam lie Vert-formerly Octavia Walton,
and grand daughter OF patriot Of that
name from Georgia, who was one Of the sign
ers Of the Declaration of Independence.
Mrs. Van Antwerp is To- grand daughter
OF Robert Yates, Of New York, TN associate
and companion Of Washington, Hamilton and
Walton, and prominent actor in all the
he continued to be throughout its eventful
progress to its close. subsequently, with
Alexander Hamilton and John Lansing as
his colleagues) he was member Of the Con-
yention which sat in Philadelphia in 1887
and framed the Constitution OF the United
States; and, later still, from 1890 till l198
he occupied the position Of Chief Justice of
his native State, whose citizens continue to
venefate his memory, us tho writer of this,
himself native land until recently resi-
dcnt) Of its most ancient city, can abundantly
testify. Our townswoman, therefore, Mrs. Van
Antwerp--formerly Jane Maria Yates lis APP
propriately chosen by the Regent to CO. ope-
rate with the grand daughters of Hamilton,
Walton, and others, in the patriotic work be-
| fore them.
Aside from the honor thus conferred upon
our city, this appointment is one eminently
ssft to be mnde," for, by common consent
Mrs. Van Antwerp combines in an unusua
degree the intelligence, energy, zeal and tact
requisite for the successful discharge Of til,
noble ends sought to be attained and we can.
not permit ourselves to doubt that her ap
| peal to the dev otion and patriotism OF the cit
| gems OF Iowa, for their aid in the purchas,
and adornment Of the sacred grounds which
constitute tho resting place Of the illustriou
and venerated dead, will ensure . cordial ant
hearty response. l.. G. q.
THE REGENTS LETTER.
4 PnrLADKLrMA, Oct. 90, 1858.
Mrs. Yer Pianck Fan An tuerp, Keokuk
lo,oa:
DEAR MADAM Yours Of the l4th instan
is just received, and ! hasten to express tn
pleasure your cordial, and at the same tim
cminently practical reply, has afforded me-
II 10 indeed true that the cause is one in whic
to feel "pride;' and in accepting your Of
fers OF aid in your own town, permit me /
enlarge your sphere Of usefulness, and /
, cordially tender for your acceptance the Vic
/ Regency for Iowa.
Allow me 10 say, that am prompted /
this step both by the confidence which you
,, own letter imparts in regard to,your interel
: in the cause, and the Judgment and patrio
!, ism you would bring to the work, and frol