Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-15
AN APPEAL TO THE LADIES OF THE
STATE OF VIRGINIA,

STATE OF VIRGINIA,
FOR THEPURcHAsE Or MT VERNON.
The first "LADiEs' Mourn VERNON Asso-
|c1ATIoN OF THE UNION was formed in 1854,
in the State whose proudest boast is, that
she gave birth to Washington and to sons
worthy to tread in his footsteps.
The originator of the project to purchase,
preserve, and consecrate the homestead and
sepulchre of the peerless Washington, was
Miss Ann PAMELA Cunningham, of South
Carolina. Her untiring exertions overcame
|numberless obstacles. and in March, 1856,
obtained charter from the General As
sembly Of Virginia, incorporating the AS
sociation and authorizing the Governor of
Virginia to contract for the purchase Of two
hundred acres of Mount Vernon. In ac-
|cordance with the Charter, the treasury of
Virginia was to be supplied with the requi-
site funds by the Association property
to be owned by the State of Virginia.
in March, 1858, shis act, which had
proved imperative, was amended at Miss
Cunningham's solicitation, and the Associ-
alton itself was authorized to purchase, pay
for, and hold two hundred acres of Mount
Vernon.
The Charter granted by Va. required
that the Constitution aud Bylaws to be
adopted by the Association, should first re-
ceive the approval. of the Governor of Va.
A Constitution, which rendered the enter
prise thoroughly national, giving to all the
States equal privileges in the purchase and
possession Of Mount Vernon, was drawn up
by distinguished lawyers - submitted to
Governor Henry A. Wise-formally APP
proved by him-a copy fled in the Office of
the Secretary Of the Commonwealth and
the Association, whose action had hitherto
been merely voluntary, acas organized IN
april, 1858, IN a strictly legal manner.
The Constitution requires that the Asso-
citation shall have Regent, and that each
State shall be represented, if practicable, by
a Vice-Regent-thus allowing the States to
hold united and equal possession of the sa-
cred heritage.
The Constitution specifies, that Miss Ann
PAMELA Cunningham, to whose patriotism,
zeal, and never-aagging energy, the Asso-
citation owes its existence and charter-rights,
shall be the first Regent, and shall have
the power to appoint Vice Rege nts, and
other officers.
At the present date; twenty-five States
are represented by Vice Regents, and the
Regent is making earnest efforts to obtain
the services Of efficient representatives in all
the other States.
The Vice-Regent Of each State is duly
empowered to organize Board for collect
ing funds in the State over which she pre-
|sides.
The Association is authorized bv its
Charter to hold property to the amount Of
FIVE hundred thousand dollars, including the
purchase money of Mount Vernon.
In April 1858; contract was executed.
in due legal form, with Mr. John A.
Washington, for the purchase, by the As
ISOLATION, Of two hundred acres of Mount
Vernon, including the mansion and tomb
lot Washington, the garden, pleasure
grounds, and landing on the Potomac.
Mr.. Washington demanded of the Feder-
|al Government and of Virginia, when he
received an intimation of their desire to
purchase, two hundred thousand dollars for
two hundred acres. That sum the ladies Of
the Association offered Mr.. WasAinqton
acitAout any atteneptto bargain.
According to the terms Of the contract
between the parties, eighteen thousand dol
lars were paid down in cash. Fifty-seven
thousand are to be paid OF or before Jan.
LIST, 1859, and theremainder in three equal
annual instalments on the 22d of February,
1860, 1861, 1862, with 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 her co-laborers.
I If the price is deemed too great for the
actual vaiue of the estate, let US remember
that it is to be paid by the vAoze nation, and
to the nation Mount Vernon is priceless.
If the sum which renders it national pos
session had been still larger, it would only
have afforded larger number Of patriots
the opportunity of bestowing their mite in
remeln brance of the benefits conferred by
him who secured to them their homes, and
whose home they would now reverently
guard in re cognition Of the inestimable
debt.
We can put no market price upon a ma
tion's attestation Of gratitude-no price up
on halIowed memories and holy associations
no price upon the footprints Of Washing
ton-and these give to Mount Vernon its
value! The Association does not desire to
possess this property because of it's almost
unrivallcd landscape beauty-its abundant
natural advantages - its fertile soil ~ it's
picturesque surroundings-but because it
was the home so dear to the great COM
mander, through his long career of trial and
Of glory the home for which he ever yearn-
ed whether at the head of a victorious army
or seated in the Presidential chair, the chief
ruler of his country; "his harbor Of re-
pose,' ,-"his earthly paradise, "-"his be-
loved Mount Vernon" as it has been styled
by his illustrious biographer. In that man
sion-which every storm threatens to de-
stroy, and the finger Of decay ravages un-
checked-he passed his happiest hours.
Those doors he threw open to welcome the
great and good Of other lands. Thosewalls
echoed with the sound Of his voice in mirth
in councl-in prayer From that soil
sprang the trees he planted with his own
hand, watched with tender solicitude, and
even noted in his diary they stand there
still, green as his memory in true hearts,
There ara the pleasure grounds which he