Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1859-11-20
z vENSoN.

To fs Edicrs Of ts Transeripf:
A letter in the Philadelphia Press, Of Octo-
Der 11th, win be read BY All who are interest
ed, land who Of us IL nots in the present con-
dition Of Mount Vernon To such sshave per-
sonally visited tie place, and beholding, have
mourned over the " abomination Of desolationn
there. no such description is needed, but there
are very many others who suppose that the
purchase=uoaey for Mount Vernon is al the
money that Il is necessary to raise and that,
once bought and in The hands Of the Associa-
ton, the estate viii somehow be kept and
cared for-perhaps BY Congress, possibly BY
private donation, undoubtedly BY bequests.
Now, without recurring to the old pr0Ferb,
that "What Is ~evsrybody's business is no.
body's, 7" and that it Is a In waiting for dead
mems shoes,r which dispose Of tie FIRST and
last suggestions, we may safely say that the
ladies are entirely open to the force Of the
second that they court it, and are willing to
be oYerpoUered By 50 convincing an argument
Mount Vernon once In the hands Of the la
dies Of the Association, viii undoubtedly be
kept. Kept, and never parted with, even IL not
another dollar can Be raised in this country, to
put it in order, and restore il to its early con-
dition- sin, it is clear that such a r~sstora-
ton should be at once attempted, and carried
on as rapidly and Is Far as funds viii warrant
The public heart may have responded warm
" to appeals For Mount Vernon. The public
purse, however, as certainly responded very
feebly. An uncertainty regarding the whole
scheme and management eonfded as It was 10
women generally, whose characters and posi-
ton were their only bonds Of fidelity, OF guar
antics for success, brooded like a black raven
over every effort, and croaked with every dime
that fell into the patient hands Of the ladies'.
When it is considered that We are a work-az
day population, that our earnings are difficult,
and our calls for expenditure legion, it is say
ing much for the patriotism Of the country
that il was willingto shape itself in this cloud
fashion at all. It was also a compliment 70
female character, on the whole, most fattering.
That the Regent has great good financial abb
ity, is clearer else she has the equal discre-
ton to choose good advisers. At an events, the
purchase-moneY has been collected for Mount
Vernon; and il the last payment is not made
BY Miss Cunningham to Mr.. John A. Washing
it is because that lady is unwilling TO take
on herself The responsibility and expenditure Of
possession, without the requisite funds 10 be-
gin necessary repairs@some slight alterations
only having been attended to during the past
with the permission Of the present in
eumbent.
What is lightly won goes lightly, It is said
the purchase-moneT Of Mount Vernon is as
socisted with personal sacrifices, the part OF
hose women VINO have scted as collectors, 30
great as to insure its prcdent and external
II has been gathered In Massachu-
sets from the hard-haHded laborer and the
chool-child-Erom the old woman [" who re-
rendered Washington" and from the Ysung
yirl who sacrificed her vanity on the altar Of
Occasionally, and in response to per-
Ional appeals which could not gracefully be
et aside, the gifts Of the wealthy cheered the
prospect but in general, the purchase
" be said 70 be the gift CT the poorer
p -Fnlv ~ ueraouq n limited means i
'ney H. -snds on their purses.
asses-eerta- 7nd restitution cali
d with heavy den4~ eznnot h sv-
With physical suffering rely nat
2 daily on their sympsthies, Il -ba
cted that appeals for al objects p
will fall otherwise than eoldly o.
The portion, possibly the 1.-THE, which
ev have set aside for charitable purposes,
ev do not choose to eneroaeh on for other
IS. And after receiving the mites Of such
-rsons. il is as unsuitable as it IL useless, to
K them fer more, even for the purpose OF
eserving their own gift. There is also Ger
in difidence, or it might be called a sense OF
oprietY, which makes It difficult TO askfunds
Z an object. the worth Of which would seem
be equally clear to all. Yet we must, and
.ght to cont on the generous impulses OF the
.. in eases like this. From those to whom
uch is given, il is required that their gifts be
st freely into the treasury Of patriotism
ste and gratitude. The grave OF Washing
n is bought. His house and home is the
opertv df the American nation. That na-
N delights to honor the name Of Wsshing-
D, to celebrate him, to erect statues Of him,
~eulogize him. II loves his memory VIII
be eontented to call those "walls salvation,
"a those gates praise" while the tangled
ass lies dry over his grave, and the walls
Win the country be willing 70 own
cunt Vernon snly as 2 ruin? h.
CAMBRIDsE, Oct %, 1859.