New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-03-04
A TLSIT TO MOUNT VERNON.
Correspondence Of The n. Y. Tribune.

Coue.ponderce Of The n Y. Tribune
WASHINGTON, Feb -, 1859.
The little steamboat, which plies between Wash
ingtop, Alexandria and Mount Vernon three times
week, took me to the tomb Of Washington last
Thursday morning. The voyage which i, about
an hour and half in length, is delightful, upon so
fine q Spring day as ours. The river shores,
although somewhat monotonous, are pretty and pic
turesque enough; occasionally there are charming
glimpses up or down stream, and the sunlight
gOldtns the muddy water, resembling in hue the
Lower Mississippi and the yellow TIber. la the
course of the trip, met only three or four sloops
or schoOners, their long sails reeied under the
strong gale, which cent them merry through the
fOsmng waves.
had made no special mental preparations but
a Mississippan-a pattern fre-eater, with keen
black eye, flowing wtiskers, q frank expression,
srd stalwart iOrm-with whom | had ridden to
the wharf from Browns Hotel, which is the South
eTn headquarters. put me into the requisite frame
q mir for q visit to Mr.. John A. WashlngtOn's
plantation. His talk was of slaves and Slavery.
He told me how many he owned, and how many
more he required TO till his broad acres as they
should be titled. lie was for reopeblng the slave
trade, but bis conscience would not allow him 10
counteDsnce II go long II was forbidden by stat
ute. So far e. be knew all in his section OF coun-
try the largest planters well as the owners Of
two or three slaves and tie "uggerless were Oi
The same way Of thinking. He was strenuous for
Cuba OF course, and also for the new dogma which
claims protection for Slavery in the Territories al
though be doubted Nr. Browns wisdom in letting
| the cat out Of the bag soon. He thought Jeh.
DAVIS the first man in the nation, and quered
whether, apart from him, there was q hat-ful OF
patriotism IN the Senate. la the coach, be had de-
clared that be would never cross the border OF
| Northern State without rifle upon his shoulder;
but this assertion. be subsequently Informed NE IN
confidence, was made in Jest, for be was National
man, AID loved the whole country he ended his
discourse with an allusion to the spot To which We
were travelling. and solemn Our Father,
| breathed IN single sentence, With upturned,
| Lord's-prayer eyes.
Where Is Noun. Vernon passengers asked each
other, from time TO time, but no one knew. AT
lei 9Th. were landed upon the rotten blanks Of
pier, through the interstices of which goof-szed
child might easily drop into the Potomsc. plank
| foot road Of similar description led up gully
the picture Of neglect iii emblem Of the Valley Of
! the Shadow Of Death-untrimned trees, rotten
trees, lying where they had iaen years ago, mat
| ted vegetatiou-dry and sere now-and sarubbery
choking up the passages between the larger trunks
[ Never, except in the wtch-hazel swsmps in the
/ Northern forests Of Maine not upon . New-En-
gland wood lot, miles from is owners residence
\ certainly never within q quarter Of mi'e OF 8
farm house, had sqch utter unthriftiness as
was shown IN every inch Of this approach from the
water eide to Virginia gentlemsns plantation, TO
| toe old home and last restiDg place Of him whom
| America has agreed tn eSl her first man. Sus-
ceptb'e Of becoming beautiful grove, with Vi'tas
| .. The end d Which tie water should CLEAN % IL