The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-03-10
483 RA0xFIO
Commercial Advertiser.
lFfom the Nsp York Lsdger.l
TIE MOUNT VERNON PAPERS.
EDWARD
ExI1vs AGRA PROBAT.- Washington's Motto.
NUMBER ONE.

INTENDED character Of the subjects heated-ONeets OF
Mount ygnon described in le Introduction % M. Er
gefrs eddress as delivered at Ne~ Yors-This deseriP
fion not made by ray of rsProaeh 10 the present ProPrie
for-Neeessifv created by fhe eroud Of visitors and the
purchase eeais only DC made b. pirate spee1fafeTr,-ss
congress or the Legislature Of girginia-or a patriotic
sfy, and the last mode IN some respects the 5est~I Je@t
of Ledsnaemain proposed in aid Of the purchase.
1 have already stated in my letter of the 9th OF
November to the Editor and Proprietor of the
Ledger, that 1 have ventured to call these articles
the " Mount Vernon Papers," as a name appro-
p~riately indicating the object for which they are
prepared, and in that way suggesting an excuse
for their imperfections. As they will generally
be written under the pressure of other engage
ments and duties, the considerate reader will not
expect to find in them that elaboration and finish
which he has a right to demand in compositions
prepared at leisure, especially when they yield an
ample personal remuneration to their authors. |
can only endeayor TO do the best in my power,
under the well-known circumstances of the case,
and candid persons will judge them accordingly.
But though called the 80 Mount Vernon Pa
pers, it is not intended that these articles should
be exclusively or even chiefly taken up in discuss
ing the subject of the purchase of Mount Vernon,
or the topics connected or associated with it.
They will indeed furnish an appropriate channel
for whatever information of an interesting char
acter l may be able to offer the public ON that
subject. 1t was one of the chief inducements for
eAlACl toAAttS khCAL AhoN WY "Co-4
afford me an opportunity for the attempt to in
terest a very large circle of readers in an enter
prise which l have so much at heart. Ishall ac-
cordingly submit to them. from time to time, an
account of the progress and prospects of the work.
as far as they fall under my observation. Be
sides this, the country abounds with recollections
and traditions of Washington connected with his
civil and military career with localities rendered
interesting by his battles. his visits, or his sojourn
and with individuals still living who saw him,
and of whom a few were personally known to
him. There are many original portraits OF him
in existence, of which a few remain TO be de-
scribed numerous autographs letters as yet I'M
published and personal relics of every descrip-
ton. Many of these traditions and objects of in
terest are constantly brought to my notice, in Wis
iting different parts of the country, for the pur-
pose of repeating my address on the character of
Washington, and, if 1 do not mistake, will fur
nish interesting materials for a few of these pa
pers. 1t is intended, however, that they shall,
upon the whole, be of a miscellaneous character,
and exhibit as much variety in the subjects
treated as can be expected from the productions
of one pen.
A general statement Of the object, in aid of
which they are to be prepared, would seem to be
a proper commencement of the series, and this L
shall venture to give in a few paragraphs, which
formed the introduction to my address as deliv-
cred, (for the one hundred and first time,) on the
18th of November, in New York, at the request
of the managers of the Ladies' Mount Vernon
Association
1t is with unaffected difidence that | present
myself for "A third time before a New York audi
ence to repeat the address which you expect from
me this evening. l do it ut the urgent request of
those whose wish is a command, and who arc de-
voting themselves with such admirable zeal and
energy to one of the most praiseworthy enterprises
that can appeal to the patriotic heart. The
women OF the country, and nowhere more earn
astlu than IN, tho fIry and State Of \aW York
have undertaken the noble work, neglected by
Congress, not performed by Virginia, of rescuing
the dwelling place and the last resting place OF
Washington from those chances and vicissitudes.
and in this case 1 must add those dissertations. to
which, as private property, they are necessarily
exposed, and of placing them under the protec-
ton and guardianship OF a permanent institution
co-extensive with the Republic.
For such, L am happy TO say, and not less
comprehensive, is the character of the Ladies
Mount Vernon Association OF the Union. 1t was
called into existence by the pcrsevering and self
sacrificing efforts of a devoted daughter of South
Carolina. 1t has, as was most fitting, received a
charter of incorporation from the ancient Com
monwealth, which boasts the incommunicable
honor of having given birth To the Father of his
Country. 1t is organized in branches established
or TO be established in every member of the Con-
federacy and it has enlisted the energetic coop
Grafton Of some of the most excellent and patri-
otie women of your own and every other State in
the Union. Much has already been done, but
much remains to be accomplished. y formal
agreement for the purchase of Mount Vernon was
entered into last spring with its proprietor, by
the government of the Association, and a consid-
cradle sum of money-eighteen thousand dollars
was paid down to ratify the bargain. The
means are on hand to meet the payment of the
next instalment but an ample fund is of course
wanting. to c1nsummate the purchase to restore
the mansion and the grounds from their present
state of melancholy neglect and decay, as far as
possible, to their original condition, and to make
adequate provision for their permanent conserva-
ton and care. Such, in a general statement, are
the objects to be accomplished and the present
Erate of the enterprise.
"No one, I am sure, who has visited the ven
cradle spot, who has looked upon the weather.
beaten building and its uninviting approaches /;
upon the falling columns and corroded p%avement
of the portico the ruinous Offices the unfioored
summer-house the conservatory of which a por-
ton remains as it was left by the fire of 1882 /;
the
-sspos where once . garden smile,
Add still where many a garlen flower grows wiid;'
the grounds relalsing into the roughness of ma
ture and. above all, the raw incompleteness,
the irreverent exposure, and the premature and
untidy decay that reign about the tomb, but must
bid God speed0b the efforts of these noble women
and their worthy sisters, in every part of the
land, who have determined that this public scan
dal, this burning shame, shall cease. No man of
eensibility, who has contemplated the dismal spec
tacle Of Mount Vernon in its present condition.
but must wish success and must feel it his duty
% give his own corporation TO the effort that is
now making, t0fedeem and enclose the hallowed
and beautiful spot. (for a lovelier cminence does
not, In all the land, look down upon a nobler
river y to bring it back, as far as may be, to its
original order and comeIiness to clothe It's neg
lected slopes with the familiar but never weary
ing charm of grass and trees; to reopen the over
grown paths, once pressed by feet which eonse-
Grated the soil on which they trod to renew the
departed beauty Of the garden and the conserva-
tory which still! contains plants that received the
fostering care of Washington ; to revive upon the
denuded hill-sides the PROSTATE honors of the for
e., and 10 watch over the preservation of some
Veterans Of the soil, planted by the strong hand,
which grasped and guided the helm of State in
the 6ercestgtorms of policv or war. tn repIace the