Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-01-21
P.rcbase er 1rount vernen--Humbus.

| Since the glory of Barnum departed, no hum
bug has been palmed upon the country go gener-
ally and SO successfully as the Virginia scheme
to enable the mercenary owner Of the Mount
Vernon estate to dispose of it to the women of
America for at least ten times its intrinsic value.
The humbug was inaugurated and is carried on
ostensibly under the inspiration of most
worthy patriotism, the declared object being to
redeem the ashes and homestead of Washington
from the hands of one bearing his name, but
who is not held to be worthy guardian of the
trust. Twenty thousand, instead of Two Hun
dred Thousand dollars, would be fair price for
the Mount Vernon estate. which has been SO lit
tie cared by the owning heirs, that now the
chief product is hickory canes cut by the slaves
on the premises and sold to visitors
A correspondent of the Rochester Union re
fers to some features of the swindle not general
ly understood, but certainly most Objectionable
The writer says:
b. the act of incorporation under which the
Ladies' Association propose to purchase Mount
Vernon, (Which l read IN Washington paper
last spr1ng,) FIVE hundred thousand dollars must
be raised-of which two hundred thousand is to
be devoted TO the purchase, and the residue
$500, ,000-must be expended in repairs, &c.-
The great effort now made is for the two hum
dred thousand, and then the Northern public will
be told that unless the larger sum is contributed
Mt Vernon will be sold to the State of Vir-
ginia; for BY the act of incorporation the Asso-
citation ere prohibited from selling the estate ex-
] Il, :.
desires to expend half a million on Mt. Vernon,
and calls upon the Northern States to give it to
her, while at the same time she proposes to own
the tomb of Washington, his homestead and the
improvements, paid for with the funds collected
in other States. As soon as tle last dollar of
the half million has been expended, can see
nothing ia the act of incorporation to prevent
the sale of Mt. Vernon to Virginia for fire dol
lars, while can see enough in that act to pre-
vent the sale to any other sovereign State upon
any terms whatever. The present assessment
upon the Northern people, under this act of in
corporation, is scarcely different from a contri-
button to the treasury of State whose soil has
been neglected because slave trading is more
profitable than agriculture.
Virginia is largely interested in this scheme
and chiefly interested. Gov. Wise, it is said
drew up the act of incorporation. And the son
of the Governor married a daughter of Edward
Everett. Whatever adds to the wealth and
glory of Virginia now that Mr.. Wise is at her
head, rebounds to the advantage of that distin-
guished gentleman and his family, of which
Mr. Everett's daughter is member: hence Mr..
Everett can afford to be generous toward Vir-
ginia. and by his efforts swell the contributions
to the Mount Vernon Fund.
! Let me state one fact as to the value of Mt.
| Vernon A traveller who visited Mt. Vernon
vicinity not long since, in letter stated that
an estate adjoining the Washington place, and
in all respects as valuable, except for the tomb
and memories, was offered for eight Thousand
dollars without a purchaser This was, of
| course, before the movement of the Association
since that time perhaps the prospect of an
expenditure of three hundred thousand for i'm
provements at Mt. Vernon may enhance the
value Of adjoining prosperity.