Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-03-08

The Sale Of Mount Vern n by Mr. John
A.. Washington.


BraRY-iLLE. Va. Feb. 26, 1866.
Messrs. Editors Baliimore Gnrette
In your issue Of the DIST instant you refer to
a pamphlet recently published in the city OF
Boston by G. 7. Trowbridge, Gail Hamilton
and woman named Lucy barcon. The strict
ures made by you as public journalists upon
statements contained in that publication. de-
signed to blast the reputation of deceased
relative and friend, the late John A. Washing
ton, demand from me and those who revere his
memory some notice The silly anecdotc mar
rated by the author above referred to in this
pamphlet, in regard to the negro woman, is too
contemplate to be worthy Of notice. But the
reference to the sale OF Mount Vernon, made
by Colonel john A. Washington. does deserve
a passing notice. The item referred to is in
these words: "I have heard people scoff at J.
A. Washington for selling the inherited bones
of the great-for surely 100000 paid by 'th,
Ladies' Association for the Mount Vernon es-
tate was not price merely for the old mansion,
&C." Now, Messrs. Editors, will you believe
me when l state that Mount Vernon never was
offered for saleby Colonel Washington? When
asked If he would sell the property his reply
was, that if the United States or the State Of
Virginia were to offer him 100000 he would
sell it under certain restrictions. He even
went so far as to publish in the public papers
that the property was not in market. But so
great was the desire en- the part Of the public
that the place which was held sacred by the
American people should be in the hands Of the
people of the United States that great efforts
were made to induce the Government Of the
United States to purchase it. This, however,
failed. Then the same attempt was made to
get the State of Virginia to purchase it. This
also failed, and as denier resort, the enthusi
asm of the American females induced them to
form an association for the purpose Of making
the purchase. This scheme finally prevailed,
and the property was sold, under severe legis-
lative restrictions, dictated by Colonel WASH
ington, one of which left the entire control and
ownership of the cemetery in the hands of Col-
onel Washington, thereby giving the lie TO the
charge that he had sold the inherited bones of
the great But, Messrs. Editors, to put the
crowning cap-stone upon the reputation Of my
deceased friend, / will mention fact unknown
to the general public. Whilst this subject of
the purchase of Mount Vernon wes agitating
the public mind it struck some shrewd and
calculating Yankees, in the city Of Boston, that
there was money in it, and they sent an agent
to purchase the property at the large sum Of
$500 900 and the offer was actually made to
Colonel Washington. But he at once declined
the Offer. Where, amongst his traducers, ~
you find one man who would have valued his
principles above 100000? If the defamers
of my deceased friend had gone amongst the
honorable and just of our land to learn the true
character of Colonel Washington, they might
have been able to write his epitaph as amongst
the pure, the honorable, the just, the gifted and
the truly noble Of the land.
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