Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-08-08


IL Is with great pain that noticed para
graph, early in June, in the PhGnir, stat
ing that sAliss Ann Pamela Cunningham
had been removed from her office as regent
OF the AMT. Vernon Ladies' Association.
The cause assigned for her removal was es-
pecially shocking to me and | was conf
dent it was a SANDER got up by her enemies.
am happy to say that have recently been
officially informed that this report origina-
ted with DR.. Rowland, whose land ad-
joins Mt. Vernon, and who has been for a
year or two endeavoring to obtain the privi-
| leSe OF running a boat to Washington in
| opposition to the Mt. Vernon boat, which
would deprive the Association of their chief
source of income. Failing in this, he
claimed that the Mt Vernon wharf, which
Miss Cunningham had built since its pur-
chase by the Association, on the site of
ten. WashingtOn's wharf, was on his land
lie ialled to prove this, and then appealed
to the Legislature of Virginia to examine
into the state of affairs at Mount Vernon,
preierring charges against the Association.
The chairman of the committee appointed
went to the old mansion, and finding no
foundation in facts for these charges. tele-
graphed to the other members of the com
mlttee not to come on. But Miss {. has
been 50 much harrassed, that she resigned at
the late meeting Of the grand council at
Washington.
Indeed, two or three of the newly ap-
pointed vice regents have been more Jealous
than judiciOus, and have caused the regent
much annoyance, forgetting that Miss
Cunningham was the original founder of the
Association-the moving spirit, whose pa
triotism inspired her with determination
to purchase and preserve from desecratiOn
and decay the revered mansion Of the father
Of his country, and 200 acres Of the estate.
By her spirited articles for the press, signed
Southern Matron," ." She awakened the
sympathies and interest Of the ladies of the
United States, from north to south, from
east to west. She displayed much states
man-like ability in the organization of the
" Mt. Vernon Ladies Association, in 1858,
appointingyice regents to act in every state,
and they were to appoint lady mana gers in
every county, andal>0 a gentleman Of worth
and talent IN each county, 70 aid the " lady
managers in any emergency. Each town
was to have an assistant - lady manager.
All these lady officers were to labor to col
Ice: funds for the purchase Of the " Home
of Washington" Thus the ramifcations
Of the Association extended through the
length and breadth of the Union.
BY Miss Cunningham : indomitable ener-
" and enthusiasm in this cause, and the
zeal with which her writings inspired the
ladies and people, the 5000, coo purchase
money was at length raised aided indeed.
by the noble, seli-denying labors Of Edward
Everett, who by his celebrated addresses
which he delivered throughout the nation
raised $50 900 Of this sum.
Her next effort was to repair the old
place. then fast going t. decay and ruin
nd hser- 81 -
object ever since, putting the place in the
best condition that her means permitted
The old decayed wharf has been rebuilt
the windows. blinds, and buildings gene
rally, extensively repaired, and buildings
generally, extensively repaired. ard the
grounds put in order.
An invalid, with a spinal complaint from
her youth upward, during all this labor
Miss {. has had to contend with pain and
suffering, complicated nervous complaints
want Of sleep, and the necessity Of res0rting
to 0piates To obtain it. But with this
amount Of physical infrmity, which would
have paralyzed most persons, She has perse-
vered in this one great work. For, as she
said to me last summer. Mt. Vernon has
been TO me father, mother. brother and
sister; the one labor of my life; and all
my aims are to complete lts repairs before |
die. Of the sum appropriated by the
vice regents in 1870 for maintenance, she
devoted more than half to the improve
ment of the place, only using, herself, what
was absolutely necessary for her support,
and living in the stricteSt economy. Shame
TO those who cannot appreciate her disin-
terest4d lahors.
VI. p. ;. CUrrs,
J. r. eftte lW. =. L. 4 for Vermont, ap-
poiuf.d R 1853.