The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-03-25

MOUNT VERNON. In view OF the spe.
cial efforts which are about tG5be made
IN Richmond for the benefit OF the
"Mount Vernon Ladies' Association,s
the publication OF the following facts In
reference to its present oondition and
status is deemed appropriate On.the
9Th day OF April, 1853, Miss A. P. Gun
ningham, of South Carolina. and the
late John Augustine Washington.
signed contracts for the purchase of
Mount Vernon. which included the
mansion, it's curtilage and 2U0 acres OF
land. It was bought, is paid for, and
secured by deed and hold in the name
OF tho "Mount Vernon Ladies' Associa-
iion of the Union," which association
consists of regent, aud one lady from
each State chosen by the regent and
confirmed by the council at it's next
succeeding yearly meeting. a clause in
their charter. which was granted by the
Legislature Of Virginia, reads thus:
"The property purchased by the as.
soc:as:o1 shs!! be :ozoTor held 5J i.
sacred to the father OF his country; and,
ii from any cause, the said association
shall cease to exist, then the property
owned by said association shall revert
to tue oom mmonwealtho OF Virginia, sacred
to the purposes for which it was origi-
nally purchased"
At the time of the purchase, the man
sion aud several OF the adjoining build
ings were newly roofed, the portico on
river front rebuilt, new dock built
where the landing originally stood; oil
tue fences near tho mansion and their
brick foundations were built anew. Tho
var then came on, and not only sus-
pension Of ali improvements for four
years was the consequences, but devast;-
ton aud ruin. tbs die impress Of war,
were left on this sacred spot. too. But
since the war, an appropriation by Con-
gress of few thousand dollars has re-
built the greenhouse, replaced in the
Mansion dccayed timbors, floors, cell
ings, the tower stairs, and in some Of
the rooms the ontire walls; the roads,
walks and grounds have been put in
order aud improved. apd the mansion is
ut all times cesn to visitors. But tho
association is without any certain or suf-
iclent income, for when the purchase
was made, there was no endowment fund
collected or created. The fund realized
by Mr.. Everett's lecture and other con-
tributions made ut the time by the pco-
pie OF the United States, were absorbed
i'll the purchase itself and tho improve
ments made at the time Of the purchase; !;
and Mount Vernon has been sustained
by taxing the visitors twenty-five cents
each; and this amount, although included
IN fare on the steamer, is obnoxious to
hepeople, and will be wholly dispensed
with when the endowment is obtained.
This charge, with rent Of dock and
small sales Of flowers on the premises,
constitute its revenues-a very uncer-
tain and insufficient income. There are
now two special objects to which the
ladies are giving their efforts and ener-
gies Ono is the creation Of IN endow-
ment fund, and the other is to carry out
the suggestion contained in the follow
ing extract from Judge Thomas report
to the Legislature of Virginia:
1T has been suggested by the assocl.
tion that cnch of the original thirteen
States take upon itself the work of fur
nishing one Of the rooms of the man
sion with furniture of antique style,
and, if possible, with relics of Washing
ton himself. Some Of the States have
already acted upon this suggestion, and
should this noble design bo carried into
effect by the association. the board
would recommend that Virginia, his
birthplace and home. should be among
tho first to collect her relics with which
to adorn the apartment assigned to her
in the sacred mansion of her great and
immortal Washington"
10 carry into effect on the part OF
Virginia this resolve of the council so
1>ao f,,11
Judge Thomas, we understand that an
address will bo delivered in this city on
the 26ih of this month, by J. Mortimer
kilgour, Esq, of Loudoun-a gentle
man Of fine genius and brilliant
speaker. -Richmond Dispatch