Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-01-12
MOUNT VERNON.

To the Hon. G. C. Walker, Govonor Q,
Virginia.:
SIR The board appointed by your excel
lency to visit Mount Vernon, in accordance
with the Sth section of the act passed March
nth, 1856 incorporating the Ladies Mount
Vernon Association of the Union, and authorz'
ing the purchase of a part of Mt. Vernon, re-
specially report that ln obedleuce to the sug-
gestion made by the grand council OF the asso-
cation, the board fixed their meeting for the
l4,h day of May, 1873, at Mt Vernon, the day
of the convocatiou of the association
The section Of the act above referred to de-
fines the duty of the board. 1t is required
that they shall visit Mt Vernon, and examine
and faithfully report to the Governor all the
proceedings of said association touching that
place, and the manner in which they comply,
or fail to comply, with this act, and other laws
of the land.
By the terms of said act, the said association
was made body polite, for the purpose OF
raising money with which to purchase and lm-
prove two hundred acres of the Mt. Vernon
esate-to include the mansion and tomb OF
General George Washington, garden, grounds
and the wharf and landing now constructed on
the Potomac rivcr-sad property, when SO
purchased to become public property, aud for
ever held by the State of Virginia, sacred to
the memory of the Father of his Country. 1t
was also provided that the conveyance Ut said
property was to be made to the State OF Vlr-
GINA, and should be held iu trust for said as
sociatiou, forever to the memory of Washing
ton, whose mortal remains shall be kept perpe-
tuul therein-and upon the further trust,
that said estate shall be subject to visitation by
the State of Virginia, and to such proper aud
becoming improvements as the said association
shaI! determine to make
But 10 default Of said association making
such proper and becoming improvements. or
keeping the same 10 repair, upon such default
being found by board of visitors, then said
estate shaIl be subject to improvement and re.
pair at the, pleasure of the State OF Virginia
aud to this end the possession OF SAID estate
shall vest in said State,
Bv subsequent act, passed March 10Th,
lS5S, the former act was amended in several
particulars. By it the said association was au.
tlorlzcd to purchase the two hundred acres,
including mansion, tomb, &C., and to receive
from the owner deed IN the fee simple but
denied to said association the power to alien
the said land, or any part thereof or to create
charge thereon, or to lease the same without
the consent of the legislature Of Virginia being
first obtained. 1t moreover limits the amount
of the stock of said association, and provides
that the vault, aud the remains in and around 1t,
and the inclosure shall never be removed or
disturbed nor shall any other person hereaf:
ter ever bc Inferred or entombed within said
vault
The property purchased by the association
shall be forever held by it sacred to the Father
ofhis Country; and If from any cause, the said
association shall cease to exist, then the proper
ty owned by said association shall revert to the
Commonwealth of Virginia, sacred to the ,pur-
poses for which it was originally purchased.
Il will thus be seen that the latter act mere
y amends the former in some particulars, leav-
ipg it in full force and effect, except so tar as
modified or changed by the act of 1853
The board OF visitors organized on the 10Th
May, 1913, in the city of Washington, and pro-
ccedcl on the day following to Mt Vernon.
This being the first appointment made under
she law Of 1856, aud the council being Of opln-
lon that the amended charter repealed the
provisions of the original charter, and the exc
CURVE of Virginia having never before acted
under the law of 1856, the council did not furn-
i>h us with any detailed statement OF their
proceedings prior to the year 1872.
In addition to this, the Mt. Vernon Assoca-
ton, whilst desirous and anxious that a most
rigid and thorough scrutiny should be made
iuto all their acts in view of certain charges
and complaints, yet were fearful that some in
reference with their chartered rights might
be contemplated. We gave them assurances
that nothing of the kind was intended
That as the said association holds its authorl-
ty under Virginia, and has no powers except
such as she has granted expressly or lmphedly,
that Virginia could, if the association transcend
ed It's authority, institute legal proceedings to
annu the charter; but so long as the Ladies
Nj; Vernon Association was faithful to the
spirit that had animated it to conceive and
carry out the object of purchasing aud preserv-
ing the home of the Father of his Country,
there should be no fears of the sacred trust be-
Ing impaired
The board, under the authority vested In
them, upon the l4th May, 1878, entered upon
tomb, grounds, &C., making at the same time
dliseut Investigation as tc the manper in which
the said association has complied, or failed to
comply, with the act above mentioned and
other laws of the land, and have the satisfaction
otreportng that, in their opinion, but one OBJ
Jsct and aim actuate said association, viz: the
Preservation of Mt. Vernon, as it was, when
The home of Washington, beautitying the
grounds, and rendering it what it should be,
The pride and glory Of the people OF this great
country, In consequence of the late war, and
Its attending evils, the association found ITSELF
at the close of that tratricidal contest, 10 very
embarrassed circumstances, having for more
than four years been deprived of its accustom-
ed revenue, and being unable, during the same
period, to give the house and grounds the at
,enton they demanded, they suffered much
irom unavoidable neglect But by the untiring
energy and patriotic zeal displayed by the asso-
cation, its debts have been liquidated, and the
work Of restoration and preservation vigorously
Prosecuted. The revenue which said associa
lion has derived from daily liue Of boats run-
Mug to Mt Vernon, which, has been establish
eo' and the collections made from different
parts of the country, have relieved the associa-
a?n ofal solicitude regarding its ability to sus-
'ain itself by severe economy. The following
are. are among the most important improvements
shich the association have made in the last
lew years: A substantial furnace has been
placed IN tn e cellar of the building, which is