The daily gazette., 1876-03-13
For the Delaware Gazette.
MOUNT VERNON.

lnleTmeu IN lQ0f-o OF Ihe purpose and
object in buying Mount Vernon
Washingten's heme-from his heirs,
who were too poor to keep it longer
from utter decay. This work was un-
dertaken by Ann Pamela Cunningham,
a lady of South Carolina, who con-
ceived the idea, and gave of her own
means literally, to accomplish l.. An
association was organized throughout
the country, entitled "The Ladies'
Mount Vernon Association of the
Union." 1t was chartered by Virginia,
and the title deeds for the property
| were prepared by eminent lawyers of
Charleston and Philadelphia.
To secure this estate, ladies were ap-
pointed in all the States, to endeavor
to interest their respective people, and
raise money enough to buy two hun
dred acres of Mount Vernon, including
Washington's mansion and the ground
around it, and in which he is buried
| For this, two hundred thousand dollars
were to be paid,
In Delaware, three thousand dollars
were collected by a few ladies in so
short time, that the National LnteRS-
gencer, of Washington City, said in an
editorial complimentary to them, that
| l"Delaware would give more in pre-
portion to population, than any State
in the Union" (This is way Della
ware has.)
| In eoery topn and uillage in the State,
the people contributed; the time-hon-
ored MasoDs, Washington was . Ma.
son), the Odd Fellows, officers and
employees of the railroad and many of
the schools, sent their money freely
and promptly; and the Press through
out she State, gave the most generous
and efficient aid. This was published
)in the newspapers at the time; the
money duly accounted for, and ths
names of the donors, with the amount
of contribution, Is registered in the
Archives of the Association.
| All the States contributed, and Mt.
Vernon became. and Is, the property
of the people of the United States, who
gave their money to its purchase, and
not of the ladies, who, without COM
pensation or idea of reward, collected
the money to buy the place, and have
faithfully, through much discourage
ment sometimes, taken care of it for
eighteen years,
There has been great deal of shame
full misrepresentation in regard to Mt.
Vernon; but it has not been considered
worth contradiction. The people of
Delaware, however. who gave their
money for it, aod especially those who
saw it before it came int the hands Of
the ladies, are invited to visit the place
and Judge for themselves, whether or
not their money was worthily given,
and has been properly spent
| When the Association took possess
sien, Mt. Vernon was in state OF de-
lapidation that would have appalled, a
less courageous person than Miss Gun
bingham; there was not door or
window belonging to Washington's
hOme that did not make us feel asham
ed, as Americans, that such neglec
could be allowed to exist in go hallow
ed spot.
The $2O0,OCO were raised chiefly in
small sums, and forwarded as soon as
collected, to George w. Riggs, of
Washington, treasurer of the Associa-
tion, aud by him paid to John A.
Washington-of whom Mount Vernon
was bought, in installments, according
to arraDgement-and the ladies set out
hopefully to look after their purchase.
And what did they see? The large
porticos fronting on the Potomac, was
down, the extensive greenhouses built
by General Washington himself, had
been burned to the ground years be-
fore; the out buildings, barns, stables,
&C., were all in ruins; and the gardeps,
grounds and walks, obliterated by time
and weeds, and there was no spot on
the estate where a steamer or other
vessel could land passengers - the
wharf having been washed away long
before.
All these having been rebuilt and re-
stored as they were left by Washing
ton; the Association allow no depart
ure from the original plans, no modern
izlng, or attempt at Improvements.
A fine wharf was built Immediately
by the Association, at q cost of three
thousand dollars; this enabled them to
employ a steamboat, which, by cen-
tract, had the exclusive right to land
passengers at Mount Vernon; it ran
daily, in open weather, from Washing
ton, stopping at intermediate places,
and the Association was allowed 80
cents for each passenger. With this and
the sale of canes, photographs, flowers,
hHu oCCaniouoi-NCIy OCCdSlOudl-uO'
nations from visitors, the place was
kept until the war began. The Govern
ment then found it expedient to take
the beat, and Mount Vernon was in
kind of blockade for three years or
mere; and but for the goodness Of the
Treasurer, Mr.. Riggs, the ladies would
have been Obliged to give up their
charge, to keep their Superintendent
and a few necessary laborers from
starvation. Mr.. Riggs took our Vir-
ginia bonds, gave us par value fer
them, and encouraged as to hold on.
After the war was over, Congress
paid us $1,000 as indemnifcation for
loss to the Association in taking the
boat, sc. This 900 was immediate
ly used in new reOfings aud such ex-
pensive repairs as had been hitherto
out of the power of the Association,
for want of funds; and, by the request
of Miss Cunningham, the work was
superintended by an officer appointed
by Congress. The $1,000 was sufficient
also, to prepare and secure the mansi0n