The Morning herald., 1876-03-13
written for the Herald.]
MOUNT VERNON.
.,resl 10 the People Of Delaware
," -" for aid in its Behalf


r,. neople of Delaware were fully in
..med in 1878 of the purpose and object
novinr Mount Vernon, Washington's
',mp from his heirs, who were too poor
;, rpep it longer from utter decay.
Th;s work was undertaken by Ann Pa
i" cunningham, o lady Of South Caro-
sa De,A who conceived the idea, and gave, Of
ur na, avn means, liberally, to accomplish It.
An association was organized by her
.,r0urhout the country; it was entitled the
~ adies' Mount VernOn Association Of the
rnion y was chartered by Virginia, and the
.e deeds for the property prepared by
minellt lawyers of Charleston and Phila-
h2hla
n secure this estate, ladies were ap-
ointel in all the States to en1eavor to in
orast their respective people, and raise
.onpv enough to buy 200 acres of Mount
Isrnon, including Washington's mansion
,,a the grounds around it, and in which he
hurled For this, two hundred thousand
hlars were to be paid.
In Delaware, three thousand dollars were
elected in so shor: time, that the Ma
.ad H,tslligencer, of Washington City,
aid in an editorial complimentary to them,
hot "Dsla.rare would give more, In proper.
ou than any State in the Union." This is
away Delaware has).
In every town and village in the State
hp peopc contributed the time .honored
Vasops, the Odd Fellows, officers and en-
poyces of the railroad, and many of the
cboo!s sent their money generously and
vomptly, and the press throughout the
satc gave the most generous and efficient
aid.
Allthe States contributed to the purchase,
and Mount Vernon became, and is now,
tLc property and sacred trust of the people
If the United States who contributed to its
purchase, and not of the ladies, who,
Without compensation, or idea of reward,
collected the money TO buy the place, and
have faithfully taken care Of it for eighteen
Years.
There has been great deal of shameful
MISREPRESENTATION in regard to Mount Ver-
non, but 1t has not been considered worth
eoutradiction. The people of Delaware,
hoycyer who gave their money for it, and
cecaly those who saw it before it came
into the hands of the ladies, are invited to
visit the place, and Judge for themselves
given, and has been properly spent.
When the association took possession,
Mount Vernon was in state of dilapidation
that would have appalled, less courageous
prson than Miss Cunningham there was
not door nor window belonging to Wash
ngtOns home that did not make us feel
nhancd as Americans, that such neglect
should be allowed to exist in SO halloWed a
Y0t.
The 5000, 900 were raised chiefly in very
mali sums, and forwarded as soou as col
Nted to George W. Riggs, (banker Of
Washington city), the treasurer of the as
Ncation, and by him paid to John A.
Wellington, ofwhom the place was bought
IN installments, according to arrange
nMt and the ladies set out hopefully to
bok after their purchase. And what did
they see The large portico fronting the
Potomac, was down; the extensive green
house, built by Genl. Washington himself,
had been burned to the ground years ago ;
the out-buil1ings, barns, stables, &c., were
ali IN ruins, and the gardens, grounds, and
walks, ohliterated by time and weeds: and
there was not spot on the estate where a
steamer or other vessel could land passen-
gers-the wharf having been washed away
lMg before. All these have been rebuilt
and restored, as they were left by Washing
Ton. The association allowed no departure
from the original plans, no undermining or
attempt at improvements.
A fine wharf was built Immediately by
the association, at cost of $1,000; this en-
ablcd US to employ steamboat, which, by
contract, had the exclusive right to land
passengers at Mount Verron; it ran daily,
in open weather, from Washington city,
stopping at intermediate places, and the
association was allowed so cents for each
passenger. With this, and the sale OF canes,
photographs, flowers, and occasional-very
occasonal-donations from visitors, ths
place was kept until the war began.
The Government then found 1t expedient
totake the boat, and Mount Vernon was in
kind of blockade for more than three
years; 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 labor
sls ,l from starvation. Mr. Riggs took our
'rsnla bonds, gave us par value for them
and encouraged us to hold on.
After the war was over, Congress paid us
ssrooO (sevenss ssthousand) as imdennification
Tor loss to the Association In taking the
eoat, etc. This money was Immediately
USED in new roofngs, and snch expensive
repairs as had hitherto been out of theil
power, for want of funds. BY the request
ol Miss Cunningham, the work was super
Intended by an officer appointed by Con
gress. The $1,000 was sufficient also tc
prepare and secure the mansion against
nre. The banqueting hall was repaired and
painted and the floor covered with oil cloth
rom this $1,000
The employees at Mount Vernon are or
ganlzed as a fire company, and regularly
urllled by the Superintendent, Colonel Hol
linssworth.
The Vice Regents from each State meet
annually at Mount Vernon, in June, theil
atcolnmodation being least expensive al
mat season. They are met and assisted by
me Governor of Virginia and committee
gentlemen appointed by him as an Advi-