National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-06-17
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
HIS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES MEMORIAL,


Mrs. septomia r. Meikl,ham, tf this city, the
only surviving grandchild of Themes Jefferson,
has Just placed memorial before Congress rela-
tive to having the remains of her illus'rous grand
father brought from Monticello to cemetery near
Washington, where proper care can be taken OF his
grave OF course there is great opposition to this,
especially on the part of more remote relatives but
the memorial most sweepingly answers all objec-
tons offered by those opposed to the memorial
The memorial is as follows:
To Inc Senate and House Of Representatives Of The
United States in Congress assembled;
The undersigned, a citizen of the United Sto'es,
residing in the District of Columbia, specially
rcpres ents that she is the granddaughter an
nearest relative of lineal descent now living Of
Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of
American Independence and deeply grateful for
the munifioent disposition manifested by Congress
10 honor the memory OF JcnersOn by monument
over his remains, She deems 1t no less than duty
to communicate t. your honorable body certain
does the more r, ady because, as the nearest OF
kin now living Of her illusrious ancestor she has
the legal right and is charged with the duty to
provide for the protection aud safety OF the resting
place of the remains Of Jefferson. In n case pre-
cisely similar, where the grandson OF
EX-PRisIDEET MONROE,
Mr.. snmuel l.. Gouverneur pioposed TO remove
ihl remains Of his ancestor from New York 70
Ri,nnond, Va, objection was made thereto by
idercd by the public authorities both of the state
Of New York aud of the State of Virginia, and de.
CHI dren, being the nearest Of kin, was essential
and sufficient to authorize such removal! Ana
Ihe undersigned Is advised that such Is the com
mon law OF the land And this right she proposes
10 exercise III becoming manner from sense of
fillal duty and regard for the memory and reputa-
ton Of Jefferson, and dearer TO her than TO
nny other living person, and which,, although
J sly ,vencrated Gy tie people Of Virginia, Is
In future ages, by the whole people of the United
ht"o' The memory and reputation ofthe author
of the Declaration of Independence is not limited
D.. anal fuf Ia httfh nl In yhOln
The respect which the undersigned cnterains
for the Congress Of the United states requires that
sons which govern her in tile opposition here
expressed. and which in her convctionsnre clenr,
certain, and imperative i'll their nature inc
lille, possession, and control OF Monticello,
WHERE JEFFERSON WAS BURIED,
have passed out of the hands of his family and
descendants, aud are now vested III non residents
lectcd To have that respect and vcneraton FOR the
remains of Jefferson which IRE essential 10 their
safety and certain protection. And although the
deed made on the sale of the place by the execu-
tor contained n reservation of the right TO the
small burial spot within the plantation, the sub
seQuent conveyances of the place were made
without any such reese walton, and 1t Is undc-
Unable that the present owner has actually
claimed title TO the battle-ground. But whether
that DO groundlcss or not, It is certain that the
owner of the place within which this little rri'
to haSe, the entire control of it, and the security
Of 1t from depreciation and dissertation depend
upon his attention and vigilance III guarding IL,
And the actual occurrences which have taken
place show the utter insecurity Of this secluded
country burial place for the reniains of one OF
worldwide reputation, whose bones, or even the
marble or granite over them.
ARE TAKEN BY VIOLENCE
q. d carried of to crafty the illmiiabe curiosity
o the world. The first monument placed over
Jefo ol's grave was broken from time TO time
with hammers or sledgcs by relic hunters, and
especially BY the students from the nhiyersity
PEDESTAL. And the second monument placed
there has been in like manner broken and mutt;
lated until II is painful sight - relatives and
cilztns who hold tn memory Of Jefferson IN high
respect. A letter to the undersigned now Ia heI
President Of the United States Oohn Tyler says:
/" Forty years ago made my first visit to the
Monticello graveyard. The cattle that tramped
the earth around II had to be driven of before
could alight, and then over stones and through
brambles / reached the broken Enclosure sur
rounding the granite head stone of Jefferson
AZ erward, at my second visit, Captain Levy
owned Monticello, and in order to preserve The
MAJ TABLET Sn ee WSrso PaP9 nj
III the parlor. My third and last visit
TO THE DESERTED SPOT
was three years ago, when | could not see th'
tablet, nor could the custodian of the place tel
me what had become oft" &c.
Under the circumstances If Congress shall spend
$4,000 there for a new monument, 1t Will mos
certainly be i'll like manner broken and mutla' CT
In few years in this deserted spot unless Con
gress shall build house there and keep {
to project the place Besides this, the UniTst
States has not and cannot obtain til,
s s he diS the in fEfn BY
yard there exists no such world. wide curiosity n.
mnnifestly exists as to the remains of Jefferson
as they now are no one need be surprised to learr
that the bones of Jefferson are to be seen in som'
museum in some of the cities of Europe, which
would be truly humiliating to the pride of Aner
The undersigned has lived in q retired and quie
way, and has not had the means to procure suit
able aud.
SAFE PLACE FOR JEFFERsoN's REMAINS
in times past, and had delicacy about askini
The government to do it,. But she has now secured
W cd Cemetery for this purpose, adjacent to Wash
i, gton, where the grave of Jefferson can be mad
II has been said that Jefleis6n directed his bod!
to be buried where it was Inferred at Monticello
such direction was contained in his WILL anC
what he may have said on that subject was o
course, without the thought that Monticello woul'
pass out OF the control of his family and friends
or the slightest apprehension that Ii would becomt
an unsafe place or be liable to depredalion or desc
Grafton from relic hunters through the idle curl
osiy of the world. II he could have foreseel
what has taken place he could most certainly hav
expressed nosuch desire Common sense dictate
this. Tne undersigned was girl of IL years o
age when Jefferson died, had been borli in hi
house Mt Monticello, and up to that time never has
any other home. She assisted in attending on hin
in his last sickness and has distinct recollection
of the incidents attending his death and burial
And the great grandchildren now objccting TO TN
REMOVAL OF JEFfERsoN's REMAINS
to n safe place, where his tomb can DO protected
and where appropriate honors eau be paid to hi
memory, never saw Jefferson, and were born ate
his death And sho conceiyes that neither tn,
feelings nor the pride OF Virgninns of III,
descendants of Jefferson can in fair, common
sense be injured by the removal of the remains L
safe place. whore they can be protected anC
where appropriate hOnOrs can be shown them by
the people of the whole country.
III conclusion, the undersigned desires 10 SAY
that the ground secured by her il much large
than the burial ground in Monticello, and suth-
cient and appropriate for the burial of the remains
OF any other members of Jeierson's family SHOULD
they be removed or buried there.
The undersigned did not receive information o
the recent action OF Congress until after the bill
had pa.s1d, But, not objectng to anything on thi
subject VII has been dune, she has deemed
her duty 10 communicate the above -nienlione,
facts 10 Congress ut her earliest convenience.
AFEW BOoMERANGS