The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1882-06-24
Proposed Removal OF -Jcfler-
sons Bones to Washington.

There is to be an effort made to
remove the bones of Thomas Jeffer-
son from Monticello, Virginia, to
Washington City. This project
should be denounced by the whole
American people. TO disturb the
remains of the great patriot and
statesman would be an act of unprc-
cedented vandalism; yes, worse still,
of hyenaism. He was born but
short distance from Monticello, at
his patrimonial seat Of Shadwell, and
for eighty-three years, two months
and twenty-one days his life was as
sociated with these places, In his
young manhood he cut down to
level site Carriers mountain, spur Of
the Blue Ridge, designed and erected
upon it mansion house, which he
called Monticello, or Little Noun
tain, This mansion commands a
magnificent and extended view Of
mountain, plain, valley and river, is
three miles from Charlottesville, and
overlooks his pet, the University of
Virginia. Mr.. Jefferson cut wind
ing road from the base to the apex of
the mountain on which the mansion
stands, and laid out family burial
ground, which is yet walled and iron
gated, at spot where the road emp
ties itself into an avenue Of mulberry
trees, leading Immediately to Month
cello itself. To that mansion, in its
partially unfinished state, Jefferson
carried his young bride, formerly
Mrs. SHELTON, of the Underwater dis
trict Of Virginia, one snowy night in
midwinter. There his two daughters,
Martha and Maria, were born, there
his wife died and his eldest daughter,
and there he died, and all of them
lie close together in the little GENE
terry hardly their home while living.
Jefferson not only selected the spot
where he wished to be buried, but
wrote the inscription for modest
monument for his grave, some of the
words Of which show that he desired
that his bones should rest forever
within his native State, and near the
| University of which he was both the
founder and father. Since July 4th,
1926, Jeflerson's grave has been Wis
tied by thousands of admirers of his
craftsmanship. Many persons have
made pilgrimage from Europe to
see the spot in which rests the re-
mains Of one OF the noblest cham
pions Of personal liberty and pure
government that the world has pro-
duccd. Congress has appropriated
money to erect monument to the
author of the Declaration of indie
pendence at Washington, and the
insane idea has arisen among few
friends of the measure to inter his
bones nnder the testimonial. Jeffer-
son to-day, If alive, would despise
Washington City as a dirty and cor
rupt Gomorrah. In his time the
White House was free Of snobbery.
rs it was of mediocrity; there were
no harcms in the departments; no
all-powerh,l LOBBY to shape and con-
trtA legislation: no plantation darkies
in the House of Representatives, and
sandwichcd among white department
tai male and female clerks; no thieves
in high offices throughout the land
no partisan Federal courts; no Credit
Mobilier and Star route rascals; no
official gift-takers, bribe-takers in
Congress and out of il, and Execu-
tive visits to States to NEEDLE with
their local elections. In fine the
White House and the departments
and Congress were not cesspools OF
fctidity. Jefferson's bones have no
business in such a place as Washing
ton, to which the angels must pay
few visits indeed. At Monticello,
lifted near the sky and situated amid
sylvan glories, there are peace and
purity. Mountain ozone is there,
instead Of the malaria of the Potomac
fats, supplemented by the sewer gas
of the public edifices and the effluvia
of political corruption. Let Jeffer-
sons bones alone. They are in hon.
est earth, in an honest atmosphere,
and among honest citizens. The
American people should insist that
the remains of the statesman whose
life was incorruptible should be kept
away from the Federal Capitol, which
for seventeen years has deserved tiae
name of the freebooter's capitol.-N.
Y. Mercury.