The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-10-24
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
SUMMERING IN THE SOUTH
A Minister'S Trip in the cold Dominion"
The City of Alexandria-Many
Churches and Much Wick
edness-Mt. Vernon and
its History. &c

WASHINGTON, d. c., Oct. 18th. 1885.
Messrs. Editors AT the invitation of an init
mate FRIEND spent portion of the summer in
old Virginia, assisting in woods meeting that he
was holding at that time l left Washington
August 9th, aboard the steamer Excelsior, for
Surry county, Va, on the south side of the James
river. At p. m. the pilot blew the whistle and
the noble craft moved into the channel and
turned her prov down the river of the historical
Potomac. After half hours run of seven miles
we touched at Alexandria, Va, to take on freight
and more passengers, who, like ourselves were
under the subtle influence of q rowing spirit and
bent on seeing sights in the Old Dominion and
the Sunny South. In this old Virginia town we
spent three very pleasant years pastor of one of
the Methodist churches, for nearly every town has
at least one Methodist church, and here they have
four. The sun never sets Methodism tits every
where. The Potomac here is mile wide, forming
a harbor able to accommodate the largest ships
The place was first called Hunting Creek Tobacco
House, and when the town was laid out in 1748,
the name was changed to Belle Haven, and then
finally to the name by which it is now known, in
honor of of the influential families residing in
the town. In years long gone the merchants of
Baltimore and Philadelphia came here to lay in
their stock Of goods and it was the centre of trade
and commerce in all the region around. There
are now nearly 1000 inhabitants, $500 of whom
are colored. The town is well paved, lighted with
gas, and abundantly supplied with good water
1t is connected by turnpike, canal and railroad,
and has all the facilities that could be desired,
and yet the town does not grow any thing like one
would expect The doom of decay seems to be
upon it and an atmosphere of stagnation is every
where and evermore present. 1t has been called
the Getty OF Relics" and its Importance seems to
consist more in what it once was than what it is
at the present time. Gen. Braddock landed here in
the spring of 1755, with his little army of English
soldiers, for an aggressive campaign against the
French and Indians at Fort Du Quesne, in the
thsn far Northwest. He called in council the
colonial Governors of Massaeh usetts, New York,
Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, and
planned the campaign that proved so disastrous
to himself and his army. One hundred and six
years afterwards came Col. Ellsworth, with his
New York regiment of volunteers to the place,
and two hours afterwards was killed by Jackson,
the proprietor of the Marshal House on King
street, while tearing down Confederate flag that
jackson loated over his house. Private Brownell,
who was with Ellsworth at the time, ran his
bayonet through Jackson and laid him dead at
his feet.
Alexandria has sixteen churches to look after
the morals Of the people, and an Offset to this
good she has one large brewery, owned and oper-
ated by Portenor & Co., several wholesale houses,
and about fifty saloons; so you see, Messrs Edi-
tors, the Lords business is fearfully overshadowed
and neutralized by the enormous operations of his
agents. Tnis is one of the causes of the city
stagnation. Another and more patent cause is
potics-pOtics which is not such in any true or
noble sense of the word Principles and practices
Of SOCIAL apd civil economy, sought to be made
effective forces In counteractiug public corruption
and vice, never get through the hair and into the
head of politician. Third and fourth rate men
stand for Congress and the Legislature, and the
bhoys, the hustlers and the mixers Fl the minor
offices and so the people are bled, and public
corruption, with its brazen face, stalks abroad at
MONDAY without fear or intimidation. Old Gov.
Henry A. Wiso oncs said off Firginians had
given more time to farming and less to politics
they would have had cattle upon q thousand hills
instead Of having to chase u stub tailed steer
through q sedge patch for tough beefsteak and
go hungry" The word Democrat is compound
Greek word-Damos, people; and Kratein, to be
strong to rule, the sovereignty of the people-but
alas, how the word and its meaning has been pros
tituted by these wind. bags, foamng out their own
shame and ignoranoe-trees without fruit, clouds
without rain, dead and wandering stars, to whom
is reserved the blackness of darkness forever
There many noble people in Alexandria, and
if they would to the front and control affairs,
the city would flourish like palm tree. The
Lord hasten the day.
Passing down the river eight miles the tollng
of the bell reminds you that the steamer is ap-
preaching Mount Vernon, the tomb of Washing
ton, the Mecca of America. This is touching
memorial custom, which in effect is perpetual
vigil, refrain of reverential respect observed by
officers and seamen while passing the resting
place of the soldier and statesman, that made
America the greatest nation on the globe. This
token of regard originated ON q French merchant
vessel, which had been to Alexandria for a cargo,
and going down the river after Gen. Washington's
DEATH but before he was inferred placed its colors
1T half mast and tolled its bell continuously while
passing the house of mourning. This testimony
of respect from another nation was so appropriate
that il has been observed by all river crafts down
to our day.
Mount Vernon mansion was built by George
Washington's elder brother, Lawrence, who settled
there in 1743, and named the estate in honor of
Admiral Vernon, under whom he had served in
the West Indies. George left it to Bushrod Wash
ington, and he to John A. Washington. By him
the mansion and 200 acres of land were sold in
1853, for $4,000 to the Ladies' Mount Vernon
Association, who design to hold it in perpetuity
as a place of public resort and pilgrimage. 1t is
the most beautiful situation on the broad Potomac.
Standing upon the great porch in front of the
mansion, miles Of beautiful landscape in Mary land
and Virginia are brought within the range OF
vision, and to one who has his eyes open and the
conveniences for seeing the scenery is fine indeed.
Every day in the year, except the Sabbath, people
come from all parts of the globe to this centre of
attraction In the western W0rlu.
Inside the house everything from pan in the
kitchen to the harpsichord in the music room of
Mary GUSTS becomes, by reason ofits association,
an object Of study and interest-clothing furni-
ture, portraits Of Washington aud his family, be-
sides other things that space would not allow us
to mention. Here is chair from the May Flower,
which, like the latterday saints of Salt Lake City,
has embraced more than one woman. The guide
says it has held forty thousand. Then there is
tLo froI ol bato hat iah nil 70
somewhat your faith and Imagination in order to
appreciate its true value. The true version OF
that Ratchet story is not generally known. 1t is
said that Washington, pater, had servant named
Ike When he asked George who cut the cherry
tree, he said "Father, I can't tell lie Ike did it
with my little Ratchet" The old governor, being
little deaf got the thing slightly mixed, and so
upon the shoulders of little black Ike the great
man laid the foundation of his veracty. What do
you think of "the new version?" In the main
hall, hanging in glass case, is the key of the
great French Bastile, destroyed on the 18th OF
July, 1889, during the French revolution. Lafay-
cite presented it to Washington while on a visit
to this country, and there it hangs with its thous-
and tongues, telling Of French cruelty for four
hundred and twenty years. Louis XVI little
dreamed of the train of powder he was laying
under his own throne when he sent Lafayette to
the Western World in defense of American Re-
publicanism. The tomb of Washington is Of
course the centre of attraction at Mount Vernon.
1t is directly on the road leading from the wharf
to the mansion and is built of brick with q vault
in the rear, containing other members of the fami-
ly, the iron door of which is locked and the key
thrown into the Potomac to prevent any more of
the relatives from being buried there.
"Let me approach with awe, the home of one
Who in my heart of hearts has held place;
Ay, cen in boyhood, was my ideal man,
The pure the good, the grandy great and wise,
Of Spartan virtue and unsullied fame