Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-08
rrnnr srNrn's LITTER.
w.nnxorox. d. c., March so, IS

wAsr1yGroS. ID. c., March so, 1899.
Hon. A. p. Ro,oe. Mayor, Fredericksburg, Va. :
Dear Sir.-Rcsponding TO your request
for information touching the unfinished
Mary Washington monument, my cCnnec-
tion Herewith, and knowledge thereof, /
have 10 say the suggestion of the monu-
nent originated with patlotc citizens late
ia 1929 or early in 1880. The cornerstone
was laid in 1898, General Jackson. then
President, being present, accompanied Oy
several members OF his Cabinet and large
military display. Later on patiotlc citl-
zen Of New York by the name OF Burrows
undertook its completion. Business re-
verses overlook him. work was suspended,
and finally abandoned. l introduced IN
tle House of Representatives Of the Forty:
third Congress n I'LL TO have II completed
bv the General Government. and secured
the presence of special committee OF
Congress, accompanied by an engineer
officer, TO inspect the monument ana ste.
A favorable report was made, but OWING
10 the pane Of 1873 and consequent imam
Cial disasters no action was had beyond
this report. The matter has been pre-
sented in several Congresses SINCE ana
urged by my successors IN the HOuse-Gar-
rison. CroxtOn, and Brown. The Senate
az the Fortv-ninth Congress at the instance
OF General Malone, who was then senator
passed bill apprOpriating $4,000. his
bill was favorably reported ia the House,
and IN the closing hours Of the session
Speaker Carlisle promised 10 recognize MT;
harbour, now senator. or Mr.. Alien, OF
Massachusetts,, who was then member, 10
call il up. This promise was gwen without
reserve. and was to be executed on the Llst
night OF the session. Senator Barbour ana
Mr.. Allen were in their places and on Their
feet repeatedly from 8 O'Clock III the eve
ming to s o'clock the following morning,
yainly attempting to secure from Speaker
Carlisle his promise for recognition, when
must have been forgotten.
In the Fifticth Congress Senator Daniel
secured very promptly Il favorable report
and the passage 10y the Senate OF the OIL
appropriatinc 500 900 10 complete this un-
finished monument, but the bin died in the
House. Repeatedly have delegations come
10 Washington from the Council of Fred
ericksburg, Va. 10 urge this measure upon
the House, and Airs. Lewis Washington
one of the most prominent Mt. Vernon
regents. was very conspicuous III ner efforts
IN this direction in the Fiftleth Congress.
Trusting that this information may serve
YOU some useful purpose IN securing the
completion Of this unfinished monument,
j remain with great respect your obedlent
servant, JAMES b. SENEB.
THE MEMORIAL.
The memorial above referred 10 is dated
February II, 1884. represents all the clu
Zens without regard 10 party, politics
religious creed, or land OF BIRTH, sets
forth the centennial celebrations in honor
OF Washington: what Congress had done
in suitably marking the place OF his birth
in furnishing the monument at the ma
fional capital and III the erection of the
monument of Yorktown; all becoming
tributes Of great government TO a great
man. IL then asks "f the debt of the ma
TONS gratitude has been completely and
fully discharged when il wholly ne
elects the ashes of that good anC
noble woman who gave him being
nurtured and instructed him, instlli
ing into him those exalted ,yiTtue'
which so distinguished him in his public
and private life II then states the his
tory Of the efforts that had been made tc
erect 10 her q monument on the spot that
she had loved and frequented that IN and
about 1891 the people had raised some
$4,000 for the purpose; that Mr.. burrows
"a wealthy citizen Of New York, had oteret
and beon allowed To furnish all the requl
site funds, and IN 1898 the cornerstone
had been laid by President jackson; tina
Dir. Burrows had lost his fortune but
hOped 10 retrieve II, and asked TO be per
united TO try and complete the work that M
had died without being able 10 do so; tina
theirrepresentative IN Congress had sOugn
10 obtain All appropriation from that bodl
and that subcommittee OF the Forty
third Congress visited the place, viewed
the unfinished structure, estimated tn
cost of its completion. and reported TO TIN
full committee III favor of an adequate mp
preparation. which said committee recon
mended TO the House of Representatives
but Congress failed 10 act upon
II then gives description of the monu
ment and shows how it might be com
pleted, and if the material were changed
10 granite. that could be obtained IN large
quantities aud of fine quality ON the rive
about mile and half from the site Of tn
monument and hoatcd down canal 4
within two hundred yards of the place.
II then closes with an earnest appeal I,
Congress TO slgnalize the one. hundrod-and
fiftv-second anniversary Of the birth OF he
Immortal son by making an oppoopriauol
for the erection Of this monument TO III