The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-17

The decision Of Mrs. jefferson Davis to CON-
nit the custody of the remains of her distin-
guished husband TO Virginia and Richmond
has called forth considerable comment over
the fact that no monument or stone marks the
grave of ex-President Tyler in Hollywood. A
good deal Of talk has been INDUCED in over
this, and the statement has been made that
tho grave of that gentleman is sadly neglected.
This is wholly untrue. His grave is looked
after as carefully as any other in that beauti-
full city of tho dead. and is frequently most
reverentially visited by his surviving relatives
/ and friends. Still there is no monument over
| it, and il is no wonder that the absence Of any
mark to point out his last resting place should
naturally call forth criticism whenever public
attention is directed to the subject.
correspondent from Washington to the
Chicago Inter-Ocean recently wrote that pa
per that the attention OF Congress would be
called to tho matter. and that effort would
be made TO secure an appropriation sufficient
to erect a suitable monument over this spot
This is right and proper. Congress should
by all means see TO it that the grave of o man
who had honorably attained TO the highest
place in the gift of the people, and whoss
administration was really one of the most
notable in the history Of the United States,
should be appropriately designated But Viz
ginia also has q duty 20 perform in the matter.
for Mr. Tyler belonged far more to her
than he did to the Federal Government. Al |
most his whole life was spent in the service
Of his State. for he served her in both branches /
Of the Legislature. as her twice elected Gov !
ernor, and as one of her Representatives AMI |
Senators in the Congress Of the United States I
Then after having filed the Presidential chair
for four years and retired into private life, he
was again. in his old age. called from his Sc
clusion 10 serve his fellow-citizens as presi-
dent Of the Virginia Peace Congress which
tried so earnestlyto avert the war which the
North had determined TO wage against the
Southland finally as representative from Vir-
ginia IN the Provisional and first permanent
Confederate Congress.
This long record Of public service to Viz
GINA should certainly cause the State to re-
gard it as obligatory on her to do something
towards properly marking the grave of ex-
President Tyler but there is still another
and cogent reason why she should do so. In
MIR. Tyler's will he expressed q desire 10 be
buried in Charles City county where he was
porn, and where the wife Of his youth and
he companion of his political life from its
1se to its zenith, was laid When he
lied rs member Of the Provisional
Congress and member-elect of the
lrst regular Congress of the Confederate |
states, however, it was specially requested s
hat he should be inferred in Hollywood with I
he understanding that the State would prop. !
rly look after his grave. This was consented t
o. and the Legislature did at that time pass i
resolution making IN appropriation for +
lonument, but owing to the war and subse s
uent events, this resolution became dead c
'tter, and nothing has ever been done 10 re- O
i've it, =
1t is right then that Congress should take Q
cps 20 place a monument over the unmark- II
1 grave of one Of the country's Presidents. a
ut Virginia should also do her plain duty in h
lis respect. She should, by all means. paw ci
nr due tribute TO a distinguished son who re
ever failed to respond to her when she called i,
r his services. and whose memory she has
long neglected ef