Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-04-08
.WASHINGTON'S TOMB.
PLACE In CAPITOL SET ASIDE FOR THIS
PURPOSE A DESOLATE APARTMENT.
George Washington Will Provided for Tomb
at Mt. Vernon and Project was Abandon
ed. Mr.. Stillman Gives Historical
Sketch Of the Whole Matter.
The House Chaplain.

Washington, d. o., April 4.-Spe-
cial Correspondence That portion of
the Capitol building which the
fathers of the nation set apart and
consecrated as the tomb of George
Washington is at present cold, DESC
late, deserted and prison-like apart
ment; store-room for suplus gov
ernment publications.
December 23, 1877, soon after the
death Of Washington, Congress passed
the following resolution:
Resolved, by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress
assembled. that marble monument
be erected by the United States at the
Capitol, in the city of Washington,
and that the family of General Wash
ington be requested to permit his
body to be deposited under it. and
that the monument be so designated
as to commemorate the great events
Of his military and political life.'
President Adams at once forwarded
copy of the resolution, with per-
sonal letter, to Martha Washington,
then at Mount Vernon, expressing
condolences and the profound respect
of Congress for her person and
character The widow of the illustri-
ous first president replied December
3lst. thanking the Congress for the
tributes OF respect and veneration and
consenting to the request contained
in the resolution. Mrs. Washington
indicated desire that her remains
might be entombed in leaden coffin
and permanently placed beside those
of her husband.
Having no previous hint of the pur-
poses of Congress, Washington, in his
will dated July 8, 1899, gave instruct
ions as to the disposition of his re-
mains. as follows:
: 1.-THE family vault at Mount Yer
non requiring repairs. and being i'm
properly situated besides, 1 desire
that new one of brick and upon q
larger scale may be built at the foot
Of what is commonly called Vine
yard enclosure on the ground which
is marked out; in which my remains
with those of my deceased relatives
(now in the vault) and such others of
my family as may choose to be en-
tombed there. may be deposited.
In Difference to the expressed desires
of Washington that his remains should
lie in Mount Vernon, the project of
making the Capitol building his
sepulchre was abandoned and q period
of thirty years of Inactivity followed.
The record of events from 1899 until
1899 is very incomplete and little is
known of what tiaDsplred during that
time, but in the last named year. q
new generation. fired with patriotic
zeal. having come upon the stage,
there was renewed agitation in favor
of removing Washington's remains
from Mount Vernon to the National
capitol.
In 1880 subcommittee of the Sen
ate to which had been referred the
matter. reported recommending the
construction of a crypt in the center
of the Capitol building. exactly be-
meath the dome. within which should
be placed the remains of George and
Martha Washington. The Immediate
family consented to the proposed ar
rangement and Congress went ahead
in the preparation OF details.
The plan called for the lodgment of
marble sarcophagus within a mau-
soleum open on four sides. built in
the foundation beneath the rotunda,
and provided with an opening above
through which the sarcopbagus could
be viewed. Above the tomb, IN the
rotunda. it was proposed to erect q
marble cenotaph in the form OF q
we'll -proportioned sarcophagus, upon
the lid of which should be chiseled
in large plain letters the name. dates
of birth. death and entombment.
Above this sho, Id be erected full
length marble pedestrian statue of
Washington. sculptured by the most
skilled artist whose services could be
Simplicity, without orna-
was desired. 1t was
thought such monument to the great
President would more nearly accord
with the desirs of the people than an
and expensive mausoleum.
Work upon The central portion OF
the Capitol building was commencing
at that time and the tomb was built
IN the foundation.
Opposition to the plan of Congress
soon developed. The Legislature of
Virginia passed resolutions protesting
in courteous yet vigorous terms