Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-09-15
70 PUBLISH WILL
Of WASHINGTON
DOCUMENT mas BEEN MADE \
GOVERNMENT PUBLICATION.
many UNUSUAL PROVISIONS
Closely Guarded by Fairfax
County Officials.

United States, jus, before the eN-
ira session OF Congress adjourned,
senator Hepburn ~ Idaho was pass
ing down Pennsylvania Avenue and IN
book store found a small volume
containing this last will and tesla
ment.
This ancient document Interested
the senator SO that he asked pormis-
sion of the Senate to have 1t reprinted
as public document, and the per-
mission WAS readily granted
The VIII shows probably more
clearly than any other of his writings,
the character firmness and the fair
ness of the patriot who aided IN or
ganl2ing the government under which
Americans now 1--we and thrive.
The title Of this volume Is THE
Last WIN and Testament Of George
Washington Of Mount Vernon" The
original of il is Kept at Fairfax Coun-
~ Courthouse, near Washington
where General Washington himself
carried it and ordered it placed on
record. The original. now yellow with
age, is guarded closely by the coun-
ty officials. II is kept In steel
fireproof safe. but when visitors cali
at the courthouse It is taken out and
exhibited. Only recently. President
Taft made a pilgrimage to this his
toric old spot to view the viii.
The VIII was written by General
Washington himself, at Mount Vernon
on Julys9, 1893. II was presented to
the Probate Court at Fairfax court
house on January 20. 1900, more than
six months after General Washing
ton had completed H. There are for
ty-two pages OF the will, including
the notes and explanations which the
first President wrote to make the
terms Of the document more clear.
In the beginning of the document
the author stipulated that all his debts
he paid. IAN Of my debts. OF which
there are hut few" he savs, "and
none Of any magnitude are to be
punctually and speedily paid"
The will begins az follows "To
my dearly beloved wife, Martha
Washington, I give and hequeath the
use, profit and benefit. Of my whole
estate, real and personal. for the term
Of her natural life, except such parts
thereof as are especially disposed OF
hereafter"
Following this General Washington
indicated his desire that his slaves
should be freed. lie says on the sub
iect:
Upon the decease Of my WIFE II Is
my will and desire. that all the slaves
which I hold in my own right shall
be given their freedom. To enamel
pate them during her life would
though earnestly wished by me, be
attended by such insuperahle diff
culties on account of their lntermix-
ture by marriage with lower negroes,
as TO excite the most painful sensa-
tions, If not disagreeable consequen-
cos from the latter, while both de-
scriptions are I'm the occupancy Of
the same proprietor. II not being In
my power under the tenure by which
dover negros are held to manumit
them.
And whereas. among those who
will receive freedom. according to this
devise, there may be some whom
from old age or bodily inflrmities.
and others who on account of their
infancy, that will be unable to sup
port themselves. II is my will and de-
sire that all who come under the first
and second descriptions shall be COM
fortahly clothed and fed by my heirs
while they live and that such ~ the
Ia ..
living. or II living are unable 10 pro-
vide for them, shall be bound by the
court until they shall arrive at the
age OF 81 years and In cases whore
nc record can be produced whereby
their ages can be ascertained the
judgment Of the court upon It's own
view Of the subject shall be adequate
and final"
There are many other interesting
features IN this win. For instance.
General Washington bequeather S4,-
600, large sum then. toward the
endowment OF free school as an an
mex TO the Alexandra. Va. academy.
General Washington foresaw the
value OF inland waterways and advo-
Gated the extension OF navigation up
the James River to tldewater. to the
mountains. Virginia presented her
favorite son with 100 shares in the
company which was to develop the
James River. and fifty shares IN the
company which was TO develop the
Potomac River. They were given as
tokens Of esteem of the people OF Vlr-
ginia for General Washington.
But General Washington explains
I'm his viii that he refused TO accept
these shares for HIS own use. but
would take them for the public beno-
ut He SAYS:
THE acceptance Of these shares of
stock was refused. as inconsistent
with a principle which I had adopted
and had never departed from namely
not to receive any pecunlary compen-
sation for anv service 7 could render
my country IN lts arduous struggle
with Great Britain for its rights. and
because 7 had evaded propositions
from other states o. the Union"