The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-11
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER IL, 1912.
ACTION OF THE HOUSE ON MONTICELLO.

That the sense or justice Is NOT aeau e'eFS
where and that there are some who put the
legal rights of others above sentiment. how
.ver worthy the object upon which it is be-
slowed. is shown by the action of the house
OF representatives in placing the ban OF its dis
approval upon the scheme Of Mrs. Martin Lit
Teton to acquire Monticello whether the owner
of the property wishes to sell not By al
voted against the adoption of special rule
to enable the house to vote on the Monticello
commission resolution out of order. The reso-
luton is still on the calendar. but is dead for
all practical purposes.
Probably great majority of those who voted
agans. the cherished scheme of Mrs. Littleton
sympathized with her motives and would be
glad to see the shrine of all admirers of the
great American pass from private to public
ownership. but were opposed to taking from
any man his private property without the saw
ing excuse of government need. The govern
/ nent has no right OF eminent domain In the
case, and apparently the majority Of the MEM
bers of the house took this position. The ma
3ority of the people of virginia, the State more
Interested than any OF the others. agree with
them In this, We believe For sentiments sake
they would like to the home OF Thomas
Jefferson In the hands of the State of his birth.
or preferably in the hands of patriotic
organization. but for sentiments sake they are
not willing to force man to sell property
which he wishes to retain. In the house the
question resolved itself into this: Shall the con-
gress of the United States take steps to con-
fscate the property of another which 1t covets,
but which it does not require? On that ques-
ton 14l congressman voted in the negative.
Probably some OF them we're not actuated by
pure motives but by prejudice against the
founder OF the Democratic party. Probably
some of them who voted against the special
rule would have voted for il had the home of
the lesser statesman, Alexander Hamilton. been
in question. Nevertheless, We believe that most
of them voted according TO conscience, and.
whatever their motives, they voted right.
There need be no sympathy wasted for JEFF
ferson Levy the owner of the estate. Few
would have any feeling of pity for the man
were he forced to sell the estate. Had there
been any heretofore, it must have been swept
away when he bluntly declared upon being
Informed that distinguished Virginian was
willing to purchase the property at four times
it's assessed value, that Monticello is not for
sale" 1t is absurd for Mr.. Levy 10 speak of
sentiment. He can have proper sentimental
reasons for wishing to retain Monticello. ii
Il not an old homestead 1t is not the home
OF his fathers handed down from generation
to generation. True, it was owned by his
grandfather, who purchased 1t for $4,000, but
his grandfather willed 1t TO the people of the
United States. SO sacred the memory OF
Uriah Levy to his relatives and descendants
that they went into court and succeeded in
preventing his deathbed wish from being exc
cated, In this way the estate came into the
possession of the present owner. Sentiment?
For whom and for what? Not for the ances-
tor whose last wish was fought successfully.
Not for Thomas Jefferson, to whom the Jefer
son Leyys not related Then for whom?
The author OF the declaration of independence
the founder of the University of Virginia anc
the third president Of the United States? His
memory is no more sacred to Jefferson NJ Levy
than to the other 100000 people in the
United States. Sentiment is not with Levy
but with Mrs Littleton and those with her. but
the law and the rights of property are with
] Levy, He cuts sorry figure, but there is
nothing that rightly be done about it.
ORR MEANING.
The Vvginida Is taken gently to task by the