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Mount Vernon, March 13th, 1858
To A "Southern Matron"
Madam
Your letter of March 12th has been received in which you inform me that the bill providing for the purchase of Mount Vernon by Virginia, has been defeated in the House of Delegates— and in the name and on behalf of the Mount Vernon Association you renew your offer to purchase this place.
Heretofore I have only been willing to dispose of Mount Vernon to the United States or to Virginia as I believed that in the hands of one or the other it would be better protected and preserved than in the possession of any individual or association. The events of the past seven years however, seem to indicate that neither Virginia nor the United States wish to acquire the place. |
Under the circumstances, and believing that after the two highest powers in our country the Women of the land will probably be the safest as they will certainly be the purest guardians of a national shrine,
I am willing so far to comply with your request as to await for a seasonably limited period of time the propositions
you may wish to make to me on behalf of the Association over which you preside. And I assure you that unless these proposals are inconsistent with what I believe to be my duties upon the occasion
I shall be inclined to give them the most favorable consideration. With assurances of the highest respect
I have the honor to be your obdt. servt.
John A. Washington |
