the chief, the high authorities of the nation begged his remains for public interment at the seat of the national government. They were granted by the venerable relict, conditioned that her own remains should be interred by the side of her husband in the national tomb. This memorable compact, so solemn in itself, is still in full force and binding on the nation, inasmuch as no subsequent authority could alter or annul it.

On the faith of this compact, Colonel Monroe, when president of the United States, ordered two crypts or vaults to be formed in the basement story of the centre of the capitol for the reception of the remains of the chief and his consort, agreeably to the arrangement of 1799, which vaults are untenanted to this day.

Surely it can not be denied that Mrs. Washington had the right, the only right, to the disposal of the remains of the chief, and by virtue of this right she granted them to the prayer of the nation as expressed by its highest authority.

On her deathbed the venerable lady called the author of these Recollections, her grandson and executor, to her side, and said, "Remember, Washington, to have my remains placed in a leaden coffin, that they may be removed with those of the general at the command of the government."*

* On the thirteenth of February, 1832, Mr. Thomas, of Louisiana, from the joint committee of the two houses, appointed to report on the subject of the Centennial anniversary of the birthday of GEORGE WASHINGTON, reported the following resolution :

"Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives be hereby authorized to make application to John A. Washington, of Mount Vernon, for the body of GEORGE WASHINGTON to be removed and deposited in the Capitol, at Washington City, in conformity with the resolutions of Congress of the twenty-third December, 1799; and that, if they obtain the requisite consent to the removal thereof, that they be further authorized to cause it to be

And yet we hear of the right of a state! No one state can appropriate to itself that which belongs to the whole.

removed and deposited in the Capitol, on the twenty-second day of February, 1832.” The following is a copy of the resolutions referred to :

"Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That a marble monument be erected by the United States, in the Capitol, at the City of Washington, and that the family of General Washington be requested to permit his body to be deposited under it; and that the monnment be so designed as to commemorate the great events of his military and political life.

"And be it further resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to direct a copy of these resolutions to be transmitted to Mrs. Washington, assuring her of the profound respect Congress will ever bear to her person and character; of their condolence on the late afflicting dispensation of Providence; and entreating her assent to the interment of the remains of General George Washington in the manner expressed in the first resolution."

In compliance with these resolutions, President Adams wrote a letter to Mrs. Washington on the subject, and received the following reply:

"MOUNT VERNON, December 31, 1799.

"SIR: While I feel, with keenest anguish, the late dispensation of Divine Providence, I can not be insensible to the mournful tributes of respect and veneration which are paid to the memory of my dear deceased husband; and, as his best services and most anxious wishes were always devoted to the welfare and happiness of his country, to know that they were truly appreciated and gratefully remembered affords no inconsiderable consolation.

"Taught by the great example which I have so long had before me, never to oppose my private wishes to the public will, I must consent to the request made by Congress, which you have had the goodness to transmit to me; and, in doing this, I need not, I can not, say what a sacrifice of individual feeling I make to a sense of public duty.

"With grateful acknowledgments, and unfeigned thanks for the personal respect and evidences of condolence expressed by Congress and yourself, I remain, very respectfully, sir, your most obedient humble servant,

"MARTHA WASHINGTON."

President Adams transmitted her letter to Congress, accompanied by the follow ing message :

"Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:

"In compliance with the request in one of the resolutions of Congress of the 23d of December last, I transmitted a copy of those resolutions, by my secretary, Mr. Shaw, to Mrs. Washington, assuring her of the profound respect Congress will ever bear to her person and character; of their condolence in the late afflicting dispensation of Providence; and entreating her assent to the interment of the remains of General George Washington in the manner expressed in the first resolution. As

Of the glorious Old Thirteen, little Delaware has as much right to the remains of the beloved Washington as either

the sentiments of that virtuous lady, not less beloved by this nation than she is at present greatly afflicted, can never be so well expressed as in her own words, I transmit to Congress her original letter.

"It would be an attempt of too much delicacy to make any comments upon it; but there can be no doubt that the nation at large, as well as all the branches of the government, will be highly gratified by any arrangement which may diminish the sacrifices she makes of her individual feelings.

"United States, January 6, 1800."

JOHN ADAMS.

The resolutions appended to the report submitted by Mr. Thomas, on the thirteenth of February, 1832, elicited a warm debate. Some of the members from Virginia opposed the measure. Mr. McCoy declared that such removal would be a violation of the sepulchre of the dead; and Mr. Coke desired the removal of the precious remains to Richmond, the capital of Washington's native state. In reply to these, Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, remarked :

"But it is said, we are going to violate the repose of the dead; to break into the sepulchre, and rifle it of its precious deposite. Sir, do we do any such thing? Shall we not go to that venerated tomb with every possible warrant, both of authority and delicacy? Was not the consent of the consort of the Father of his Country obtained, at a moment when her feelings were bleeding under the recent loss of the illustrious partner of her life? Fortified with her consent, deliberately given, and at that moment, who shall question the right or the propriety of the procedure? Violate the repose of the grave! Sir, we are discharging toward that sacred depository a most imperative duty. If there is one darker spot in the history of this Union than another, it is that we have left so long unredeemed the solemn pledge, which was given by the people of America, through their representatives here, in the first moments of bereavement. Violate the repose of the dead! Sir, we are going to pay a tribute of respect to the ashes of the Father of his Country, such as the history of the world can not match with a parallel. If this resolution is adopted, and on the 22d of February the remains of our beloved hero and patriot shall be removed from Mount Vernon to this capitol, it will be a transaction of a character of extraordinary solemnity, grandeur, and interest. Such a procession as will be formed to receive these sacred remains-the multitudes of old and young-the constituted authorities of the nation, the citizens of this district, and of the neighboring region, who shall assemble to witness the awful spectacle of the remains of the Father of his Country, on their way to their resting-place beneath the foundations of this capitol-all this, sir, will constitute a transaction unexampled in the history of the world for its effects on the minds and hearts of those who may take part in it or witness it. The gentleman (Mr. Coke) was willing to open the sacred portals of that grave, and remove its deposite, not indeed to this capitol, but to Richmond. Now, sir, I cheerfully admit, that of the titles of Virginia to the respect and consideration of her sister states, it is among the first that she is the parent of our Washington. But let her not forget, that, though Washington was by birth a native of the colony of Virginia, he lived

of her larger sisters; for, though small in size, she was great in value in "the times that tried men's souls," and, in proportion to her resources, furnished as much courage, privation, and blood to the combats of liberty, as those

and died a citizen of the United States of America; united more by his labors, counsels, and sacrifices, than those of any other individual. The sacred remains are, as the gentleman well said, a treasure beyond all price, but it is a treasure of which every part of this blood-cemented Union has a right to claim its share.

The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. McCoy) asked, if we begin in this way, where shall we end? Sir, I wish it might even become more difficult to answer that question. I wish it may even be hard to say, where shall we end with these testimonials of respect paid to a worth like that of Washington. Be it, sir, that we know not where we shall end. I know where we ought to begin, and that is, with the man who was 'first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.' Sir, I will begin with him. If, hereafter, another shall arise, who will live like Washington, when he dies, let him be laid by his side."

The resolution was adopted, and measures were immediately taken to carry it into effect on the 22d of the same month, the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Washington, when it was shown, by records, that it was the distinct understanding between Mrs. Washington and President Adams, that her remains should accompany those of her husband, wherever the latter might lie. This reservation caused the necessity of procuring the consent of other parties, and on the sixteenth of February, on motion of Mr. Clay, the senate proceeded to the consideration of the following joint resolution from the house :

Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives, That the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives be hereby authorized to make application to John A. Washington, of Mount Vernon, and to George W. P. Custis, grandson of Mrs. Washington, for the remains of MARTHA WASHINGTON, to be removed and deposited in the Capitol at Washington City, at the same time with those of her late consort, GEORGE WASHINGTON, and if leave be obtained, to take measures accordingly."

This effort to have the remains of the illustrious citizen deposited beneath the Capitol failed, and they are yet within the area marked out for them by that great man while living, and where, among his kindred, according to the words of his Will, no doubt it was his desire that they should for ever repose. Now that Mount Vernon, through the efforts of patriotic women, has become the property of the nation, every American should rejoice that the remains of Washington have not been disturbed Right glad are we that they are left alone,

"To sleep for ever,

Till the trump that awakens the countless dead,

By the verdant bank of that rushing river,
Where first they pillowed his mighty head."

that were far larger than she. From Long Island to Eutaw, from the first to the last of the War for Independence, her banner was ever in the field, and ever floated mid "the bravest of the brave."

It is high time the subject of the remains, and the remains themselves, were at rest. Presuming that government should purchase Mount Vernon, and determine that the ashes of the chief should there find lasting repose, we would respectfully suggest that a sepulchre be erected on the site of the ancient family vault, a magnificent location, having an extensive view of the surrounding country and of the noble Potomac that washes its base; the massive structure to be formed of white American marble, in blocks each of a ton weight, a dome of copper, surmounted by an eagle in bronze, a bronze door, and for inscription two words only that will speak volumes to all timePater Patria. The key of the receptacle to be always in custody of the president of the United States for the time being. This done, and if done "'t were well it were done quickly," the Tomb of Washington would cease to be a reproach among nations. The pilgrim from distant lands, as he journeys through a mighty empire, with his heart filled with veneration of the fame and memory of America's illustrious son, when he arrives at the national Sepulchre, that casts its broad shadow over the Potomac's wave, will become awed by the solemn grandeur of the spot. The American of generations yet to come will behold, with filial reverence, the time-honored receptacle that contains the ashes of the Father of his Country; the enduring marble mellowed by age, and the inscription freshly preserved in never-dying bronze. Proud of such a monument erected by the piety of his ancestors,