Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-07-07
WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, }
March "a, 1856
Mr. Lane. from the Committee for the
District of Columbia, made the follow

NIT. Lane, nom tne CohiHittPe |or tHc
District of Columbia, made the follow
! ing report:
The Committee for the District Of Co
lumbIa. TO which was referred the memo
rial of the officers and managers Of the
! Washington National Monument Society.
respectfully report:
That the committee have ascertained
that a society has been established in this
city for the iaudable purpose OF erecting,
! by the Voluntary contributions Of the PEG
| pie of United States, magnificent
monui 10 the memory Of the great ia
Their OF us country, at the seat Of the Fe
! dera Government
The officers and managers Of this soci
| ETY. consist of the most respectable citizens
Of Washington, who, conceiving that it
was only necessary 10 make an appeal 10
| the patriotism and gratitude of the Amer
can People to be enabled TO raise sum
sufficient TO accomplish an object in the
execution of which every American must
feel pride, organized society, adopted
constitution, and proceeded 10 put their
plan into execution.
The board of managers, chosen trien
nially by the society, commenced its ope
rations during the last sumner, by the ap
pointment Of collectors Of contributions in
almost all The States and Territories of the
Union. These agents have been employ
Ell 10 collecting or making arrangements
10 collect, in the several districts for which
they were appointed, and their success,
your committee understand, has so far,
been such as to afford we'll grounded
expectation that the great and patriotic
object the society has in view will be &C
complished. The amount Of contribution
by each individual is limited by the con
stItution, to one dollar. that each person
may have the glory and qualification Of aid
ing IN the construction Of this great monu
ment. The plan, the committee think, is
the only practicable one that could have
been adopted and the object Of the soci-
ETY. has received the sanction of some of
the most distinguished names Of which our
country can boast.
The lamented Chief Justice Marshall
wa. its first, and the excellent and venera
BILE Madison It's present presid at, both OF
whom have given it their cordial CO ope
ration. Every where il seems 10 have
met with the appreciation Of the country
men OF the great hero OF the Revolution,
and the committee think that an object
like this is calculated 10 call out the CRATE
inl feelings OF every patriotic heart. The
pilgrim to Mount Vernon, the spot conse
Grated by his hallowed remains, is often
shocked when he contempIates the rude
| and humble sepuchre which contains his
bones, and laments that no monument has
yet reared lis lofty head to mark nations
gratitude. IL IS true that The stoTicd urn,
the animated bust" or splendid mausole
um, cannot call back the departed spirit,
or "soothe the dull cold car Of death ;"
but 1t is equally true that 1t can and does
manifest the gratitude and veneratIon of
the living for those who have passed away
forever lrem the stage Of life, and left be
hind them the cherished memory OF their
virtues. The posthumous honors bestow.
ed by grateful nation on its distinguish.
ed citizens serve tho further purpose of
stimulating those who survive them to 81
m'lar acts OF greatness and of virtue,
while the respect and admiration for the
country which conlers them upon its chill
dren are more deeply and ardently felt
The character Of Washington is identified
win the glory aud greatness of his coun.
'J'. ~ "N'""b' w hisIofE, INTO Wnicn II
has infused moral grandeur and beauty.
1t presents verdant oasis in the dreary
waste of the world, on which the mind
loves to repose and the patriot and The
philosopher delight to dwell Such be.
ing but seldom appears to illustrate and
give splencor to the annals Of mankind,
and the country which gave him birth
should take pride IN bestowing po.thu
nous honors Oh his name. 1t is not 10
transmit the name or fame of the illustr-
Gus Washington TO future ages that mo.
nument should be erected TO his memory,
but TO show that the people of republics
are not ungrateGul, if their 6 governments
be so, and that they desire to manifest
,heir patriotism and love Of eminent pub
nc and private virtues by some enduring
memorial,