Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-11-16
THE NATIONAL WASHINGTON MONUMENT

AT the regular monthly meeting Of the New York
Historical Society on the 9Th Of this month, amongst
other proceedings we notice the subJoined IN reia'
ton TO the progress Of the Monument now going
up in his CITY in honor of the memory OF wash
ingtoyi:
Mr. J. b. YARSum il. made statement OF the progress
Of work on the National Washington Monument at Wash
ington from which the following Is extracted;
The foundation is at the bottom 81 feet square, bull
Of peces Of blue rock material which is continued up IL
feet shove ground Here The marble work for the obelisk
This obesk be 500 feet high 90 iee square
at The base and 33 feet square at the top Ihe walls are -
feet thick AZ the comnencement leaving space inside "a
feet souse which will be of the dimensions all the way
nm The outside is constructed Of what is known Sym
ipetons large crystal marble, procured from the vicinity o.
Baltimore The main body of The wall Is OF blue gnelss and
with this the interior lined except where blocks presented
by States or associations have been inserted The obek
rs feet high, and It Is anticipated that al least on e
will b. added during another season.
Thirty States and Territory have determined to present
blocks OF be inserted the INSIDE OF which hvc are
already in the wall and nine on the ground Abou MY
have requested permission TO make similar dona
TONS and number has been received Some Of them are
of elaborate workmanship and beautiful material almost every
prominent kind of stone or marble in the Union being there
~ more specimens.
There has been expended on the work up TO this time
90 OO0 The estimated Of the whole shalt will be
100000.
large additional subscription received on the spot
from vsers within week two after the passage OF the
compromise bills which seemed TO indicate taat zeal 10 the
cause increased proportion the prospects OF preserving
the Union were frightened This statement ec.ed round
Of applause u
Among the objections urged against subscribing we're
Opposition TO all monuments being useless structures
Mr. VAnsuM thought that while was true that none who
did not live in history deserved monument It Is not true
that those who do live in history never need one Inc
mass of the people read books Of every kind and
impressed and induced make inquiries and perhaps 70
read, by objects which, like monument appeals 10 he
senses
Again. monuments are erected to commemorate the
gratitude Of those who build them than the individuals to
whom they reared.
Hence those monuments were chiefly interesting wnich
are built by contributions of large number OF individuals az
the funds procured for the National and Jackson monu-
ment the Bunker Hill, the battle monument at Baltimore,
and the naval at Washington They speak much
more the enthusiasm and patriotism OF those who mace
little sacrifice from their pockets 70 buid men, man 10
those structures which the result Of simple Legislative
VOTE In the latter the appropriation certainly taken
from the payers but from some OF them Is unwiingy
bestowed and Of them feel it much they would DO
did they make direct Donation
Most of the monuments 10 Europe erected as acts OF
cvily or servty Sometimes they reared BY the IN
dvduas themselves Napoleon not at all modest IN this
but he always gored his armies and officers well
as himself, and in that way inspired the highest enhu-
sasm and love Of glory amongst hem which IS evidence
that the effect Of such eectons where they erected
in good cause in inspiring pride of country and local at
Mr. Varnum gave account Of the legislation OF Con-
gress this subject from which il appears that IN 1888
statue was voted to Washington by the Continental Congress-
to be erected the future Of Government In 1879
House resolved erecting monument his remains
be removed the capital Mrs. Martha Washington gave
her by letter to the President But the bill did not
pass both Houses In 1882 bill did pass Congress, but
Mr. John Washington the greatnephew, refused to let the
remains be removed, alleging that Gen. Washingons will
indicated desire that his body should remain at Mount
Vernon construction which the language Of the will scarcely
warrants.
The Virginia Legislature at the same time opposed It,
which probably Influenced him. Greenoughs statue was
.odeed at this time. The project Of National monumen.
was the time started by Chief Justice Marshall and
others and the site selected for it is the Uch icas Sc
eced By the commissioners Uho laid out the city IN $780,
before Washington's DEATH and in anticipation OF the
erection Of the ordered in l7s3 Here therefore,
supposed by himself that he would be COM
memoraed.