Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-09-10
FROM rHE NATIONAL IKrELLiGrNcER.

WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONUMENT.
The suggestion Of the, correspondent Of
the Staunton Spectator, that the citizens OF
Virginia when they assemble to vote upon
the new constitution shall contribute each
five cents to the commissioners of election
for the Washington National Monument,
has been dictated by a patriotic feeling.
which does the writer great credit, and
should be most happy to see it carried into
effect. Small as this sum may appear, # all
contributed, it would amount to upwards OF
$4,000, and would raise the monument
about twenty-four feet higher. But ! fear
it would be found difficult Of execution
Could all the voters be made acquainted
with the object, would the commissioners
undertake the duty Of preparing boxes to
receive the contributions that might be made
and Of forwarding the amount to the treas
urer of the society," How many OF the
voters would contribute without being call
ed upon to do so, if at all 7 To show how
small an amount is required from each In
dividualt to complete this noble and patriot:
ic undertaking, it is only necessary for TWEEN
ty thousand to contribute each, like MIR. b.
B. French, of this city, one cent day, or
So IS ayear, for five or six years. But how
many thousand are able, if they were SO
disposed, to contribute ten or twenty dol.
lars per annum for patriotic purpose.
The determination has only to be made, and
the object cannot fail to be accomplished by
the erection of monument intended not
only to honor the memory of the illustrious
WASHINGTON, but to do equal honor to tie
fine feelings of those who assist to erect it.
In this honor trust there are but few SO
callous or so regardless of their own char.
acter as not to desire to participate, espe-
cially when it is to occasion so small Pc
cuniary expenditure.
The monument is now 81 feet high from
the surface of the ground, and it is expect
ed that it will reach an elevation Of lOS feet
at the close of the season. The contribu.
tons so far have enabled the Board of Man
ayers to proceed steadily with the work, ,and
it is hoped that, as it advances, these con-
tributons will increase in amount, and thus
enable the Board to complete this great tes-
timonial of public gratitude, veneration, and
respect which they have so long and SO ar.
IDENTIFY and zealously exerted themselves to
push forward to completion. The Masonic,
Odd Fellows, and Temperance Associations
have contributed nobly and freely to this
great undertaking. They have not only
like the several States and Territories, pre-
sented blocks of stone to be deposited in the
monument but have from week to week
given it pecuniary aid, which is more de-
sirable. City corporations and banking IN
stltutlons have been so far exceedingly
backward in making contributions to the
monument, though called upon to do so..-
The city of Washington, believe, stands
alone as corporation in this PARTICULAR
That Corporation has done its duty, and
has set an example to other city corporations
in the United States which is worthy OF i'm.
itation, and which, trust, they will yet see
the propriety Of following. If fcorporations,
as it is said, have no soul, let them at least
display some feeling of patriotism and show
that they are not wholly insensible to the
noble impulses of gratitude or unwilling to
honor the memory of the Father of his Coun-
try. Of the banking institutions in the U.
States, two out ofthe three In this city only
have made contributions in money. lbe-
lieve they are the only exceptions and, by
being so, are entitled to the glory Of having,
so far aided in redeeming the character of
the country from the stain Of ingratitude,or
the imputation of indifference to the mem-
ory of him vino, under Heaven, has made
us nation of freemen, prosperous, power
full, and happy. The public mind is daily
being directed to this great work, and will,
| sincerely hope, as it ascends to the clouds,
become more and more an object of public
favor, attention, and patronage, till it shall
stand forever the proud and lasting memo
rial of the peoples love, gratitude, and ven
Grafton. w.