Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-04-10
seNTMENM sSATAASA.
no the American People.

contributions TO the National Monument during
tlle last six months, the Board of Managers of
the Monument Association feel it to be their
dutv to make another appeal to the patriotism
of the American Public. They are unwilling
to believe that the people of this country, un-
der such deep and lasting obligations as they
are to the founder of their liberties, and feeling,
as they must, a profound sense OF gratitude tor
the inestimable services which ne rendered to
them, will suffer a monument commenced in
his honor, and to aid in perpetuatlngh his name
to the latest ages of the world, to remain un-
finished for the want OF the means necessary
to conp'ete it. 1t need scarcely be suggested
that a fact like this in the history of our republic
would not fail to reflect lasting discredit on the
gratitude and patriotism of its citizens, and
Drove to the world that republics are too apt
to be f~orgetful of what is due to themselves
and to the memory of those who, under Provi-
dence, have made them great, prosperous, and
happy. 1t is often the fate of the most distin-
guisled and illustrious to be nearly forgotten
after they have mouldered in the tomb for half
4 century. In the busy and ever-changing
scenes of the world the stage of life is contitl-
uously occupied by those whose acts excite the
interest of the living, and exclude the memory
of such as have preceded them through their
reputation may have been more brilliant and
their deeds more glorious. But it was believed
that Washington was one to whom the Amerl-
can people owed the greatest and most lasting
debt of gratitude, and to whose memory every
honor should be paid by his countrymen; that
to honor him was but to honor themselves, and
that they were willing and DESTROYS to pay a
just tribute to preeminent patriotism and to
unequalled public and private virtue.
Under this impression, a society was estab-
lished some seventeen years ago, in the city OF
Washington, for the purpose of erecting a mag
nificent monument to the Father ofhis country;
and the Board of Managers of that society have,
during that long interval, made gratuitously
every effort in their power, from a pure feeling
of patriotism and a desire to honor his memory,
to obtain the means necessary to accomplish
the object of its organization. By unceasing
and untiring ~exertion they have succeeded in
collecting a sum sufficient only to carry up the
proposed structure to an elevation of one hun
dred and five feet above the surface, about the
one-fifth of it's intended elevation; and they now
regret to say that, unless the contributions are
larger and more frequent than they have been
for the past six months, it will be impossible
to continue the work any further. The blocks
of stone which have been sent from the differ
ent States, associations, &c. to be placed in the
monument have done but little to add to its eIe-
walton, though they may contribute to its in
terest. That the public may understand how
expensive such astructure must necessarily be,
it may be proper to state that each course of
two feet in height costs upwards of $4,000,
though executed with the %strictest regard to
economy. The materials and labor, with a small!
annual compensation allowed to the superin-
t.ndent, and a still smaller to the architect,
amount to the expenditure which has been men,
I,,.I ,>I ti, D,-rl -t f,,--.- 800 ,-,Jf
satisfied that, had the work been undertaken by
the Government, it would have cost double the
amount of the present cost of the obelisk so
far.
From two to three courses can be completed
in a month, which require from four to six thou
sand dollars, while the monthly contributions
have not averaged, for the past half year, more
than two thousand dollars. Ii will therefore
be obvious that the work must necessarily be
stopped if a more ardent and patriotic feeling
does not prevail among the people of this coun-
try and Il more extended and liberal contribu-
tion be not made. To show with what ease this
great object could be effected it is only neces-
sary to state that three cents a head from each
white inhabitantof the United States would be
sufficient to complete the monument in a few
years; and yet such appears to be the apathy
aud Indifference existing in relation to this no.
be undertaking that even that small sum can
not be obtained for so patriotic and glorious a
purpose.
In Norway, the three fourths of the amount
necessary to erect a monumert in honor of
Charles the Twelfth was raised lately by volun-
tary contributions in two days; while in the
Republic of the United States, brought into
existence by the valor, perseverance, energy,
and patriotism of Westinghouse a nation
which now contains a population of nearly
twenty.fi five millions of souls, enjoying a free
dom, independence and prosperity nowhere else
to be found, one-ffth only of the amount re-
quired to complete a monument worthy OF the
man in whose honor it is now being erected has, |
after the most unceasing efforts for seventeen
years, been contributed. To the people, the
army and navy, masonic, odd fellows, and 9TH
er associations, the colleges, academies and
schools of the United States; banking ~institu.
tions, city and town corporations, &c, applica-
tons urgently requesting pecuniary aid have
been made by circulars addressed to all, and
still the contributions received have been insult
fcient to raise the monument beyond its pres
ent elevation. This is a painful and notifying
fact. It will now become the duty ofthe different
States of the Union to show the interest they
feel in this noble undertaking, and to evince the
estimation and respect in which they hold the
character and services Of Washington by con-
tributing to the completion of this monument,
that the States as well as the people may have
the honor of raising a structure to his memory
which will be an imperishable memorial of their
veneration and gratitude. BY order of the
Board. GEO. WATTERSTON,
Secretary Washington Monument Society.
TEditors throughout the Union are res
pectfully requested to publish the above, and
thus advance the cause.