Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-09-30
Tho CLAY Monument.

moline, Secretary of the Clay Monument Asso
citation, the following preamble and resolutions
Deeply as the whole Union is indebted to the
great man in whose honor this magnificent mon
ument will be raised Missouri owes it TO her
self TO furnish this imperishable evidence Of
her gratitude. To it Missourians Of all parties
should oheerfully contribute. The second res
olu,ion we are sure viii meet with general COM
mendation:
James II. Lucas from the committee on res o.
lutions, appointed at the last meeting, submitted
the following report, which was, on motion,
unanimously adopted: .
Your committee, having duly considered the
subjects referred TO them, are Of opinion that in
the present position and prospects of this city,
any attempt OH the part OF its people to rear a
monument to Henry Clay, of a temporary or
trivial character, would result in our own day,
IN cause of humiliation and reproach, and
would probably subject us 10 the contempt and
derision of those who may come after us.
We acknowledge the proud future our city
has before her; that future cannot well be over
estimated. For all time, st. Louis must be the
great commercial metropolis Of the Mississippi
Valley, il her people are but true TO themselves.
History teaches us that commerce has at all
times been the handmaid of the arts. We may
rest assured, therefore, that orr CITY must be-
come distinguished for their cultivation. Let
as, then, in this first attempt, at public monu-
ment, rear one that may stand the test Of time,
and reflect credit on the taste, enterprise and
public spirit of our people.
To do this, we must resort TO material df-
ferent from any that has thus far been used in
this city, and it would be most appropriate to
build this monument out Of our own Missouri
granite.
The experience which we have from kindred
enterprises, in other cities, teaches us that il
requires considerable time TO accomplish such
an undertaking. We should, therefore, proceed
deliberately, and procure and concentrate suiii-
cient means TO rear such monument as will be
an ornament TO our city, and on scale proper
toned in some degree to its prospective gran
deur.
In attempting TO make an approximate esti-
mate of the cost of such a structure from the
data in our reach weare OF opinion that the sum
of 10000 would cover it.. This, it will be said
is large sum of money 10 eYpenl when nc
direct positive good is to result, and that too
whilst our city is deficient in several necessary
public institutions
The people of st. Louis have done much al
ready and can do, in due time, all that might be
expected Of charitable, enlightened, and pub
lie spirited people besides this just tribute &c
exalted patriotism and worth
Have TREY not built hospitals, school houses
maintained expensive poor houses, and orphan
asylums? Look at our numerous and mapnf
cent churches, the Mercantile Library Hall
theatres, sc. Are they not building planl
roads, macadamiZed roads. and railroads, in ev
cry direction from our city; and who is th
poorer for all this? ASK the laboring man, an,
ne will answer that lie gets good price for hi
labor, and is thriving? Ask the contributor t.
all these enterprises, he will answer that he il
hone the poorer.
our committee would, therefore, recommend
the adoption of the following resolutions:
RcsoIpcd, That in the opinion of this Board
the monument proposed to be erected in tlli,
city in commcmoration of the public services
and exalted patriotism of Henry CLAY, shoulc
be of a character and magnitude in some degree
corresponding with the present grandeur am
future destiny Of our city.
Resolved, That said monument should be de
signed with massive proportions, and construct
ed Of imperishabc material, TO be procured ou
of the granite quarries of our own State.
ReSoiUcG, That, whilst attempting to perpetu
ate the name and fame of the great orator an
statesman of the West, we should remembe
that we are perpetuating the history of our ow
day and tipe-ihe middle of The Nineteenth Cen
f,1y-and that we will be judged of by wha
NAV remain of our written history, and by tn
monuments and memorials of art we may leav
behind us.
Resolred That architects and amateurs dis
posed to furnish designs or plans, for the pro
posed monument free of charge, be invited
furnish them with specifications and estimates
addressed TO the Secretary of this Board.
Resolred, That books Of subscription b
opened in the diifere~t wards Of the city, an
in the county, under the direction of committe
of this Board-and that when desired, such sub
scriptions may be made payable in annual pay
ments for five years.
Resolved, That the citizens of the State
large be invited TO contribute such sums as the
may think fit towards the construction of tn
monument IN question, and that voluntary cor
tributions Of strangers may be received, an
their names recorded in a book to be kept rc
the purpose, as honorary members of the Ca
Monument Association.
JAMES II. LUCAS,
DANIEL H. DONOVAN,
JOHN G. PRIEST,
Committne