Mississippi palladium. [volume] (Holly Springs, Miss.) 1851-1852, 1852-04-22
w.su1xcros NATIONAL Ase.gaEyr 0gFtcE. ,
= II .rs-z 25th. 1852.

From the great dessease in the re-
ceipts of contributions 30 the National
Monument during tho 5ast six months,
the board Of managersfsei it TO be their
duty 10 make anotlet appeal TO the
patriotism of the AlIssgican public.-
They are unwilling to3siieye that the
people of this country l.sndersuch deep
and lasting Obligation Is they are, to-
the founder of their ls5sTties, and feel
ing, as they must, "a ft4oand sense of
gratitude for the ind atsnable services
which he rendered I'd hem, ,&vill suffer
a monument comnef I iushis honor,
ana 10 ard m perPerudfflis his name to
the latest ages OF the world, to remain
unfinished for the want Of means nee
essary to complete it. It need scarce
" be suggested that fact like this in
the history of our republic would not
fail to reflect lasting Gscredit on the
gratitude and patriotism Of its citizens,
and prove to the world hat republics
are too apt to be forgetnl Of what is
due to themselves, and tC the memory
of those who, under Providence, have
made them great, prospectus and hap
py. 1t is often the fate of the most
distinguished and illustrious to be near
ly forgotten after they have moulder-
ed in the tomb for half a century. In
the busy and eyer-changing scenes Of
the world, the stage of lie is continu-
ously occupied by those whose acts
excite the interest of The living, and
exclude the memory of such as have
preceded them, though their reputation
may have been more brilliant and their
deeds more glorious. But it was be-
lieved that Washington was one to
whom the American people owed the
greatest and most lasting debt ofgrati-
tide, and to whose memory every hon
or should be paid by his countrymen; /;
that to honor him was but to honor
themselves, and that they were willing
and desirous to pay just tribute to
pre-eminent patriotism, and to une-
qualled public and private virtue.
Under this impression a society was
established, some seventeen years ago;
in the city of Washington, for the pur-
pose Of erecting a magnificent monu-
ment to the 'Eather of his Country:"
and the board Of managers Of that So
ciety have, during that long interval
made gratuitoasly every effort in their
power, from pure feeling OF patriot
ism; and desire to honor Ills memory,
to obtuin the means necessary TO ac-
compiish 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 hundred and five feet above the
surface, about one-fifth of its 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 different
. States, associations. &c, to be placed
in the monument, have done but little
to add to lis elevation, though they
may contribute to its interest. That
the public may understand how expen-
sive such a structure must necessarily
be, it may be proper 10 state that each
/ course Of 2feet in heightcosts upwards
OF -, 900, though executed with the
strictest regard to economy. The ma
terials and labor, with small annual
compensation allowed to the superin-
tendenf, and a still smaller to the ar
chitect, amount to the expenditure
which has been mentioned; and the
board of managers are well satisfied
{ that, had the work been undertaken
( by the government; if would have cost
double the amount of the cost Of the
Obeiisk so far.
/ From two to three courses can be
completed IN a month. which require
/ from four to six thousand dollars, while
the monthly contributions have not
averaged, for the past half year, more
! than two thousand dollars. 1t will,
therefore, be obvious that the work
must necessarily he stopped ifa more ar
J dent and patriotic feeliag does not pre-
vail among the people OF this country
and more extended and liberal contri-
button be made.
To show with what ease this great
/ object could be effected, it IS only nee
essary to state that three cents from
each white inhabitant of the United
States would be sufficient to complete
I the monument in a few years; and yet
such appears to be the apathy and in
difference existing in relation TO this
noble undertaking, that even that small
sum cannot be obtained for SO patriot.
ic and glorious a purpose.
In Norway, the three-fourths Of the
amount necessary to erect monument
in honor of Charles XII were raised
lately by voluntary contribution IN two
days: while in the republic of-the Unit.
ed States, brought into existence by
+ the valor, perseverance,, energy, ana
patriotism of Washington-in nation
which now contains population o
! nearly twenty-five millions OF souls
enjoying a freedom, independence, and
prosperity nowhere else TO be found
one-fifth only of the amount required
to complete monument worthy OF the
manin whose honor it is now being
erected has, after the most unceasins
efforts for seventeen years, been con
tributed. To the people, the army
and navy, Masonic, Odd Fellows, and