New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-04-02
The Washington National Monument.
TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONUMENT offlcE'


WAsHlNeroS NATIONAL MONUMENT OFFICE,
4 sa March 25, 1852
From the great decrease in the receipts Of
to the National Monument during the iastsix tne
Board Of Managers feel their duty to make another
appeal to the patriotism OF the American public 'They
are unwilling to believe that the people OF TINS county
under such deep and lasting as theS are 10 h
founder of their liberties and feeling, as they must
nrofound sense of gratitude for the nestimable services
which he rendered to them Will suffer monument com
menced in honor and to aid in perpetuatng his name
IN the latest ages of the world to remain unfinished for
the want of necessary to complete it. 1t need
scarcely be suggested that fact like this in the history
IF or Republic would not fail to reflect everlasting dis
credit on gratitude and patriotism of its citizens and
to the world that republics too apt be forget
hi of what due to themselves and to the memory OF
those Who under Providence have made them great
prosperous and happy 1t is often the fate of the most
distinguished and Industrious to be nearly forgotten after
they have mouldered in the tomb for half century
In the busy and ever changing scenes of the world the
stage of life is continuously occupied by those whose acts
excite the interest of the living and exclude the memory
of such have preceded them though their reputation
may brilliant and their deeds more glor
Gus. But it believed that Washington was one to
whom the American people owed the greatest and most
lasting deb of gratitude. and to whose memory every
should be paid by his countrymen that to honor
him was but honor themselves and that they Were
willing and DESTROYS to pay just tribute to
patriotism, and to unequaled public and private virtue
Under this impression society was established some
seventeen years ago in the city of Washington Tor the
| purpose of erecting magnificent monument to the
Father of his Country = and the Board OF Managers OF
that society have during that long interval made gat
tousy every effort in their power from pure feeling OF
patriotism and desire to honor his memory to obtain the
necessary accomplish the object of it's organiza
ton BY unceasing and untrng exerton they have sue
ceeded in collecting sufficient only to carry up the
proposed structure to elevation OF one hundred ana
feet above the surface about oneft of its intended ele
walton and they now regret to say that unless the
ribuons larger and more frequent than they have
been for the past six months will be impossible to con
tinue the any further The blocks OF stone whcf
have been sent from the different States associations etc
to be placed in the monument have done but little to ado
to its elevation though they may contribute to its interest
| hat he
structure must necessarily be- it may be proper to stat
that each of two feet in height costs upwards
$4,000 though executed with the strictest regard t.
economy The materials and labor with small annua
compensation allowed to the superintendent. and still
smaller to architect amount to the expenditure wic
mas been mentioned and the Board of Managers
satisfied that had the work been undertaken by the Gov
ernment it would have cost double the amount Vi te cos
of the obesk so far.
From two to three be completed in month
which require from four six thousand dollars while tn
monthly contributions have averaged for the past hal
wear more than two thousand dollars 1t will therefore
obvious that the work must necessarily be stopped if
ardent and patriotic feeling does not prevail anon
the people of this country and more extended and Ill
eral contribution be not made.
To show with what ease this great object could be e
fected only necessary to state that three cents fror
white nhabtant of the United States would be sui
fcient to complete the monument III a few years an
yet appears to be the apathy and indifference e5
listing relation to this noble undertaking. that eve
that small cannot be obtained for so patriotic an
In Norway the three fourths of the
to erect in honor of Charles MI was raise
lately by voluntary contributions in two days while
the Republic of the United States brought into exisenc
by the valor perseverance, energy and patriotism
s. Washington-n nation which now contains popula
ton of nearly twenty-five millions of souls, enjoying
freedom independence and prosperity nowhere else to
found-one-h only of the amount required to compet
monument worthy of the man in whose honor 1t Is no
being erected has after the most unceasing efforts 70
seventeen years been contributed To the people til
army and navy Masonic Odd Fellow and other associt
tons the colleges academies and schools OF the Unite
States banking institutions city and town corporations
applications urgently requesting ecunary aid hay
been made by circulars addressed to ALL and still the cor
y tribuons received have been insufficient to raise tn
monument beyond its present elevation. This is pair
~ full and notifying fact 1t will now become the duty
the different States of the Union to show the int"re
they feel in this noble undertaking, and to eyince tn
estimation and respect in which they hold the charactt
services of Washington by contributing to the con
plcton of his that the States as well as tn
people may the honor of raising structure to h
memory which will be imperishable memorial OF the
generation and gratitude.
BY order of the Board. GEORGE WATrERsroN.
; Secretary Washington National Monument Society.
RI Editors throughout the Union are respectfully II
quested publish the above in their journals and thu
advance the cause