Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-05-21
10 the American People,

&O tAo &AE4AcllCs+M @eCplCs
From tho great decrease in the receipts ofcon-
tributions to the National Monument during
tho last six months, tho Board of Managers Of
the Monument Association feel it 10 be their
duty 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
arc to the founder Of their liberties, and feeling,
as they must, a profound sense of gratitude for
the incstimable services which he rendered to
them, will suffer a monument commenced in
his honor, and to MD in pcrpetuating his name
to the latest ages of the word, to remain un
finished for the want of the means necessary
to complete it, 1t need scarcely be suggested
that fact like this in the history of our rcpub-
lie would not fail to reflect lasting discredit on
the gratitude and patriotism of its citizens, and
prove to the world that republics are too apt to
be forgetful of what is due to themselves and
TO the memory ofthose who, under Providence,
have made them great, prosperous, and happy.
1t is often the fate Of the most distinguished
and iIlustrous to be nearly forgotten after they
have mouldered in tho tomb for half a 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, as have
preceded them, though their reputation may
have been more brilliant and their deeds more
glorious. But it was believed that WAsHIsG-
TON was one to whom the American people
owed the greatest and most lasting debt ofgra-
| titude and to whose memory every homer should
be paid by his countrymen; that to honor him
was but to honor themselves, and that they
wero willing and desirous to pay just tribute
to pre.eminent patriotism and to uncqualled
public and private virtue. Under this impress
sion, society was established some seventeen
years ago in the city of Washington, for 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 gratuitously every effort in their
power, from pure feeling of patriotism anda
desire to honor his memory, to obtain the means
necessary to accomplish the object of its orr
ganzation. BY unceasing and untiring exer-
ton they have succeeded in collecting 4 sum
sufficient only to carry up tbs proposed struc-
ture to an elevation Of one hundred and tWen-
weight feet above the surface, about the one
fifth ofits intended elevation; and they now re-
gret 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 its
elevation, though they may contribute to its
interest. That the public may understand how
expensive such structure 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 u
small annual compensation allowed to the su~
perintendent, and still smaller to the architect,
amounts to tho expenditure which has been
mentioned and the Board Of Managers are we'll
satisfied that, had the work been undertaken by
the Government, it would have cost double the
amount of tho present cost of the obelisk SO
far.
From two to three courses can be completed
in month, which require from four to six
thousand dollars, while the monthly contribu-
tions have not averaged, for the past half year,
more than two thousand dollars. 1t will there
fore be obvious that the work must necessarily
be stopped if more ardent and patriotic feel
ing does not prevail among the people of this
country, and more extended and liberal con-
trbution be not made. To show with what
ease this great object could be effected, it is
only necessary to state that five cents a head
from each white inhabtant of the United States
would be sufficient to complete the monument
in few years; and yet, such appears to be tho
apathy and Indifference existing in relation to
this noble undertaking, that even that small
sum cannot be obtained for so patriotic and
glorious purpose.
In Norway, the three-fourths of the amount
necessary to erect a monument in honor Of
Charles the Twelfth wss raised lately by VOL
untary contributions in two days; while in the
Republic of the United States, brought into
existence by the yalor, perseverance, energy,
and patriotism Of Washington;~in nation
which now. contains n population ~of nearly
twenty-five million of souls enjoying free
dom, independence, and prosperity nowhere
else to be found, one-ffth only of the amount
required to complete monument worthy of
the man in whose honor it is now being erected
has, after the most unceasing efforts for seven
teen years, been contributed. TO the people,
the army and navy, masonic, odd~fellows, and
other associations, the colleges, academies and
schools ofzthe United States; banking "institu-
tions city and town corporations, &c, applica-
tions, urgently requesting pecunary aid, have
been made by circulars addressed to all, and
still the contributions received have been n-
sufficient to raise the monument beyond its
present elevation. This is painful ard NOR
tifying fact :. It will now become the duty Of
the 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 Wash
incton by contributing to the completion Of
his monument, that the States as well as
the people may have the honor of raising a
structure to his memory which will be anxin-
perishable memorial OF their veneration and
gratitude.
BY order Of the Board.
GEO. WATTERSTON,
Sec Washington Monument Society.
UTouching the Office of the New York