Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-12-14

pose any increase of numbers is prevented,
when and how shall we get rid of these 65,-
600? Shall we and our posterity always
endure the existing evil1 | trust not we
should not; and | respectfully urge the a.
dopton of more efficient measures for their
removal, leaving the selection of the mode
to the united wisdom OF the General AS
sem6ly.
1t is proper that should bring to the no.
tice Of the General Assembly the condition
of the Washington Monument Fund. On
the 22d of February, 1849, an act was pas
sed by the General Assembly directing
commissioners to be appointed by the Ex-
ecutive to procure model for the Monu-
ment, with all necessary plans and esti-
mates for its erection. On the 18th of Oc-
tober following, the Governor then in Of
fee appointed the commissioners, who, in
compliance with the act, selected the plan,
fixed upon the site and procured estimates
for the structure. An appropriation, with
the amount previously raised by individual
subscription, not to exceed one hundred
thousand dollars was made by the Legisla-
ture. The plans and estimates submitted
to the commissioners did not exceed the a.
1,4neunt appropriated -oa the 22d February,
1850, the cornerstone Of the Monument
was lald, with the most imposing ceremo-
mes, and the work was progressed with
most energetcally. 1t was understood that
the work with all its statues and equipments
would require five years for its completion.
When the commissioners proceeded to en-
ter into written contracts for the work, it
was immediately found that the estimates
submitted were much less than were neces-
sary to complete the design selected and
accordingly only part of the statues and
equipments were contracted for, the COM
missioners preferring to leave to the Gen.
eral Assembly the option of finishing the
work according 10 the plan, and of appro-
priating the necessary funds at their own
time. They therefore contracted with Mr..
Crawford for two of the statues and for the
equestrian group which is to surmount the
structure, and for few of the equipments
necessary to fill up the plan-the whole
sum amounting to s52,975, leaving forty
seven thousand and twenty-five dollars of
the original appropriation, which it was be-
lieved would be sufficient to construct the
granite portion of the Monument.
BY the Code of Virginia The act Of 1S49
was amended, and the commissioners, who
had been previously appointed, were su-
perseded At the commencement Of my
official career, upon examining into the sub
iect, found that about SIS 900 had been
expended in the erection of the structure,
and that considerable part of the work
was yet to be completed felt it to be my
duty to reorganize the board of commission
ers. Since that time, there has been ex-
pended in paying for the work previously
executed and in carrying ON the structure,
about $1,000, and Mr.. Crawford has re-
ceived in part payment of his contract,
which was executed in 1850, $1,000. At
the last session of the General Assembly an
additional appropriation of $4,000 was
made to meet the drafts which it was ex-
pected would be drawn by Mr.. Crawford
in accordance with his contract but as yet
no drafts have been made. The actual cost
of the work at the end of the fiscal year
was $105, ,948 "a, leaving unexpended of
the two appropriations, S24, 051 76.
1t is understood that Mr.. Crawford has
now cast ready to be shipped, the two stat
ues OF Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Hen
ry, and that he has completed some of the
other equipments of the Monument. The
equestrian statue of Washington is now in
course of preparation, and will be compile
ted no doubt as soon as consistent with its
proper execution.
The granite portion of the structure is
now nearly completed ; the iron stairway
will in short time he erected the flag
ging and curbing will soon be laid, and the
superintendent and laborers may be dismiss
sed during the year. have been thus ex.
plicit, that the General Assembly may un-
derstand at glance the position ofthis work.
If the work is to be finished according to
its design-and no Vlrginian would wish to
see work, undertaken for such purpose.
unfnished--it will be necessary that the
contract for the additional four statues. the
eagles and other necessary equipments,
should be made, in order that the monu-
ment shall be finished in the time originally
supposed necessary, and that an adequate
appropriation be made therefor.
In connection with this subject, cannot
refrain from respectfully but earnestly re-
commencing to the legislature the proprie-
ty of the purchase of Mount Vernon by the
State of Virginia. And doso a. this time
the more particularly, because there is rea-
son 10 apprehend that it is about TO pass
into the hands of strangers. The import
ance of the acquisition of this property by
the United States. has frequently been
brought to the attention of Congress, and 1t
is surprising that this commerdable project
has met with so little favor. For this we
should ever feel thankful, because, if once
the property OF the federal government, we
might never have been able to purchase it.
This should never be. Whilst we might
reasonably prefer that it should be the prop
erty of the Union ralher than belong to any
private individual yet Virginia, and she
only should be the owner, and have con-
troll of this sacred and consecrated spot,
where rest the mortal remains of her i'm
mortal son. Who else but Virginia should
own this ballowed spot-to guard and pro-
tect the grave of him, whose name will be
revered as long as one shall live to admire
American llberty' And should some ruth
less hand ever disturb this sepulchre of the
honored dead, or even change the primitive
simplicity of his former residence, sense
of shame would come over every Virgin
ian, and he would feel that that had been
lost which could not be estimated in dollars
and cents. Ifit can be purchased, then,
upon fair and reasonable terms, let us do it
at once, that we may preserve it in its prim-
tive simplicity and beauty-to be freely
resorted to by all admirers of true great