Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-28
ADDRESS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONU-
MENT SOCIETY,

TO the People Of tie United States.
FELLow-CITIzENs; We address you on behalf of
the Washington National Monument Association and
submit for your consideration the following report of
what has been done:
The cornerstone was laid on the 4th of July l849
At that time there in the treasury OF the Associa
ton the sum Of $62, 400 SO.
The work has gone on with varied progress until
the Of $4,000 the product Of voluntary contr
buttons alone, has been expended In its erection.
The original estimate of the cost of the whole work
the shaft the base, and the ornamental part exceeded
81, 222, 900
The base, built of the blue stone of the Potomac
solid and indestructibe is sunk eight feet below the
surface and rises seventeen and half feet above the
surface OF the surrounding earth IL IS hfyhve feet
square at its top From this springs the shaft with
walls of blue stone fifteen feet thick faced with white
marble fourteen inches thick in two feet in
height tied and bounded into the blue stone at every
course. In its ascent it diminishes gradually and
regularly in the exterior line.
The interior is carried up straight, undertaking
chamber Within and set into the solid wall of this
Interior according to the taste OF the architect have
been placed and are yet to be placed the stones con-
trbufed by States, communities, and associations.
This naked shaft, thus rigidly cut, thus firmly
based, thus indissolubly bonded now rises in its
simple and grand proportions one hundred and fifty
two and half feet above the blue stone base II is
already one of the first objects which meets the eye
of the traveller as he passes through the hills by
which the city is hemmed in and he starts to find the
immense machinery its top designed for lifting
Felow-citizens: We are panied to say, it is your
neglect. When the scattered and subjugated Polish
nation and the friends Of liberty in Europe began to
erect monument to Kosciusko they made il a labor
of love, and from every valley and mountain, and
plain and running stream, far and near they brought
stones and piled and heaped them into vast pyra-
midal mound, to testify that love. And now, after
the lapse of forty years. amid the commissions which
have shaken that unhappy country, pilgrim hands
still swell that pile with constant contributions.
We are erecting Monument TO a greater than
Kosciusko, to him who in history or myth, is known
among every kindred and nation of the earth who
laid the foundations gave the proportions and super
intended the structure of that government which,
with miraculous speed, has risen to the front rank
among the nations and we call upon you for aid.
Hitherto, men well known to you, have given to it
long years of carefulness and labor They have been
urgent and pressing in their calls for help, and you
have, to certain extent responded to their call 1t
was not their work, 1t was yours; they were your
stewards, giving their time, and care and bor and
money, in the same cause with you.
But they have failed not for lack of energy zeal
their part but from want of that action and SYM
pathy on yours which was essential to You,
the people of this broad and happy land; you, the
children of Washington you, to whom he has left
the priceless bequest of his services, and his love,
have held back the contribution needed from each to
erect to his memory suitable Monument in the ma
tonal metropolis.
While thousands have answered promptly the APP
peal to their patriotism and contributed the amount
already received and expended the far greater num-
ber either from apathy or want of opportunity, have
failed to Join in this work of grateful duty. This
failure compelled predecessors to arrest the prose-
cuon of the work. and to appeal to Congress for as
sstance.
Fellow-ctzens: This is not a suitable object of
Legislative provision. free, prosperous, thriv-
ing people, will not allow a debt of love and graft
tude, due by every individual heart to be discharged
by an act of Congress
new Board of Managers have now been appoint
ed We come into office under favorable auspices
and with well-founded hopes of means TO prosecute
the work. Since election, on the 22d February last
wehave not been idle Our arrangements have been be
ence between us and the Old Board have as we hope
been removed and will Immediately go TO work.
We appeal to the people. We wish no Legislative
aid We look TO free hearts call upon all not
the liberal and the generous alone. We call upon
each man who this day walks erect in all the piano.
ply of freedom in this broad land who is not dead to
the common impulses of humanity; who is worthy
in the least degree Of the countless and diversified
blessings by which he is surrounded, call upon
men everywhere to contribute each his mite. great
and mighty people, of twenty-five millions cannot be
so dead TO the sensations which innate in every
breast at the bare naming of such beneactor as TO
refuse or neglect TO give their aid in such cause.
Let every man, then, who feels his heart beat with
American pulsations, and every man who reveres
the name of Washington, singy or in companies,
communicate directly with our Secretary, and send
in his contribution to our Treasurer, or suggest
mode for its collection.
By order Of the Board
CHARLES @. TUCKER, Secretary.
The following are the present Officers and Mana
gers of the Society," all OF whom, except the President
and Second Vice President, elected on the 22d
day of February last to wit:
FRANKLIN PIERCE,
President Of the U. States and ex-ofico President
VESPASIAN ELLIS,
First Vice President.
JOHN 7. TOWERS,
Mayor Of Washington and ex-oficio Cd V. Prest
GEORGE H. PLANT,
Third Vice President
JOHN NJ. McCALLA,
Treasurer
CHARLES @. TUCKER,
Secretary
Managers
HxSRr ADDISON Jos ii. BRADLEY,
CHAs X. Belt, SAMUEL G. BUsEI,
FREScH 5. EVANS, JAMES GoRDoN,
CuAs w. DAVIS, ROBERT T. KNIGHT,
JoHS N. CRAIG, JOSEPH LIBBY, SF.,
SAMUEL L. DOUGLAS THOMAS A. Books.
JOSIAH 7. Polk,
=. s. Editors friendly TO the cause, are requested
TO insert the above address.
Q. G. TUCKER, Secretary.
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The lease can be extended ut the pleasure Of the