Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-09-14
ADDRESS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
WASHINGTON NATIONAL mONU-
MENT SOCIETY,


MENT SOCIETY,
TO the People Of tho United Stotes
Fellows IrIzEss: 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 the 4th Of July, l84S
At that time there was in the treasury Of the Associa
ton the sum Of $62, 40 SO.
The work has gone ON with varied progress until
the Of &2S0000, 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, 222,000.
The base, built of the blue stone of the Potomac,
solid and indestructible is sunk eight feet below the
surface and rises and half feet above the
surface Of the surrounding earth IL Is hftyye feet
square ut its top From this springs the shaft, with
walls of blue stone fifteen feet thick faced with white
marble fourteen inches thick in courses two ieet 10
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 yet to be placed the stones con-
trbuted by States communities, and associations.
This naked shaft, thus rgidly cut, thus firmly
based, thus indissolubly bonded, now rises IN It's
simple and grand proportions one hundred and nifty
two and half feet above the blue stone base. II is
already one Of the first objects which meets the eye
of the traveller he passes through the hills by
which the city is hemmed in and he starts 70 find the
immense machinery on its top designed for hftng
stone still idle, and anxiously inquiries the cause.
Fellow-citizens We are panied to say, 1t 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 u 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
ba,,a aEant nj unh
still swell that pile with constant contributions
We are erecting Monument to a greater than
Koscusko, TO him who in history or myth, 10 known
among every kindred and nation of the earth who
laid the foundations gave the proportions, and super
intended the structure OF that government when,
with miraculous speed, has risen to the mont RANK
among the nations, and we call upon You for and.
Hitherto, men well known TO you, have given to 1t
long years Of carefulness and labor They have been
urgent and pressing in their calls for help and you
have, to certain extent responded 70 their call II
was not their work, it was yours; they were your
stewards, giving their time and care and ioor ana
money in the same cause with you.
But they have failed, not for lack of energy or zeal
on their part but from want OF that action and sym
pathy on yours which was essential to success 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
tional metropolis.
While thousands have answered promptly thel 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. TINS
failure compelled predecessors to arrest the prose-
cuon of the work. and to appeal to Congress for as
sstance
Fellow-citizens This is not suitable object of
Legislative provision. A free a prosperous, thirty
ing people, will not allow debt of love and graft
tude due by every individual heart TO be discharged
by an act OF Congress!
A 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 the 22d February last
we have not been idle Our have been be-
gun, and are now in progress. All causes OF diner
ence between US and the Old Board have, as we hope,
been removed and we will Immediately go TO work
We appeal to the people. We wish no Legislative
aid We look to free hearts we call upon all not
the liberal and the generous Alone we cal upon
each 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, we 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 are innate in every
breast at the bare naming of such benefactor as to
refuse or neglect 10 give their aid In such cause.
Let every man. then, who feels bis heart beat with
American quotations and every man who reyeres
communicate directly with our Secretary, and send
in his Icontribution 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 were elected on the 22d
day of February last, 70 wit: ,,n,,
President of the u States and ex-oficio President
VESPASIAN ELLIS,
First Vice President.
JOHN T. TOWERS,
Mayor Of washington and ex-oificio I'd V. Pres't
GEORGE II. PLANT,
Third Vice President.
JOHN NJ McCALLA,
CHARLES G. TUCKER,
Secretary.
Managers
HENRY ADDISON Jos H. BRADLEY,
CHAs X. BRLT, SAMUEL O. BusKT
FRKScH s. EVANS, JANIS GoRDoS,
CuAs w, DAVIS RoBKRr 4. KNIGHT,
JOHN n CRAre JosKPH LIBBr, SR.,
SAMUEL Il. DOUGLAS, THOMAS A. BRooKE.
JOSIAH II. Polk,
p s. Editors friendly to the cause, are requested
70 insert the above address.
@. O. TUCKER, Secretary.
a GOOD CHANCE FOR AN INVEST
~ MENT.--The wel-known and popular Res
taurant Of Pennsylvania avenue and LIST street