Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-06-26
ADDRESS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONU-
MENT SOCIETY,

/ mENT SOCIETY,
I6thst People Of The United States.
sLLow-CIEIz.ss: We address you on behalf q
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, ls4s
AT that time there in the treasury Of the Associa
| ton the sum Of $62, 450 90.
The work has gone on with varied progress until
the sum of 000 the product of voluntary conri-
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, $4,000.
The base built of the blue stone Of the Potomac,
solid and indestructble is sunk eight feet below the
surface and rises seventeen and half feet above the
surface OF the surrounding earth II Is 6fty-fye 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 II diminshes gradually and
| regularly in the exterior line. 4. 8
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-
tributed 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 1t is
already 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 to find the
| immense machinery on Its top designed for lifting
| stone still idle, and anxiously inquiries the cause.
Fellow-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 labor
OF love, and from every valley and mountain, and
plain and running stream far and they brought
stones and piled and heaped them into n 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 greater than
Kosciusko, TO him who in history 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.
long years of careuness and labor. They have been
urgent and pressing in their calls for help, and you
have to certain extent responded to their call II
was not their work, it was yours; they were your
stewards giving their time, and care, and lbor, and
money, In the same cause with you.
But they have failed not for lack of energy 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 the, APP
peal to their patriotism and contributed the amount
already received and expended the far greater num-
Der either from apathy or want Of opportunity, have
failed to join in this work of grateful duty. This
failure compelled predecessors arrest the prose-
cution of the work. and to appeal to Congress for
sistance.
Felow-citizens This is not suitable object Of
Legislative provision. free, prosperous, thriv-
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 |
,,tA ..f,. lla
and with wel-founded hopes of means to prosecute |
the work Since election, the 22d February last
we have not been idle Our arrangements have been be-
gun, and are now in progress. ii causes OF differ
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 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, we call upon
men everywhere to contribute each his mite great
and mighty people, of twenty-five millions, cannot be
80 dead to the sensations which are innate in every
breast at the bare naming Of such benefactor, as
to refuse or neglect to give their aid in such q
cause
Let every man, then, who feels his heart beat with
American pulsations, and every man who reveres
The name Of Washington, singly or in companies
communicate directly with our Secretary, and send
u
mode for its collection.
y ~ CHARLES { 9. TUCKER,
#H@ Secretary.
The following are the present Officers and Mama
yers of the Society, all of whom except the President
md Second Vice President were elected on the 22d
lay Of February last 70 wit:
49, FRANKLIN PIERCE,
President Of the q. States and ex-ofcio President
VESPASIAN ELLIS,
First Vice President.
JOHN T. TOWERS,
Mayor Of Washington and ex-oficio I'd v. Prest
GEORGE II. PLANT,
Third Vice President
JOHN NJ. McCALLA,
Treasurer
CHARLES G. TUCKER,
a Secretary
Managers
HENRr ADDISON, JOS II. Bradley
CHAs. r. BELT, SAMUEL @. BusEE,
FRENCH s. EVANS, JAMES GoRDos,
CHAs. w. DAVIS, RoBEKT 7. KNIGHT,
JoHs N CRAIa JosEPH LIBBY, SH.,
SAMUEL E. DoUoLAs THOMAS a. BRooKK.
THOMAS d. SANDY,
P. s. Editors friendly TO the cause, are requested
10 insert the above address.
~ @. TUCKER, Secretary,
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