The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-06-29

of the Washington National Monument Associa-
cion, and submit for your consideration the fol-
lowing report of what has been done:
The cornerstone was laid on the 4th of July,
Is49. At that time there in the treasury of
the Association the sum OF $62, 1906
The work has gone with varied progress
until the sum of $3.50, 900, the product OF voun.
cary contributions alone has been expended in Its
erection.
The original estimate OF the cost Of the whole
work, the shai: the base, and the ornamental part
exceeded 81 222 900.
The base bull! of the blue stone of the Potomac
solid and ndesrructibIe is sunk eight feet below
the surface, and rises seventeen and half feet
above the surface of the surrounding earth. 1t
IS ffty-fve feet square at its top. From this
springs the shaft. with walls OF blue stone fifteen
feet thick. faced with white marble fourteen in
ches thick, in courses two feet in height, tied and
bounded into the blue stone at every course. In
IFS ascent il dIminishes gradually and regularly IN
the exterior line.
The interior is carried up straight undevait.
ing chamber. Wrhin and set into the solid wall
OF this interior, according the OF the srchi.
trct, have been placed, and are yet to be placed.
the s'"nes contributed by Staes communities, and
associations.
This naked shaft. thus rigdly cut thus firmly
based, thus indIssolubIy bonded, now rises in its
simple and grand proportions one hundred and fi-
iv-iwo and ball feet above The blue stone base.
II is already of the first objects which meet the
eve of the traveller he passes through the hills
Ly which the city is hemmed n and he starts to
find the immense machinery on its top designed
for lifting stcne still idle, and anxousy enquiries
the Cause.
Fellow Country men We paiDed to say, Il
is your nrglrct. When the scattered and suhju-
gated P"I:>h nation and The friends OF liberty in
Europe. began 10 erect a monument To kosciusko,
they mad. it labor OF love. and from everv valley
and mountain. and plain and running stream, Tar
aud ne"r, they brought stones and piled and heaped
them INTO a vast Pyramdal mound to testify that
love. And now, after the lapse of thirty years,
amid the cunvulslons which have shaken The un-
hSPpy country, pilgrim hands still swell that pile
with Constant contributions.
We are erecting Monument TO one greater
than knsciusko him ~ho n history or myth
10 known among every kindred nd nation of the
earth ~ho laid the tuuudatrnna, gave the proper.
t"ns, and superntendrd the structure of that gov
ernment which, with miraculous speed, has risen
10 The front rank among the nations and We call
upon you for aid. Men we'll known 10 you, have
given TO it long years Of carefuIncss and labor
They have been urgenr and pressing in their calls
for hell aud you have TO certain extent, res
ponded to their call. Ii Was n their work, il was
yours; they were your ST wards, giving their
usne, and care, aud labor, and Honey, in the
with you.
But !hey have failed !; not for lack of energy,
or zeal on their part, but from want al that action
and sympathy yours which WAS essential 10
success. You, the people Of this brond and hap.
py 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 contri.
button needed from each 10 erect 10 his memory
suitable Monument in the National Metropolis. -
While thousands have answered promptly the
appeal TO their patriotism, and contributed the
mount already received and expended, the far
greater number, either from apathy want Of
opportunity, have failed to Join in this work Of
grateful duty. This failure compelled our prede-
crssors TO arrest the prosecution of the work. and
to appeal TO Congress Tor assistance.
Fellow. Counirymen This is not a suitable OBJ
jrcl OF Legislative provision. A free a prosper
Gus, thriving people, will not allow debt Of love
and gratitude, due by every individual heart, TO
be discharged by an act oil Congress!
Board of Managers have now been up.
pointed. We come into office under favorable
auspices. and with well founded hopes Of means
prosecute the work. Since election, the
22d February last we have not been idle. Our
arrangements have been begun, and in pro.
gress. We appeal 10 the people. We wish no
legislative aid. We look to free hearts we cal
Rpon all not the liberal and the generous alone.
We call upon each man who this day walks erect
in all The PanoPy of freedom in this broad land,
VINO Is not dead 10 the common impulses oil hu-
manny; who is worthy in the least degree of the
countless and diversified blessings by which he is
surrounded, we call upon men everywhere 10 con.
tribute each his mite. great and mighty peo-
pie OF twenty-five millions, cannot be dead 10
The sensations which innate 10 every breast at
the bare naming of such benefaetor, as refuse
or neglect to give their aid in such cause,
Let every man, then. who feels his heart beat
with American puIsations, and every man who
Tereres the name Of Washington, singIy or in
companies, communicate directly with our Secre.
tary and send in his contribution to our Treasurer,
or suggest a mode for its collection.
BY order Of the Board:
CHAS. G. FUCKER, Sec'y.
The following are the present Officers and Man
ayers OF lhe Society, all OF whom except the
President and Second Vice President, were elected
on the 22d Of February last, to wit;
FRANK. PIERCE, p. u. S. and er-offcio p.
VESPASlAN ELLIS, lst Vice President.
J. Il. TOWERS, NJ. ". and er. .otfcio 2d " p
GEORGE II. PLANT, Sd Vice Prsident. .
JOHN NJ. McCALLA, Treasurer.
CHAS. c. TUCKER, Secretary.
MANAGERs.-Henry Addison, Charles R. Belt,
French F. Evans, Charles w. Davis, Samuel E.
Douglas, Thomas ID. Sandy, Joseph H. Bradley,
Samuel C.. Brusey, James Gordon, Robert T.
Knight, Joseph Libby, ST., Thomas A. Brooke,
John N. Craig.
P. S.-Edors friendly to the cause are re.