Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-15
ADDRESS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONU-
MENT SOCIETY.

10 TIE People Of the Uftfed States.
FELLow-CIrIzENs We address you on behalf Of
the Washington National Monument AssociRtionI and
submit for your consideration the following report Of
what has been done.
The Cornerstone was laid the 4th of July, l848.
At that time there in the treasury of the Associa
ton the sum of $50, 450 66.
The work has gone ON with varied progress until
the of $780, 0s the product OF voluntary contri-
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, 1895, 000
The base, built of the blue stone Of the Potomac,
solid and indestructbe, is sunk eight feet below the
surface, and rises seventeen and half feet above the
surface of the surrounding earth II is htyhye 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 courses 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 underwriting
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 nrmly
based, thus indissoubly bonded, now rises in its
simple and grand proportions one hundred and nifty
two and half feet above the blue stone base. 1t 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 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, 1t ls your
neglect. When the scattered and subugated Polish
nation and the friends of liberty In Europe, began to
erect monument TO Kosciusko, they made It labor
Of love, and from every valley and mountain, and
plain aud running stream far and near they brought
stones and piled and heaped them into vast pyra-
mdal 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 n n
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 carefuness 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, it was yours; they We're your
Stewards giving their time and care, and liDor, and
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
patty yours, which was essential to success. You,
the people of this broad and happy land you, the
children Of Washington; you, to whom nc mas lett
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 ap-
peal to their patriotism and contributed the amount
Der, either from apathy want OF opportunity, have
failed to join in this work Of grateful duty. This
failure compelled predecessors to arrest the prese
cuton of the work. and to appeal to Congress for as
sistance.
Fellow-citizens This is not a suitable object of
legislative provision. A free, prosperous, thriv-
ing people, will not allow debt of love and graft
ude due by every individual heart to be discharged
by an act of Congressl
A new Board Of Managers have now been appoint
ed. We come into Office under favorable auspices,
and with wel-founded hopes of means TO prosecute
the work Since election the 22d February last,
have not been idle Our arrangements have been be-
gun, and are now in progress. All causes OF differ
ence between 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 oil not
the liberal and the generous alone We call 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
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
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
in his contribution to our Treasurer or suggest
mode for its collection.
By order of the Board
CHARLES G. 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, to wit:
FRANKLIN PIERCE,
President Of the U. States and ex-offcio President
VESPASIAN ELLIS,
First Vice President
JOHN T. TOWERS,
Mayor Of Washington and ex-officio I'd v. Pres't
GEORGE H. PLANT,
Third Vice President.
JOHN NJ McCALLA,
Treasurer.
CHARLES G. TUCKER,
Secretary.
Managers
HESRY ADDISON, Jos. III. BRADLEY,
CHAs. r. BELT, SAMUEL G. BUsEg
FRENCH s. EVANS, JAMES GORDON,
CHAs. w. DAVIS RoBERr T. KNIGHT,
JouS N. Craig, JosEPH LIBBY SR.,
SAMUEL +. DouGLAs, THOMAS A. BRooEE
JOSIAH +. Polk,
p. s. Editors friendly TO tho cause, are requested
to insert the above address.
G. G. TUCKER, Secretary.
a xyNr xas,-r,