Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-07-23
ADDRESS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONU-
MENT SOCIETY,

MENT SOCIETY,
10 the People of The United States
FELLow-CTHENs. We address you on behalf OF
the Washington National Monument Association, and
submit for your consideration the following report OF
The cornerstone was laid on the 4h Of July, l848.
At that time there in the treasury OF the Assoca-
ton the sum Of So, 400 Sc.
The work has gone on with varied progress until
the sum of $3.50 000 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, 1929, 900
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 Che surrounding earth 1t is ftyfye feet
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-
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 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
Fellow-citizens: We are panied to say, it is 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 leve, 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-
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 are erecting Monument to greater than
Kosciusko, to him who in history myth, il 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 1t
long years of carefuness and labor They have been
urgent and pressing in their calls for help, and yeu
have, to certain extent responded to their call 1t
was not their work, it was yours; they were your
Stewards giving their time and care, and libor 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
patty 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
tonal metropolis .
While thousands have answered promptly the, APP
peal to their patriotism, and contributed the amount
already received and expended, the far greater
Der either from apathy or want OF opportunity, have
failed to join in this work of grateful duty. This
failure compelled our predecessors to arrest the prose-
cuton of the work. and to appeal to Congress for
sistance
Fellow-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
ed. We come into office under favorable auspices,
and with we'll 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, 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 call upon
each man who this day walks erect in all the pano.
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 to give their aid in such q
cause.
Let every man, then, who feels his heart beat with
American pusations, and every man who reveres
the name Of Washington, singfy or in companies,
communicate directly with our Secretary, and send
in his contribution to Treasurer, or suggest
mode Tor It's collection. -+aa..-t.
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-officio President
VESPASIAN ELLIS,
First Vice President.
JOHN T. TOWERS,
Mayor of Washington and ex-oficio I'd V. Pres't.
GEORGE H. PLANT,
Third Vice President.
JOHN NJ. McCALLA,
CHARLES C. TUCKER, ''''''
Secretary.
Managers:
HENRY ADDISON, Jos. ii. BRADLEY,
CHAs. r. BKLr, SAMUEL c. BusEE
FRENCH s. EVANS, JAMES GoRpoS,
CHAs. w. DAVIS, ROBERT T. KNIGHT
JOHN N. CRAIG, JOSEPH LIDBr, Sn.,
SAMUEL E. DOUGLAS, THOMAS A. BRooKE.
JOSIAH +. Polk,
P. 8. Editors friendly TO the cause, are requested
TO insert the above address
&C TUCKER, Secretary.