Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-24
ADDRESS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONU-
MENT SOCIETY,
TO Ms People Of the United State,

TO the People Of the United States.
FELLow-CInzENs 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 ON the 4th Of July ls4s
At that time there was in the treasury OF the Assoca
tion the sum of 500, 400 66.
The work has gone on with varied progress until
the of $3.50 00a 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
b, $4,000
The base, built Of the blue stone of the Potomac,
solid and indestrucble, is sunk eight feet below the
surface, and rises seventeen and half feet above the
surface of the surrounding earth IL is httyhve 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 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 ngidly cut, thus firmly
based, thus indissoubly 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 anxiousy inquiries the cause.
Fellow-ctzens: We are panied to say, it is your
neglect. When the scattered and subjugated Polish
nation and the friends of liberty in Europe, began 10
erect monument to Kosciusko, they made it 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
have shaken that unhappy country, pilgrim hands
still swell that pile with constant contributions.
We are erecting a Monument to greater than
DO In inn who in myth ia
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 10 the front rank
among the nations, and we call upon You for aid.
Hitherto, men well known to you, have given to II
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 were your
stewards giving their time, and care, and ibor, 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 on yours, which essential to success You,
The people of this broad and happy land; you, the
children of Washington; you, to whom nc 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 want of opportunity, have
fuilaI IN inin in thia work of oratpful duty This
f;i - nr 10 arrest tbe nrosa.
nt;n ~ ,ba nrl and In onnaai IN 1Yonoresa tor a.
sistapee'
lorr;sia,ina nrnnis;on 4 frae n nrosnerons thirty
;nss, naonia vii not ALLOW deb of love and graft
,S pdn ~ anor ;nd;dra, heart 10 Ia d;scbargad
~. w. Wv" an. y SoncyraasI "S = - %
v ne,, paard - Wanaoars have NOW baep anpo;nt
al W. non,a into nfRcs mdar fayorahle ousppices
and ,;tb vii fndad bo,sa If MEANS ~ nrolacnte
ha unrh Since nnr aiact;an nm The o9d Febuary last
haan Ala nr arran amants have haen ha
@ and nov ors na IN roaress An causes IF dir.
snce between nc and The Old Board have as we hone
been removed and we will Immediately 90 to work.
We anneal 10 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.
nv Of freedom in this broad land who ia not dead to
The common impulses of humanity who il 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 70 tne sensauGns wnicn are lase ene,y
breast e ~ 'le pale lg ~ sasn ,n 80 -
reiuse or negees " sNe ,neis aiu M u, an ,
el every an ne wlo aee,s n,s ns,s oe1e VII
hinersan nnu man 10 nn n"rnanioa
Wv a'.ts S;,I ni,h nns Socrs,arr and san5