Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-30
ADDRESS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONU-
& MENT SOCIETY,
10 the People Of fhe Uni

MENT SOCIETY,"
TO the People Of the United States.
FELLow-CIrzErsi 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, lS48
At that time there in the treasury Of the Assoca
The work has gone on with varied progress until
the sum Of $23000Q 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 part exceeded
81, $4,000.
The base, built Of the blue stone Of the Potomac,
solid and indestructible Is sunk eight feet below the
surface and rises seventeen and half feet above the
surface OF the surrounding earth 1t Is htyhye feet
square at its top. From this springs the shaf 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 II 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
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 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, 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 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-
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 q 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.
Hitherto, men well known to you, have given to it
long years Of careflness 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 lbor, 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
pathy 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 ap-
peal to their patriotism and contributed the amount
already received and expended, the far greater num-
ber either from apathy want of opportunity have
failed to join in this work of grateful duty. This
failure compelled predecessors arrest the prose-
cuon of the work, and to appeal to Congress for as
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 Congressl
A new Board Of Managers have now been appoint
49,. H. ~.
and with well-founded hopes of means to prosecute
the work Since election on the 22d February last
we have not been idle. Our arrangements have been be-
gun, and are now in progress. All causes OF differ
been removed, and we will Immediately go to work.
We appeal to the people. We wish no Legislative
Nd. We look to free hearts we call upon all not
he 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
Ihe common impulses of humanity who is worthy
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
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,
directly with eur Secretary, and send
IN lsIcOntrlDuuOn 10 our OF suggest u
mode for its collection.
BY order of the Board
CHARLES @. TUCKER,
~. Secretary.
The following are the present Officers and Mana
ycrs Of the Society, all Of whom except the President
md Second Vice President were elected on the 22d
lay Of February last TO wit:
FRANKLIN PIERCE,
President Of the U. States and ex-ofcio President
VESPASIAN ELLIS,
First Vice President
JOHN T. TOWERS,
Mayor Of Washington and ex-officio I'd v. Pres't
GEORGE ii. PLANT,
Third Vice President
JOHN NJ. McCALLA,
CHARLES @. TUCKER,
Secretary.
Managers:
HENRI ADDISON, Jos. H. BRADLEY,
CHAs. X. BELT, SAMUEL G. BusEy
FRENCH s. EVANS, JAMES GoRDoS,
CHAs. w. DAVIS, Robert T. KNIGHT,
JoHN N. CRAIG, JOSEPH LIBBY ST.,
SAMUEL L. DOUGLAS, THOMAS A. BRooKK.
THOMAS ID. SANDY, !.
p. 8. Editors friendly 10 the cause, are requested
10 insert the above address.
@. g. TUCKER, Secretary.
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