Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-07-13
ADDRESS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONU-
MENT SOCIETY,

Il
TO the People Of the United States.
FKLLow- CITIZENS: We address you on behalf Of
| the Washington National Monument Association and
submit for your consideration the following report Of
what has been done:
At that time there in the treasury OF the Assocla-
4 ton the sum of So, 450 So. :.
4 The work has gone on with varied progress until
the Of $4,000 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, POS, 900.
The base, built of the blue stone of the Potomac,
solid and ndestructble is sunk eight feet below the
surface and rises seventeen and half feet above the
surface Of the surrounding earth 1t is 6ftyfye 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 ii dimiDishes 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 yet to be placed the stones con-
tributed by States, communities, and associations.
This naked shaft thus rigdly 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. II is
already of the first objects which meets the eye
Of the traveller as he passes, through the hills BY
which the city is hemmed in, and he starts to find the
stone still idle, and anxously inquiries the cause.
Fellow-ctizens We are panied to sayysit is your
| neglect When the scattered and subjugated Polish
nation and the friends Of liberty in Europe, began to
erect monument to Koscusko, they made II labor
Of love, and from every valley and mountain, and
plain and running stream, far and 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 Monument TO greater than
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 1t
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 tme 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
patty yours, which 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
Der either from apathy or want of opportunity, have
fiiled 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 as
sistance.
Fellow-citizens This is not a 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-!
new Board of Managers have now been appoint
,..t1 Na,. Ia
and with wefounded 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 us and the Old Board have as we hope
been removed, and we win 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 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. A great
and mighty people, of twenty-five millions cannot be
80 dead TO the sensations which innate in every
breast at the bare naming Of such benefactor, as
to refuse or neglect to give their aid in such q
cause. aa#..
Let every man. then, who feels his heart beat with
American pulsatons, and every man who reyeres
the name Of Washington, singly or in companies,
communicate directly with our Secretary, and send
IN MS EcOntlDuuOn 70 our IreaSurer, OF suggest u
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 70 wit:
FRANKLIN PIERCE,
President Of the u. States and xoficio President
VESPASIAN ELLIS,
First Vice President.
JOHN T. TOWERS,
Mayor OF Washington and ex-oficio I'd v. Prest
GEORGE II. PLANT,
Third Vice President
JOHN M. McCALLA,
Treasurer
Secretary
Managers
HENRY ADDISON, Jos ii. BRADLEY,
CHAs. r. BELT, SAMUEL G. BusKI,
FRKscH s. EVANS, JAMES GoRpos,
CHAs. w. DAVIS, ROBERT T. KNIGHT,
JonS ~ CRAIG JosEPH LIBBY, Sn.,
SAMUEL Z. DOUGLAS, THOMAS A. BRooKE.
JOSIAH +. Polk,
p. S. Editors friendly TO the cause are requested
70 insert the above address.
q q TICKER Secretary