Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-07-02
ADDRESS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
1890 Oh THK =
WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONUs
#A MENT SOCIETY

-"
TO the People n hs o,lifed Stairs
FsLLow-C Irlzgss, We address you on behalf d
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 1S4s
At that TINS there IN the treasury Of the Associa-
| ton the sum Of $62, 450 Sc.
/ The work has gone ON with varied progress until
the Of $23O000 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, $4,000
The base, built Of the blue stone of the Potomac,
solid and ndestrucble, is sunk eight feet below the
surface and rises and half feet above the
surface Of the surrounding earth II is 6ftyfye feet
square OF Its top. From this springs the shnft with
wallis 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 1t 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 rgdly cut, thus firmly
| based, thus indssoluby 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 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 anxously 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 Koscusko, they made il labor
| Of love, and from every valley and mountain, and
plain and running stream, far and near they brought
stones and piled and hcaped them into vast pyra-
midal mound to testify that love. And now, after
the lapse Of forty years. amid the commissions which
have , shaken 7. that unhappy country pilgrim hands
still swell that pile with constant contributions.
We are erecting Monument TO greater than
Koscirsko, 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 carefulness 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 bor and
| money, in the same cause with you.
But they have failed, not for lack of energy zeal
their part but from want Of that action and SYM
pathy yours which was essential to You,
the people of this broad and happy land; you, the
children Of Washington; you, to whom he has left
the priceless bcquest 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 thel APP
already received and expended the far greater num-
Der, either from apathy or want of opportunity, have
failed to join in this work of grateful duty This
failure compelled predecessors to arrest the prose-
ction of the work. and to appeal to Congress for
sistance. 3
Felow-citizens: This is not suitable object Of
legislative provision. A free, prosperous a thrv-
ing people, will not allow debt of love and grati-
tude, due BY every individual heart to be discharged
by an act of Congress! ~ Ta ~
A new Board Of Managers have now been appoint
ed. We come into Office under favorable auspices,
and with wefounded hopes of means to prosecute
the work Since election the 22d February last
we 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 90 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 beneiactor, as
to refuse or neglect to give their aid in such
cause. .r 3.
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,
in his contribution to our Treasurer, or suggest
mode for its collection.
BY order of the Board
CHARLES C. 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-ofcio President
VESPASIAN ELLIS,
First Vice President.
JOHN 7. TOWERS,
Mayor Of Washington and ex-offcio I'd " Prest
GEORGE H. PLANT,
Third Vice President.
JOHN M. McCALLA,
Treasurer
CHARLES G. TUCKER,
... SKI Secretary
Managers .
HENRY ADDISON, Jos. II. BRADLEY,
CHAs. r. BELT, SAMUEL O. BUssX
FRENCH s. EVANS, JAMES GoRDoS,
CHAs. w. DAVIS, ROBERT I. KNIGHT,
JOHN N. CRAIG, JosEPH LIBBY Sn,
SAMUEL E. DOUGLAS, THOMAS A. BRooKE.
JOSIAH II. Polk,
p. g. Editors friendly TO the cause, are requested
TO insert the above address.
c. c. TUCKER, Secretary.