Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-14
ADDRESS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONU-
MENT SOCIETY.
D tho T60pIe or Inc UHited Stat

MENT SOCIETY,
To the People Of the United States.
FELLow-C IrIzESs; 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
Al that time there was in the treasury OF the Assoca-
ton the sum OF $62, 450 Sc.
The work has gone on with varied progress until
the sum Of $3.50 00e 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
The base, built of the blue stone of the Potomac,
solid and ndestructible, is sunk eight feet below the
surface and rises and half feet above the
surface Of the surrounding earth 1t is ifty-hve feet
square at its top. From this springs the shalt 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 dminishes 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 rigidly cut, thus firmly
based thus ndissolubly 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
immense machinery on its top designed for lifting
stone still idle, and anxio,isly inquiries the cause.
Fellow-citizens We are panied to cay, it is your
| neglect. When the scattered and subjugated Polish
natlon and the friends of liberty in Europe began TO
erect monument TO Kosciusko, they made it a 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.
Va a Moninpnt n than
| Koscusko, 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 when,
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 i'll 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 libor, 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 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
| tona metropolis.
| While thousands have answered promptly the APP
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 to arrest the prose-
cuton Of the work, and to appeal to Congress for as
sistance.
Fellow citizens: This is not suitable object of
Legislative provision A Free prosperous, a thriv-
ing people, will not allow debt of love and graft
tude, due by every individual heart to be discharged
by act of Congress!
ed. We come into Office under favorable auspices,
and with well-founded hopes Of means to prosecute
the work Since our election the gid February last
have not been idle Our arrangements have been be-
gun and now in progress. All causes Of differ
ence between and the Old Board have, as 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 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 great
and mighty people, of twenty-five millions, cannot be
50 dead to the sensations which innate in every
breast at the bare naming Of such benefactor, 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
communicate directly with our Secretary, and send
in his contribution to our Treasurer, or suggest
mode for it's collection.
By order of the Board
CHARLES C. TUCKER, Secretary.
The following are the present Officers and Mama
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-oficio President
VESPASIAN ELLIS,
First Vice President.
JOHN T. TOWERS,
Mayor Of Washington and ex-oflicio I'd V. Prest
GEORGE II. PLANT,
Third Vice President.
JOHN III. MoCALLA,
Treasurer.
CHARLES G. TUCKER,
Secretary.
Managers:
HENRY ADDISON, JOS. II. BRADLEY,
CHAs. X. BKLr SAMUEL @. Busy,
French S. EVANS, JAMES GoRpor,
CHAs. w. DAVIS, RoBERT 7. KNIGHT,
JOHN N. CRAIa, JOSEPH LIBBY, SE.,
SAMUEL +. DouaLAs, THOMAS A. Books.
JOSIAH f. Polk,
p s. Editors friendly to the cause are requested
TO insert the above address.
@. C. TUCKER, Secretary.
a GOOD CHANCE FOR AN INVEST
IA MENT.--The weknown and popular Res
| .f ID. 49,.