Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-06-04
ADDRESS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
WASHINGTON NATIONAL MOEU-
MENT SOCIETY,

r. a. EMF
TO the People Of the United States.
FELLow- CIrlzkss, 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 in the treasury OF the Assoca
ton the sum Of $62 450 06
The work has gone with varied progress until
the sum of 600 the product Of voluntary contri
buttons alone has been expended In It's erection
The original estimate OF the cost Of the whole work,
the shaft the base and the ornamental part exceeded
81, 1925, 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 II Is ftyfve feet
square at It's 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 10 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
| trbuted by States, communities, and associations.
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 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 anxiousy inquiries the cause.
Felow-citizens: We are panied to say, it is your
neglect When the scattered and subjugated Polish
naton and the friends of liberty In Europe began to
erect monument to Kosciusko, they made it a labor
| of lsve, 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 forty years, amid the commissions which
haye shaken that unhappy country pilgrim hands
We are erecting Monument TO q greater than
Koscusko, 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.
T.
urgent and pressing in their calls for help and you
have, to certain extent responded to their call II
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 zeal
OF their part but from want of that action and sym
pathy on yours which was essential to success You,
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
tional metropolis. M
While thousands have answered promptly the APP
peal to their patriotism and contributed the amount
already received and expended the far greater num-
failed to join in this work of grateful duty. This
failure compelled predecessors to arrest the prose-
cuon of the work, and to appeal to Congress for as
sistance. ~ sG1sa#
FeIlow-ctzens: This is not a suitable object of
Legislative provision. free, prosperous, a thriv-
ing people, will not allow debt of love and graft
tude due by every individual heart to be discharged
A new Board Of Managers have now been appoint
cd. We come into Office under favorable auspices,
and with well-founded hopes of means to prosecute
we have not beenidle Our arrangements have been be-
gun, and are now in progress. All causes Of differ
ence between and the Old Board have, as we hope,
been removed, and we will immediately 60 to work.
We appealt 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 pano-
ply of freedom in this broad land who is not dead to
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
40 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
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 our Secretary, and send |
in his contribution to our Treasurer, or suggest
mode for its collection.
BY order Of the Board:
CHARLES G. TUCKER,
.r 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 T. TOWERS,
Mayor Of Washington and ex-oficio I'd V. Pres't |
GEORGE II. PLANT
Third Vice President. |
JOHN M. McCALLA,
t Treasurer |
CHARLES C. TUCKER, |
Secretary. |
Managers 81
HENRI ADDISON, Jos II. BRADLEY,
CHAs. r. BELT, SAMUEL @. BusEy
FRENCH 8. EVANS, JAMES GoRpoS, III |
CHAs W. DAVIS, RopKRr T. KYicHr |
JoHs N CRAiG, JosKrH LrBBY, SR,
SAMUEL Z. DOUGLAS, THOMAS A. Brooks. /
THOMAS ID. SANDY, /
P. s. Editors friendly TO the cause, are requested
to insert the above address.
&C. TUCKER, Secretary.