Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-09
ADDRESS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONU-
MENT SOCIETY,

-
To the People Of the U,sited States
FELLow-CIrnESs We address you on behalf Of
the Washington National Monument Association, and
submit for your consideration the following report Of
what has been doneI
The cornerstone was laid on the 9th of July l948
AT that time there was in the treasury Of the Assoca
ton the sum of $50, 450 sc.
The work has gone on with varied progress until
the sum Of $2S00oe 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, 222, 600
The base, built Of the blue stone of the Potomac,
solid and indestructbe, is sunk eight feet below the
surface, and rises seventeen and half feet above the
surface Of the surrounding earth 1t is ftyhye 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 two feet in
height tied and bounded into the blue stone at every
course. In its ascent IL dminishes gradually and
regularly in the exterior line.
The interior is carried up a straight, undertaking
chamber. Within and set into the solid wall Of this
interior according 10 the taste Of the architect have
been placed and are yet to be placed the stones con
tfibuted 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. 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 hemned In and he starts to find the
stone still idle, and anxiously inquiries the cause.
Fellow-citizens: We are panied to say 1t is your
neglect. When the scattered and snbjugated Polish
nation and the friends Of liberty in Europe began to
erect monument to Kosciusko, they made it labor
of lave, 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 Monument to q 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 time, and care and ibor, 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
ional metropolis.
While thousands have answered promptly thelap
peal to their patriotism, and contributed the amount
already received and expended, the far greater num-
ber 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
cution of the work. and to appeal to Congress for
sistance.
Feow-citizens: This is not suitable object of
legislative provision. free, prosperous, thriy-
ing people, will not allow debt of love and graft
tudc due by every individual heart to be discharged
by an act Of Congress!
A new Board Of Managers have now been appoint
cd ,xxa hla
and with well-founded hopes Of means to prosecute
the work Since election on the ED February last
we have not idle Our arrangements have been be-
gun, and are now in progress. All causes of differ
ence between us and the Old Board have 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
so dead to the sensations which are 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 who reveres
the name OF Washington, singly or in companies,
communicate directly with our Secretary, and send
in his contribution to our Treasurer, suggest
By order Of the Board
CHARLES @. 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-ofico President
VESPASIAN ELLIS,
First Vice President.
JOHN T. TOWERS,
Mayor OF Washington and ex-officio I'd V. Pres't
GEORGE H. PLANT,
Third Vice President.
JOHN N. McCALLA,
Treasurer.
CHARLES G. TUCKER,
Secretary.
Managers
HENRY ADDISON, Jos II. BRADLEY,
CHAs. r. BELr SAMUEL O. BusKY,
FRENCH 8. EVANS, JAMES GoRpoN,
CHAs. w. DAVIS, RoBERr 7. KNIGHT,
JoHN N. CRAIa, JOSEPH LIBBY, SR.,
SAMUEL L. DoueLAs, THOMAS A, Brooks.
JOSIAH T. Polk
p. s. Editors friendly TO the cause, are requested
10 insert the above address
O. @. TUCKER, Secretary.
a GOOD CHANCE FOR AN INVEST