Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-21
ADDRESS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONU.
MENT SOCIETY,

10 Wc IeOlte ~ Me OHbed STATES.
| FELLow-C CITIZENS: We address you on behalf o.
the Washington National Monument Association and
submit for your consideration the following report d
what has been done:
The cornerstone was laid ON the 4th of July 1s4s
AT that time there was in the treasury Of the Associa
ton the sum of So, 450 SO.
The work has gone with varied progress unit
the OF $780, 0a the product of voluntary contr
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, 222 900.
The base, built of the blue stone of the Potomac
solid and indesrucuble, is sunk eight feet below the
surface and rises seventeen and half feet above the
surface of the surrounding earth Ii is fy-6ve feet
square at its top, From this springs the shaft will
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 il 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 yet TO be placed the stones con-
tributed by States, communities, and associations.
This naked shaft, thus rigidy cut, thus firmly
based, thus indssolubly bonded, now rises in its
simple and grand proportions one hundred and fifty.
two and half feet above the blue stone base 1t ia
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 anxousy inquiries the cause
Fellow-citizens We are panied to say, il is your
| neglect When the scattered and subjugated Polish
nation and the friends of liberty in Europe began to
erect monument TO KosciuskO, they made it 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 pyrs-
mida 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
,h.,ts 1,nx
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 careulness 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 or zeal
their part, but from want of that action and sym
patty on 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 bequest of his services, and his love,
have held back the contribution needed from each to
erect to his memory suitable Monument in the
| tional metropolis.
While thousands have answered promptly the APP
peal to their patriotism, and contributed the amount
already received and expended, the far greater
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
sstance
Fellow-citizens: This is not suitable object of
Legislative provision. A 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
A new Board Of Managers have now been appoint
ed We come into office under favorable auspices,
and with well-founded hopes of means to prosecute
the work Since election, on the 22d February last
have not been idle Our arrangements have been be-
gun and are now in progress All causes of differ
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 who this day walks erect in oil the pano-
ply of freedom 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
40 dead TO the sensations which innate in every
breast Mt 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
communicate directly with our Secretary, aud send
in his contribution to our Treasurer, or suggest a
mode'for its collection.
BY order of the Board
CHARLES O. TUCKER, Secretary.
The following are the present Officers and Mana
gers Of the Society all OF whom, except the President
and Second Vice President, elected on the 22d
day of February last, TO wit:
FRANKLIN PIERCE,
President Of the u States and ex-officio President
VESPASIAN ELLIS,
First Vice President.
JOHN T. TOWERS
Mayor Of Washington and ex-officio I'd V. Pres't
GEORGE II. PLANT,
Third Vice President.
JOHN NJ. McCALLA,
Treasurer.
CHARLES C. TUCKER,
Secretary.
Managers
HxSRY ADDISON, Jos. H. BRADLEY,
Gas. r. BELT, SAMUEL G. BusEL,
FRENCH s. EVANS, JAMES GoRDoN,
CHAs W. DAVIS ROBERT I. KNIGHT
JOHN N Craze JOSEPH LIBBY, Sn.,
SAMUEL L. DOUGLAS, THOMAS A. Books.
JOSIAH +. Polk,
p. s. Editors friendly to the cause, are requested
| 10 insert the above address.
G. G. TUCKER, Secretary.
i Gnnn CI NCE EnR