Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-02

agents, as they would have made themselves by
voluntary surrender of their trust To illegal sue
cessors.
On the morning of the Gath Of February, sew
eral members of this board repaired to their Of
fee, in advance of special meeting of the board,
which had been called, and was TO be held ut
noon. The Clerk exhibited to them letter
which had been addressed to him by Vespasian
Ellis esq.,, claiming have been elected first vice
president of the society, in which letter the clerk
was warned not to allow any use or inspection of
the books and papers of the office without an
order from the writer, those whom he repre-
scented. The pretensions of the letter were also
urged by several persons who came in, claiming
to be the officers and managers under the pro-
ceedngs of the odd The constitutional mana
gers present, disregardng these interruptions,
examined to some extent the books and papers in
the office; but during the examination others of
the pretended board entered the office, and at
length the claimants under the movement of the
22d organized themselves into board, and adopt
ed resolution requesting all present who did not
belong to it to leave the room. The constitutional
managers present disregarded this intimaton, as
they also did several quite Ineligible predictions
of attempts at violence from without, which the
pretended managers would be unable to prevent
or control AT length, the pretended board be-
ing still present, this board proceeded to business
After correcting the Journal before stated they
appointed committee, consisting of General
JONES, Mr.. FENDALL, Col. FORCE, Mr.. LENox,
and Mr.. Smith, to investigate the existing state
of things and report thereon at the next regular
meeting. This committee, after a careful SON,
sideration Of the subject, made, on the 9th of
February, report, closing with the two follow
ing conclusions:
/. That the election held on the 22d day of
February, 1855, was held one year before the
time when an election for officers can lawfully be
held under the second article Of the Constitution,
and is, therefore, unconstitutional, null, and
void.
O. That the officers and managers in Office on
the day Of the pretended election, on the 22d day
of February, 1855, are still in Office, as heldng
over in virtue Of previous elections and of the
quirement in the Constitution, that vacancies oc-
curing in the board of managers shall be filled by
the board until the next regular election; and that
the same are the constitutional and lawful officers
and board Of managers of the Washington Ma
tional Monument Society.
The board unanimously adopted the report of
the committee, and also the following resolu-
tions
/. Resolved, That the election held on the 22d
instant, of officers and managers Of the Washing
ton National Monument Society, was in direct
violation of the Constitution of the said society,"
and therefore null and void.
2. Resolved, also, That this board, being by
tional Monument Society the existing board of
managers, and as such charged with trust Of the
most solemn character in behalf of the American
people, cannot voluntarily surrender the same.
3. Resolped, further, That the above resolutions
be communicated to the gentlemen claiming
under the election of the 22d inst, and that we
propose that an amcabe suit be instituted for the
purpose of testing the rights Of the two parties.
These resolutions, accompanied by letter from
the secretary, were according communicated to
the pretended board. The letter is as follows:
OFFICE OF THE WASHINGTON NATIONAL MoNU-
MENT SOCIETY, Washington, Feb 81, 1855.
Mr.. VEsPAsTAN ELLIS, and others.
GENTLEMEN: | am instructed by the board of
managers of the Washington National Monument
Society to transmit TO you the accompanying
resolutions. They set forth the conclusions Of
the board of managers, after the most mature
elaboration, upon the subject in question:; and
they are offered in spirit of Cancellation and
harmony.
If the third resolution shall meet your approba-
ton, am requested to suggest that committee
should be appointed on your part to consummate
the agreement and arrange the necessary details
An answer at your earliest convenience is re-
specially requested. Respectfully yours,
JOHN CARROLL Brent,
Secretary w. N. M. S.
To the foregoing communication the following
uhS"SA wa gwen.
OFFICE OF THE WASHINGTON NATIONAL MoNu-
MENT SOCIETY, Washington, Feb. 81, 1855.
JoRN CARROLL BRENT, ESQ.,,
Washington, ID. G..
DEAN SrR: in accordance with the instructions
contained therein, herewith transmit TO you
copy of resolutions this day adopted by the board
of managers of the Washington National Monu-
ment Society.
The committee appointed under the third reso-
luton consists of Messrs. J. III. Bradley, " Ellis,
and J. N. Craig. If il is desired that this COM
mttec confer with the members of the late board,
you will please notify me when and where such
an interview can be had Very respectfully, your
obedlent servant, CHAs. G. TUCKER,
Secretary w. N. M. s.
Resolved, That this board do not admit the right
OF the gentlemen constituting the late board Of
managers OF this society TO interfere at all in the
affairs or administration Of this society other than
as me mbers thereof.
RESOLVED, That we, in the prosecution of the
great designs Of the society, desire to discharge
our duties so that there shall be no ground left
for any want of harmony between our prede-
cessors and ourselves, and that we will do all we
can consistently with our duty to the society,
and TO the country, to promote that harmony
Resolved, That with this view a committee of
three members OF this board be appointed TO con-
fer with those gentlemen in response to the reso-
iullons received rom Them to-day, and that they
report to the next meeting Of this board
Resolved, That the secretary communicate a
copy of these resolutions TO John Carroll Brent,
ESQ.,, from whom the resolutions Of the late board
were received.
This board regarded this response as conveying,
though in terms somewhat equivocal, substan-
tial rejection of their proposal TO submit the mat
ter in controversy to judicial decision. They
nevertheless accepted the overture, hestatingly
made, for a conference, and appointed com
mittee, consisting Of GENERAL JosEs, COLONEL
FORCE, and Mn. LENox, to meet the committee
Of the pretended board. The two committees
accordingly met together on the Sd Of March,
but without being able TO agree on any terms Of
the committee Of the pretended
board adhering TO the refusal to submit the con-
troversy to judicial decision. On the 7th Of
March, Mr.. William Dougherty, the superinten-
dent in charge Of the monument received a let
Ter from committee Of the intrusive board, re-
curing him to forbear calling on the Waterman
for collections made by him at the monument;
which letter the superintendent promptly an
'wered, denying the authority under which il
was written. On the 9Th Of March, in the abb
senco Of tho superintendent, they obtained from
George Hilton, the day watch, the keys of sundry
buildings on the monument grounds, including
he office of the superintendent On the 9th Of
War fho rtf,so dat