Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-06-16
ADDRESS OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONU.
MENT SOCIETY.
TO the People Of the United States.

~ be LTeopte tHo CHteu
FELLow-C IT1Ess: 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 the 4th Of July, ls4s
At that time there in the treasury OF the Associa
ton the sum of 500, 450 SO.
The work has gone on with varied progress until
the sum Of $3.50 o00 the product Of voluntary conri-
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
b, 222, 900,
The base, built of the blue stone of the Potomac,
sod and indestructble is sunk eight feet below the
surface, and rises and half feet above the
surface OF the surrounding earth II is ftyfye 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 it diminshes 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
tributed 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 one Of the first objects which meets the eye
Of the traveller as he passes through the hills BY
immense machinery on its top designed for lifting
stone still idle and anxously inquiries the cause.
Fellow-citzens: We are panied to say, it 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 IL 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
We are erecting Monument to greater than
kosciusko, 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 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 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 llbor, and
money, in the same cause with you.
But they have failed not for lack of energy 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
have held back the contribution needed from each to
erect to his memory a suitable Monument in the ma
tonal metropolis.
While thousands have answered promptly the APP
peal to their patriotism, and contributed the amount
already received and expended, the far greater num-
Der either from apathy or want of opportunity, have
failed to join in this work of grateful duty This
failure compelled our predecessors to the prose-
cuton of the work, and to appeal to Congress for
sistance.
Fellow-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
by act OF Congress!
new Board of Managers have now been appoint
ed We come into office under favorable auspices,
and with well-foundcd hopes Of means to prosecute
the work. Since election the ed February last
we have not been idle Our arrangements have been be-
gum and are now in progress: All causes of differ
ence between and the Old Board have, we hope,
been removed, and we will Immediately go 10 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
aud mighty people, of twenty five Millions cannot be
so dead to the sensations which innate in every
breast at the bare naming of such bcnefactor, as
to refuse or neglect TO give their aid in such
cauae.
Let every man, then who feels his heart beat with
American pulsations, and every map 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 a
mode for its collection
BY order Of the Board:
CHARLES c. TUCKER,
Secretary.
The following are the present Officers aud 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-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 M. McCALLA,
Treasurer.
CHARLES c. TUCKER,
Secretary.
Managers
HsSnr ADDISON, Jos. III. BRADLEY,
CHAs. X. Belt, SAMUEL G. BUsKY
FRENCH S. EVANS, JAMES GoRDoS,
CHAs. w. DAVIS RoBERr I. KNIGHT,
JoHS N. CRAIG, JOSEPH LIBBY ST.,
SAMUEL +. DOUGLAS, THOMAS A. BRooKE
THOMAS d. SANDY,
y. s. Editors friendly 20 the cause, are requested
10 insert the above address.
c. c. TUCKER, Secretary.