Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-04-25
IOCAL INTELLlG ENCE.

Ill n IL Il -
NoRx Asour The NATIONAL MONUMENT
T, seems that during the remarkable meeting of
the Board on Thursday, Mayor Magruder moved
that the resolution of Gen. McCalla abolishing
the salary Of the Superintendent be referred 10
committee instructed to inquire into the affairs OF
tbe Association generally, financial and otherwise,
and report on the next meeting of the Board
Mr. Bradley stating that he had already pre-
ra-ed such a resolution, Mayor Magruder with
drew his as he said he did not wish to be ap-
pointed on the committee.
Mayor Manrder then called for the reading
by the Secretary of the last clause Of the report
made by the committee on finance at the meeting
held early in February last; which clause made
il appear that the committee had examined the
hooks and accounts Of the Secretary and found
them all correct, but had been unable to obtain a
statement from the Treasurer Of the moneys re-
ceived and discussed by him; on the contrary,
NV the time of the annual meeting of the Society
on the I'D Of February last.
Mayor Magruder then asked whether that COM
mittee had succeeded in obtaining the statefnen
but was informed that they had not He next in
quired whether the statement required by the
constitution to be made to the Society by the
Board of Managers on the 22d February last had
been made, An exceedingly polite answer was
returned that there had been no meeting on the
I'D of February. A third inquiry was tne a, Pua
by the persevering Mayor, whether or nor me
statement alluded to had been prepared Dy inc
Treasurer to be submitted to that meeting. Whlch
after ominous silence he hlHseII ansI S oy
saving that IL could not have been made, lnso-
much as the Treasurer had made no report OF the
moneys received by HIM, ,
anxiouSIv declared that he was not aware of any
such constitutional provision
In reply the Mayor remarked that he thought
:, was high time. then, that an investigation was
made when so important an officer the Trea-
suer did not know the duties required at his
hands bv the constitution.
subsequently Mr.. Bradley submitted his reso-
luton to appoint committee to inquire into the
operations generally of the society since the 22d
Of February 1855, at which time the present
Board Of managers was elected.
Mr. McCalla 1.-THE tTeasurer) objected to the
adoption Of the adoption Of the resolution for the
present. He stated, in substance, that il involved
very important question, upon which he was
net not now quite ready to vote; and therefore
moved that il be laid on the table until the next
meeting which was done.
We understand that MeSsrs Bradley, McCalla.
and Craig acknowledged during the discussion
that they had nothing to allege against the integ-
Tty of the Secretary. and that the only objection
to be urged against him was his assumption of
responsibility in paying out money without the
authority Of the Treasurer.
The Secretary. in reply, showed that his course
in this respect had been fully sustained by the
Board
We understand further that Mr. Craig's wit
ness, watchman Hilton, who was TO prove such
astonishing things against Mr.. AtLee, was dis
missed without even an examination, so much an
affair of smoke did the whole thing turn out to be
By the card of Mr.. Alice, which we append,
il will be seen that he does not rest on the defen-
To the Members of the Washington National
Monument Society:
Ladies and Gentlemen The undersigned,
elected at regular meeting OF the Board of Man
ayers Of the Washington National Monument So
Ciety, Secretary thereof, and to whom, at another
regular meeting, was awarded an annual com
pensation. has yesterday, at special meeting Of
the Board. been deprived Of his entire salary
cruing from and after the LIST day Of the ensuing
May. On motion of the same individual, the
Secretary can no longer receive money contribu-
tod fboo r,NftI he hrf
the Treasurer has been, on his own motion, con-
>tituted the unchecked custodian OF the finances.
The purpose Of these proceedings was, no doubt,
intended to force me into resignation. Had /
consulted, exclusively, my own feelings, should
long ago have Withdrawn from position which
has always been source Of vexatiOn and chagrin.
But considered myself one Of the guardians of a
sacred trust. | did not seek the Office. | was
nominated without my knowledge, and was
elected without breath of solicitation. entered
upon the discharge of my official duties with an
express disavOwdl of all partisan obligations and
solely with desire to promote the contamination
Of the patriotic enterprise for which you have so
generously contributed.
found the affairs of the Secretarys office in the
most lamentable confusion, and devoted myself
with asSiduity to restoring them to order For a
time the Board appeared to sympathZe with my
views and encouraged nv endeavors, but there
succeeded a series of embarrassments by
which my efforts have been continually thwarted.
4 crisis now exists in the affairs of the Monu-
nent Society which ought to be met with prompt
energy.
The constitution authorizes the President of the
Jnited States who is, oDiciO, the chief officer,
TO call a general meeting of the Society whenever
he may see 1T to do so; and immediate applica-
ton ought to be made to Mr.. Buchanan to avail
himself Of this authority.
Without intending to assail the personal repu-
tatiOn of any member of the Board cannot refrain
from asserting that the carelessness with which
their management Of your interests has been con-
Quoted, ought in one instance at least-not in re-
latiOn to myself-to suggest reflections involving
deep self-IepToach.
the members of the Society will procure me a
fair opportunity for doing so, l will lay before
them the reasons which have induced me to pro-
mitigate this opinion.
Let committee of intelligent and IMPARTIAL
men. outside Of the Board Of Management. be ap-
pointed. with instructions to receive testimony in
such manner as shall be open to the public eye
and shall be perfectly willing to abide the issne
Of their investigation. On my part invite the
most scrutinizing review Of my official conduct
shall not resign, to crafty the Board
IL will afford me pleasure, however. should a
general meeting OF the Society at large be called
and thorough exposition made, to surrender nv
affairs into their hands; and take the liberty Of
advising the Board to 90 with me, thus, :. to the
country
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
SAMUEL YORKE A1LEE
Washington City, April u, 1857
The TEMPERANCE CAUSE seems to be reyiyinT
in our city at the present time vigorous efforts TO
that end having been made recently by the Order
oil Rechabites and other temperance organiza-
tons Eagle Tent. I. o. of r. have their ami
yersary celebration at Odd Fellows Hall, Navy
Yard, on Monday evening the ith OF Nav foyy
which some OF the ablest advocates of the cause
nave been engaged 10 deliver addresses Invita-
TONS to attend this meeting have been extended
10 all the Tents Of that Order. as well as Other
associations and the friends Of temperance gen
eIally, and every EFFORT is being made by the com
mlttee having the matter in charge to make Il
peasant reunion OF all the friends Of the cause
Success to them,
ANOTHER SPLENDID DOSATIoN.-Itis only two
or three weeks since we had the qualification OF
recording the magnificent gin Of SIS 600 to the
american Colonization Society by David HINT
t->q-, oil mississippi. We have now the pleasure
20 announce an additional splendid donation from
he same noble hearted phianthropist OF 400 0OO.
SCneck Iof which amount was received from him
9y the feasurer OF the Society day before yester
ma kaSa