The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-23

wAsHNGToN NATIONAL MONUMENT SOCIETY.

Jones, J. j. Alert, James Keaney, Thomas Cnbery,
Peter Force, VIM. A.. Bradley y. II Fendall, Waller
Lenox, NJ. h. Maury, Thos. Blagden, J.B IL Smith,
w. w Seaton, u. Whittlesey, d o. 1syloe, T. II. Cnw-
ford, w. w. Corooran, and John c. Brent.
The meeting was called TO order by his Ezoellcncy
James Buchanan, e. egeO president Of t,e society when
?. X Fendail, esq proceeded briefly to welcome among
them their distinguished chairman. Tho Illness (e saidl
Of one Of the most distinguished members VI the society
[Gon. Walter Jonesl had deyolved upon himself the
pleasing duty of welcoming the Presii, at of the United
States to this hall. A quarter Of a century ago this so
ciety had been formed by a number OF patriotic gentlei
men, Of whom, he believed, but four survived. It WAS
justly a matter OF eonBratulaiion TO these, that their per
seyering efforts had, ON two occasions, been most EN-
phatically endorsed by Congress. More recently Con-
gress had, in another form, given this association lis
earnest cooperation 1t had invested them with all the
powers of a corporate body, including the right to defend
their privileges, 10 MAS an era, and a most important
era, in the history Of the society, when the President OF
the United States took an active part In ihs proceedings
They ielt that his example woald be most effectual In
awakening throughout the country a sense of the import
ance of the great work before them. In closing he gave
expression TO the gratitude of the members for the honor
which the President had done them la presiding over
their deliberations tonight.
The President said that, before proceeding to their or
ganization, he wished to make a few remarks which had
suggested themselves 10 him while riding from his house
to this place. He recollected that thirty three or thirty
four years ago, when he was . member Of the House of
Representatives, he had offered a proposition for the cree
ton of such u monument as they were now rearing. He
did not know at whose instance he had made this mo.
tion, but certainly ii was at the instance of worthy citi.
zens of Washington, now, perhaps, no more. They all
reconected how the President of the United States at
that time asked the body Of Washington, of his widow,
to be inferred beneath this monument. The matter was
suspended until 1884, when he himself had brought IL
before Congress. He WAS then rather a Sophomore in
legislation, and he should like to look ut the files OF the
National Intelligeneer TO see what he lad actually said
ON that occasion. He remembered, however, that it was
construed az an indignity to propose TO erect any other
monument to Washington than that which existed in
the hearts of the people. The effort was defeated He
remembered well his own extreme modification at the
result. 1t would be vain for him to pronounce a oulogy
upon Washington. He would only say that he had boon
much abroad, and everywhere throughout the world he
had found the name of Washington interviewer with the
fame of the American republic. 1t was vain 10 urge that
sculpture and painting should not be employed in paying
honor to great and deserving men. Such honors he
thought TO be their due. He would now proceed, with
their permission, to organize the society.
On motion of Mr.. Lenox, John c. Brent was requested
to act as secretary pro TEN.
Mr.. Carberry then offered the following resolutions;
which were leau ana unanimously adopted.
/ Resolved, That the charter granted to this 3 ciety by tho act OF
Congress passed on the ga ana approved on the asa Of February,
National Monument Society" be accepted, and that said charter DO
the co .sitution OF the society,
s2i day Of February IN every year, aud such other meetings As MAJ
prescribed by the charter, shall be a hrst vice president, who shah
be the Mayor OF Washington for the time bong, er oGcio, and a sec
ond and third vice president, a treasurer, and a secretary to be- nov
elected, and to con,inuc in oace ill the annual meeting on the I'D
I Resorred, That tho SEQ nd and third vco presidents, tho treas.
urer, and tho secretary shall be elected at the annual meeting ON the
22i OF February Of oyery year, provided that all onssrs shall continue
in office I'LL their snecet sors are respectively duly appointed.
prepare and repo, a a meeting Of the society to Do held on
a plan for carrying out its objects, ana by laws and regulations for
the conduct of business and defining and prescribing ths duties OF
9. ReaOtod, That a committee of three members bo appointed to
prepare and report at The meeting named Ia the nth resolution AN
address "a R,, % ss f Tiai the O., s .S : gaa'sa si sal'i lorw,rd a copy Of the charter
to each corporator, aud request Inn to state whether or not he ac.
the society. . ........ r..n ... #a-... .
On motion of Mr.. j. b. II. Smith, the society then
proceeded to ballot for officers, when the following gentle
men were unanimously elected w a
Second Vice President General Winfield Scott.
Third Vice President Thomas CaibcIry.
Treasurer. B. III. Smith. ...., ...
Secretary-John G. Brent. "
Richard S. Coke then addressed the meeting, congrat-
ulating them on the cessation of the late troubles, and
exhorting them to perseverance in the great work which
they had undertaken. g.s ....#
On motion Of Mr.. Lcnox, the chair was authorized TO
name the committees provided for in the resolutions Just
adopted, and the following gentlemen were accordingly
appointed
Committee to prepare an address to the public: Messrs.
Fendall, Jones, and Lenox.
Committee to prepare a constitution and bylaws
Messrs. Force, Smith, and Brent.
No further business bcing before the society, after u
short address from the chairman, la which he urged
them to make an appeal to the American people in be-
half of their noble enterprise, an appeal which he felt
satisfied would not be made in vain
On motion of Mr.. Lenox, the meeting adjourned.
INTERESTING MEETING The annual meeting of the
Beneficial Total Abstinence Association of the District of
Columbia, adjourned oven from st, Patrick Day, was
held on Sunday evening at the ~Society's Hall, corner of
# and 10th streets. The ceremonies were of an interest
ing character. The temperance pledge was renewed by
several members, whose original period had expired since
the preceding monthly meeting, and quite a large acoes.
sion of new members was made to the roll. The annual
report of the president, Rev. DIR. OToole, will be pre-
sentcd at the next monthly meeting, and will exhibit q
sketch of the rise and progress of the society a history
of the good il has accomplished, and the evil 1t has pre-
vented, with other interesting statistics. This report -
looked for with much interest by the association, az Dr.
o'Toole, himself one of the earliest disciples Of Eathor
Mathew, both writes and speaks with eloqucnco and fer
yr on this subject. We learn, also, That this Rev.
Apostle of Temperance Is preparing for publication, at
the request Of the association, a copy Of his able address
delivered from the steps leading to the Hall, before dis
banding the procession on the nth instant.
THE NEw SLEspINu CAR.-Upon invitation yesterday