The New York herald., 1871-01-01

the society has placed me; and feeling like my Illus
trous predecessor deep interest in the object Of
tne association cannot withhold a. an evidence OF
~ the acceptance OF tue appointments, though aware
that III my actual condition 1t cannot be more than
honorary, and that under no circumstances could 1t
supply the loss winch The society has sustained A
monument worthy the name OF washington, reared
Ss sne means proposed wll commemorate at the
truly national, with which the friends OF liberty
everywhere Will sympaihize and OF which our coun-
try may always be pr0ud.n
In order that contributions might be within the
means or all. and that all classes might give alike
towards the object. the amount 10 be received from
any one person was al frst limited to one dollar a
year; but as the progress under this rule was so
slow the restriction was removed IN ls45. IN l847
the aggregate OF collections and accumulated inter-
ost was $1,000, which amount was deemed SUI.
ilcient to Justify the society in beginning the work
luton authorizing the Washington National Monu.
mcnt Society to erect "a n onument to the memory
public GROUNDS OF reservations within the city Of
Washington not otherwise occupied as shall be
selected by the President OF the United States and
tine Board OF Managers OF the society as suitable
site for the erection OF said monument and the me-
cessary protection thereol The site selected under
the authority OF this resolution was the public reser
vauon numbered three on the plan OF the city
Of Washington, containing upwards OF
Directly q the Gnpo ns and spu o the
dents MANSION The grant was executed on the
l2th OF April, ls49, by President Poik and the Board
OF Managers, and IS duly recorded among the land
records or the District OF Columbia The site pre-
sents beautiful view OF the Potomac. II is SO eie-
height about one-tDird OF its proposed ultimate
atude), may be seen rom all parts Of the city and
the surrounding country; and, being public rcser-
WALTON, II l5 safe from any future obstruction OF The
vew Other particulars recommending the site
have been referred to In the preceding portion OF
plan for the monument was adopted. after wide
consultation with experienced architects and full
comparison Of the various plans submitted and the
one selected proposes an oDetsk 5I1 feet high and
pantheon or base Tue estimated cost OF the obellsk
Is $55200o, and OF the Whole work sl,2a2,ooo.
IA nAr ap AtVud In
IN the presence or the President and Vice President
Of the United states, Senator's Representatives,
he Ids OF departments The judiciary and the corpor
ate authorizes OF Washington. Georgetown ana
Alexandra, and delegations from all quarters Of the
House OF Representatives delivered the Grafton. In
about SIX years from the laying OF tile corner stone
the oDesk was raised TO the height OF 10 feet,
hauSting the unds or the sOciety-S230 900 having
been collected and expended upon 1t. The fcunda.
ton OF the obelisk is eignty-oae feet square, eight
feet below the surface Of the grUuud anu is con.
tracted in its progress to be ski y-one feet ten
inches at the top The Obeisk commences ut the
height OF seventeen feet inches above tn ground
MY five feet square, cased with marble, with walls
fifteen feet tnck, leaving cavity OF twenty-five
feet, which will be assembled By stairs and By ma.
chlnery.
In 1854 the Board of Managers presented me.
mortal to Congress giving an account OF the progress
OIL the work, anu stating that all recent efforts on
their part TO obtain means Tor completing 1t had
proved abortive tnat they were unable to devise
plan more likely to succeed, and that undef these
circumstances they brought the subject before Con-
gress for such action as might be deemed proper.
The memorial was referred to the House Of Repre-
sentativeS to a select committee of thirteen mem
bers, Of which Henry May, OF Maryland, was chair.
man. On the 22d OF February, lS55-tnat day being
CHOSEN Tor the purpose TO give the deliberations
greater 1niere,t-Mr. May made elaborate and
eloquent report, in which the proceedings OF the
ciety were reviewed ana approved ana a subscrp-
tton recommended OF 100000 BY Congress, ION be-
half OF the people OF the United States, 10 aid the
funds Of the society"
Thus, agan, the society was in a fair way OF get
ting another resolution, at least In their favor,
When, unfortunately ito that EXTENT, on the very
day OF the report the managers were superseded IN
their places by an unlawful election, effected by
party know Nothmgl Influences, winch resulted in
schlsm that destroyed the action OF Congress and,
hnally, defeated the matter altogether But for tins
unforeseen circumstance Congress would have be-
yond doubt reresolved. II IL lid not appropriate,
the S201,o00 which IL voted on the LIST Of january,
1871, hlty-four years before for the building OF tho
mausoleum and IL would IN all probability have
been OF Just as much practical value to tne enter
prise as 1t was In that instance
on the ed OF February 1859, "The National Wash.
inaton Monument Society" was Incorporated by act
ton now in progress or great national monument
10 the memory OF Washington at the seat OF the
were Winfield Scott walter Jsnes John j. A6esr.
James kearney, Thomas Carbery, Peter
Force ,r,,Is William A. A, Bradley Philip r. Fen;
Thomas Biodgen las survivors of the grantees of
the site, unde. the grant made by President Polk,
Elisha. hhittiesey, Benjamin Osie Taylor, Thomas
II. Crawford, Wiiliain W. Corcorin ana John Carroll
Brent.
Upon turning their attention to the affairs of the
meaument they found that during the interruption
caused oy the misunderstanding In the society the
beard OF managers elected the I'D oil February,
1865, had put on two courses Of marble, oil two ieet
each. thus making the monument 174 feet nigh.
The corporation however, had no more than well
organized and ranged Itself in the line OF duty
WEen the war came On and their only work on the
prsserved Since me % war the soce s ac3,vs 90 We
members, has been engaged IN frultless en-
aeayor to obtain further action on the part
OF Congress, and TO this end they have ex-
pended all their efforts, but yet without
any prospect oI success. They are before Congress
now, and all the time '.like mendlcants,n rs their
alsgusted secretary, Mr. Brent, puts Ii; but, for
reasons known only to the committees room, where
the prayers are heard, no notice Is taken OF the ap
plicati0ns made. Meanwhile, the society invokes
the aid OF State and Territorial Legislatures, and or
all political corporate or voluntary bodies and also
minatiOns, faiths and creeds The object co NJ
mends itself 60 all is common to all and 10 all they
look ior encouragement and substantial assistance.
THE FINANCES OF THE SOCIETY.
In 1859 the Legislature OF the state OF California
passed an act appr0prlatng $1,000 annually In aid
OF the monument, nut owing to the war and the
subsequent somnoiency oil the whole subject, tho
matter went no further, and none Of the yearly
however, contributed at the polls at the annual
election OF 1890, $1,000 OIL, which was
paa S 's s0is ssSs through Ts sun, tasns
with post office, church and other collections makes
the funds OF the society now about $4,000. OF which
Collections through the post Offices OF the country
tapered or thus:in 1850, 81 24o; 1851 $1,000; 1862
$50; IN ISoS hOtnlng; IN 1874 52s 1860 ana since,
ming. An appeal 10 ali the churches In the United
States on Sunday, February II, 1869, yielded the
vast sum OF $l76 and the churches or the city which
suggested the collection have never been heard
from on the SUBJECT. The only collections made
now are from INHABITANTS of Washington and at the
boxes IN Monument place, The Patent Once and the
Smithsonian.
sucn, cilzens of the United States is the progress
which has been made In the work of erecting
monument to the founder Of your republic. Almost
q hundred years are gone, ana vet 1t is unaccOm-
plshed, ana not oniy unaccomplshed, but, with
the present apathy, unlikely Oh accomplishment.
IL Is your fault. You have been unmlndful
OF the liberties you enjoy, f0rgetful OF the
genius which achieved them and ungrateful for
tho blessings they confer. You have been
nsSe spent @ your caeTes IN Se
pursuit OF fortune, and nave offered your sacrifices
On the altar Of MaInmon; needless alike OF the
claims OF him who established your privileges, and
or Him 10 whom you must answer for them. But
you have still been pro5pcred, and In the century
which has nearly elapsed you have grown INTO IL