The Cecil Whig., 1885-02-28

lOl tlS COliiIL4CLIOla AIN C'Iullili vi tllS
stately monument, not, indeed, to pre-
serve the name and fame of an illus
trious hero and patriot, but to sisnslize
the gratitude ofthe generation for whom
he labored"
The speaker described the efforts
which were made in Congress and
elsewhere, beginning the day after the
burial Of General Washinston's remains,
and repeated from time to time during
the next thirty years, to come, to com
bine public sentiment in support Of
some one Of the various projects which
were mooted to erect a commenora-
tive structure which should be 4 lasting
evidence of the sentiments OF gratitude
and reverence which filed the hearts
of Washington's countrymcn.
WHEN THE SOCIETY W,iS FORMED.
In september, 1858, a meeting OF
the citizens of Washington was called
to take the matter in hand, and, on
the occasion, the Washington National
Monument Society was formed, with
Chief Justice John Marshall, then IS
years oil, as president, John Crouch as
first ,ice-presidcnt, and George Wat,
tcrson, who deserves to be remembered
as the originator of the monument, as
secretary. The plan adopted by the
society was to secure the assistance and
unite the voluntary efforts of the pco-
pie Of the country in the work, and, tc
this end, contributions were limited to
the annual sum of 81 from any one
person. The collections on this plan
amounted, in 1880, to $4,000. which
sum was carefully placed at interest
and in that year advertisements were
published inviting designs from Ameri-
can artists. Many were submitted, and
from them, one by Mr.. Robert Mills
was selected by the society.
In 1S47 the society's fund amounted
to So 1000, the limit upon subscriptions
having been removed, and preparations
for the work of construction were be-
gun. Congress, by resolution, granted
site on Any of the unoccupicd public
grounds of the city OF Washington, to
be selected by the President of the
United States and the Monument So
ciety, which duty having been perform
ed, the corner stone was laid on the
4th of July, 1873, in the presence Of
the executive, legislative and judicial
branches Of the Government, foreign
ministers and officers and 4 vast con
course of citizens from all sections OF
the Union. Among the guests on the
stand were Mrs. Alexander Hamilton.
then 81 years Old; Mrs. Dolly Paine
Madison, Mrs. John Quincy Adams.
George Washington Parke Gusts.
Chief Justice Taney, Lewis Cass, Mar
TN Van Buren, and Alillard Fillmore.
The work progressed steadily until
1854, when the shaft had reached
height of $50 feet and had cost $780,
900.
The treasury of the society having
now been exhausted, a memorial va,
presented to Congress representing
that no plan which was like 10 succeed
for obtaining further sums had been
devised, and asking that Congress
should take action in the matter. Com
plications Of political nature now
arose in the society, and, in conse-
quence, action by Congress and fur
ther work upon the monument were
for some years delayed. In 1850 Con
grcss gave the society a formal charter,
and efforts were renewed to secure
funds, but the condition of the country
from 1860 to 1870 rendered all exer-
tons futile. BY 1876 a measurable
success met the efforts of the society,
a very considerable sum having been
promised by responsible bodies, and
the society desisted from its efforts only
when, on the ed of August of that year
an act OF Congress appropriating $780,
900 to continue the construction OF
the monument had become the law Of
the land. According to the provisions
of the act, the society transferred and
conveyed to the United States in due
form all the property rights and ease
ments belonging to it in the monu-
ment
|
"It is glory enough, said the speak
er, in conclusion, ''for the Washington
National Monument Society that its
pious labors, as put to the proof OF
time, have issued in the majestic struct-
ure which stands before us today. and
it is glory enough for the legislative and
executive departments Of the Govern
ment that in assuming and directing
the completion of the monument or
the foundations laid by the people, they
have at once redeemed a sacred nation
al pledge and fulfilled sacred nationa