The Washington herald., 1908-04-12
Plan for Monument to Mar
tyr Is Now Recalled.
MONEY RAISED FOR PURPOSE
Statue Never Erected, Although AS
sociation Is Formed and Much Cola
Subscribed By Admirers Of Civil
War President-ReeOrds show Can
non Appropriated Toward Cause.
By RupoLPH DE zAPP.

yearc ago a mmOvement for the erection
Of a monument to Lincoln was authorized
by Congress. which WAS enthusiastically
approved of by the most eminent men OF
the country, and launched under whai
lappeared to be the most favorable aus
pices.
Money was raised by popular subscrip-
ton, the design for the monument ap-
proved a site selected. and captured can.
non turned over to the monument associ-
alton by the War Department, from which
wers TO be cast the bronze figures which
were to surmount the granite pedestal.
The monument was never erected.
The movement, despite thu promise OF
its beginning. langushed and died
Search Of all available sources Of informa-
ton fails to disclose the preservation OF
any records Of the association. Even the
disposition OF the money collected by
popular subscription remains a mystery
to this day. II was provided that, unless
the monument was completed in four
years, subscriptions should be returned.
No money was ever returned to anybody.
! Senator Culiom, who was named as one
| OF the incOrpOrators in the act OF Con-
gress creating the association, said some
time ago that Il he ever had knowledge
OF the associations existence he had for
gotten IL He could give no information
as TO why the project was not carried to
| completion, or as to the disposition of
whatever money was collected.
Chartered in 1867.
The National Lincoln Monument Asso-
eiation Of Washington, D. c.. was char
tered by act Of Congress approved March
30. 1857 and the list OF lncorporators in
ciuded Cabinet ministers. Senator's. Rep
resentatives, and distinguished citizens
The monument was TO be erected IN front
Of the Capitol. and was 10 be known as
/ the National Lincoln Monument.
The act provided that the following per-
sons should constitute a body corporate
for the purpose OF erecting the monu-
ment commemorative OF the great char
ter OF emancipation and individual liberty
In America" Alexander H. Randall.
James Harlan. Alexander Ramsey, Ma
thaniel 2. Banks. Sidney Perfam. John
Conness John T. Wilson. Godlove S.
Orth. Delos r. Ashley, Halbert +. Paine.
Charles O'Niell. Burt Van Horn. John
F. briggs, Frederick z. Woodbridge,
Jacob Benton. John H.Il Shelby VI. Cu-
lom. Thomas A jerks. Orrsn s. Ferry,
\. B. Smithers. Francis Thomas, Samuel
Mckee, Horace Maynard. John T. BEN
iamin, Rufus Mallory. Sidney Clark,
Daniel Polsiey. Walter A. BurleIgh. John
Tsffee. and their SUCCESSORS.
the above-nanled persons should be the
first trustees with power TO Ill vacancies
and 10 increase the number OF incorpora-
tors. not exceeding one from each state
in the Union. The association was given
power 10 own and control such property
as might be necessary 10 carry out the
objects for which II was chartered. II
was also empowered to collect money. to
make necessary rules and regulations,
and 10 appoint president, vice president,
a secretary. treasurer. and a board Of
managers, consisting Of not less than
seven nor more than thirteen, who might
be selected from persons not included in
the list OF incorporators The treasurer
was required to give bond in such penalty
as might be required. The property of
the association was exempt from taxes
national and municipal.
Resolution Is Approved.
A joint resolution. approved June q
1855. authorized the Secretary OF War 10
place at the disposal OF the association
such damaged and captured bronze and
trass guns and ordnance out OF which to
cast the statues OF the principal figures
s'rmounting and to be incorporated in
said structure. Provided. That no metal
as aforesaid shall be. thus appropriated
until the voluntary subscriptions for said
purpose and actually in the hands of :he
treasurer shall amount to $l0O0O0. and no
more metal shall be appropriated than
shall be actually used for the purpose of
casting the figures as herein mentioned.
By an act approved February %. 1852. it
was provided that FIVE trustees should
constitute legal quorum of the associa-
tion, who were authorized to exercise ali
the powers conferred by law upon the
association. and that each trustee should
be notified by the president or secretary
at least twenty days before each nesting. /
No record can be found of any further |
enactments by Congress bearing on the
project. 1t is apparent that down to 1882
meetings were held, though II is probable, |
In view of the enactment of that year. |
that difficulty had been experienced In |
securing at meetings the attendance Of a |
sufficient number OF the trustees to constf- |
tute a quorum.
The design Of the proposed monument /
was by Clark Mills, and had been ap-
proved by the association. An imposing /
certificate In the form of a receipt for
was engraved and printed |
at the Bureau Of Engraving and Print |
ing and apparently the popular subscrip-
tions were limited 10 81 each, as the
words One Dollar" were made a part of
the engraving. There may have been pro-
visions for acknowledging larger subscrip-
tons but all the certificates known to be
in existence were for 81. The receipts
were signed by the treasurer of the as
soeiatiOn, Gen. F. E. Spinner who at
that time was also Treasurer of the
United States
Association Organised.
The association was organized by the
election of the following officers: Presl-
dent. James Harlan vice president, John
F. briggs; secretary, James NJ. Ed
treasurer. Francis z. Spinner:
Francis Thomas. Sidney Per
ham, Henry D. Cook, Bishop Simpson.
Richard Yates, Alexander W. Randall
Burt Van Horn. Schuyler Colfax. Ma
thanieI @. Taylor. Frederick Douglass.
Maj. Gen. o. O. Howard. Samuel S. Shall
enbeTger, John CONFESS, and George II.
The following description of the aonu-
nent. as designed by Mills and accepted
,y the association. was copyrighted and
published; '"rhe pedestal to be OF gran
Is. and figures of bronze. The whole
structure to be seventy feet. surmounted
~ thirty-five colossal figures. Its CON
itruction triangular. the base of which
admits three groups. presenting slavery.
The first Ito the right presents the