Part 3 (1/2)

In 1845 the Society removed generally the limitation of one dollar as the amount of a subscription. This action seems to have been wise, as the later annual gross receipts were for a time greatly increased.

In view of the previous recognition by the Society of this evil of limitation of contributions, it is surprising that it was not generally removed when it was specially removed for the occasion of the census in 1840.

In 1846 the Society issued a further address ”to the American people,”

announcing that it had ”appointed the Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, of Ohio, the General Agent of the Society, whose office will be held in Was.h.i.+ngton. To him has been delegated the power of appointing subagents, who will receive a commission on the funds they may collect as a compensation for their services. * * * It is scarcely necessary to remark that the character of the General Agent appointed by the Board of Managers to make additional collections for the Monument is such as to insure success and produce entire confidence. It is known to the whole country; and Mr. Whittlesey's efforts in this new and n.o.ble undertaking, it is hoped, will be crowned with that success which cannot fail to accompany so glorious an object.”

It was further said by this address:

”It may be proper to state for the information of the public that the delay in commencing the Monument has been occasioned by the want of a proper site, which the Board had hoped would long since have been granted by Congress. * * * The Board designed at as early period to commence the Monument, but as no site could be obtained sufficientlyy eligible on any other ground than the public mall, near the Potomac, and as that could only be obtained by a grant from Congress, which has not yet been made, that purpose has been unavoidably postponed until the next session of the National Legislature, when it is believed no objection will be made to allow the Board the use of the ground it desires for so laudable and patriotic an object.”

This address, signed by the officers of the Society, James K. Polk, _ex officio_ President; Wm. Brent, First Vice-President; Mayor of Was.h.i.+ngton, Third Vice-President; J. B. H. Smith, Treasurer; George Watterston, Secretary; and by the entire Board of Managers, including among the number Maj.-Gen. Winfield Scott, Thos. Carbery, Peter Force, Philip R. Fendall, Gen. Nathan Townson, Gen. Walter Jones, Col. J.

Kearney, J. J. Abert, W. A. Bradley, and Thomas Munroe, contained the following eloquent language:

”The pilgrim to Mount Vernon, the spot consecrated by Was.h.i.+ngton's hallowed remains, is often shocked when he looks upon the humble sepulchre which contains his dust, and laments that no monument has yet reared its lofty head to mark a _Nation's_ grat.i.tude.

”It is true that the 'storied urn, the animated bust,' or the splendid mausoleum, cannot call back the departed spirit, or 'soothe the dull, cold ear of death;' but it is equally true that it can and does manifest the grat.i.tude and veneration of the living for those who have pa.s.sed away forever from the stage of life and left behind them the cherished memory of their virtues. The posthumous honors bestowed by a grateful nation on its distinguished citizens serve the further purpose of stimulating those who survive them to similar acts of greatness and of virtue, while the respect and admiration of the country which confers them upon its children are mere deeply and ardently felt. The character of Was.h.i.+ngton is identified with the glory and greatness of his country. It belongs to history, into which it has infused a moral grandeur and beauty. It presents a verdant oasis on the dreary waste of the world, on which the mind loves to repose, and the patriot and philosopher delights to dwell.

Such a being but seldom appears to ill.u.s.trate and give splendor to the annals of mankind, and the country which gave him birth should take a pride in bestowing posthumous honors on his name. It is not to transmit the name or fame of the ill.u.s.trious Was.h.i.+ngton to future ages that a Monument should be erected to his memory; but to show that the People of this Republic at least are not ungrateful, and that they desire to manifest their love of eminent public and private virtues by some enduring memorial which, like the pyramids of Egypt, shall fatigue time by its duration.”

The General Agent, Mr. Whittlesey, submitted a plan which was adopted by the Society for a systematic collection of funds, which included const.i.tuting Congressional districts as distinct collection districts, and in 1847 a circular letter was addressed to Members of Congress respecting the formation of such districts and the appointment of collecting agents therein. As formerly, it was required that the appointee should be well recommended and endorsed by Representatives, Senators, and well-known citizens of the district or State.

It was also determined to specially appeal to the Masonic fraternity of the country.

The agents appointed were supplied with properly prepared blank books for the autograph enrollment of contributors, which books, when filled with names, were to be returned to the office of the Society for deposit and safe keeping.

On the request of the Society, Mrs. James Madison, Mrs. John Quincy Adams, and Mrs. Alexander Hamilton effected an organization of ladies to aid in collecting funds for the proposed Monument. Through appeals, entertainments, fairs, and many social functions given for the purpose by ladies in various parts of the country, there resulted but a very moderate addition to the funds of the Society, but in no way commensurate with its expectations in the premises.

On the 29th of February, 1847, the Society adopted the following resolution offered by Mr. Brent:

”_Resolved_, That the several Consuls of the United States abroad, and the Pursers of the Navy, be requested by the General Agent to solicit subscriptions for the erection of a suitable National Monument to the memory of Was.h.i.+ngton from American citizens, seamen, and others of liberal patriotic feelings, and that the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Navy be respectfully requested, on behalf of the National Was.h.i.+ngton Monument Society, to cause to be forwarded the letters and papers necessary to accomplish the object embraced in this resolution.”

In accordance with this resolve (the consent of the Honorable Secretary of State and the Honorable Secretary of the Navy having been given), a circular letter was prepared and sent out to the persons named in the resolution.

After setting forth the object of the Society, and earnestly appealing for funds to accomplish that purpose, the circular stated a compensation of 20 per cent. would be allowed on funds collected and faithfully accounted for. This circular was accompanied by a supply of ”prints,” to be distributed to subscribers, as follows:

”Copies of a large portrait of Was.h.i.+ngton, copied from Stuart's painting in Fanueil Hall, Boston.

”Copies of the large print of the design of the Monument.”

Smaller prints of the same subjects were also furnished.

The subscriber of $5.00 was to receive one of the large prints; of $8.00, both the large prints; of $1.00, one of the small prints; and to the subscriber of $1.50, both of the small prints.

It was also publicly announced that the corner stone of the Monument would be laid ”on the 4th of July next, and arrangements will be made to give to the ceremony a national character corresponding with the character and magnitude of the work.”

The accounts of the Treasurer of the Society from time to time show, in response to this _special_ appeal, a considerable collection of funds, especially among the officers and seamen of the Navy.

In 1847, the aggregate of collections and acc.u.mulated interest was some $87,000, which amount was deemed sufficient to justify the Society in beginning the erection of the Monument.

A resolution was adopted that the corner-stone be laid on the 22d of February next ”provided that a suitable site can be obtained in time,”