"Dear Sir: I received yesterday your letter of the 22d, informing me that the 'Washington Monument Society' has done me the honor to choose me as its President.
"You are right in supposing that the most ardent wish of my heart is to see some lasting testimonial of the grateful affection of his country erected to the memory of her first citizen. I have always wished it, and have always thought that the Metropolis of the Union was the fit place for this National Monument. I cannot, therefore, refuse to take any place which the Society may assign me; and though my advanced age forbids the hope of being useful, I am encouraged by the name of the First Vice-President to believe that in him ample compensation will be found for any defects in the President.
"With great respect and esteem, I am, dear sir,
"Your obd't,
"J. Marshall."
Other officers then chosen were the Mayor of Washington, Second Vice-President (at that time John P. Van Ness, formerly a Representative in Congress); W. W. Seaton, Third Vice-President; Samuel H. Smith, Treasurer; and George Watterston, Secretary. A board of thirteen managers was also appointed to correspond in number with the original States. This board consisted of Gen. Thomas S. Jessup, Col. Jas. Kearney, Col. Nathan Towson, Col. Archibald Henderson, Matthew St. Claire Clark, John McClelland, Thomas Munroe, Col. Geo. Bomford, Robert C. Weightman, Peter Force, Wm. Brent, Esq., Wm. A. Bradley, and Thomas Carbery. Aside from other stated meetings to be provided for, an election for officers and managers was to be held every third year on the 22d of February.
Of the founders of the Society, the name of George Watterston calls for especial mention. With him originated the conception of the enterprise. He remained as Secretary of the Society from its beginning to his death, in February, 1854, conducting its extensive correspondence, preparing its numerous addresses and publications, and it appears, in every branch of the Society's business, he devoted his whole time and energies to its object with constant, ardent, and effective zeal. To no one name does the country owe more in the labor and effort to rear a monument to the memory of Washington than to that of the Society's first Secretary. On the death of Mr. Watterston he was succeeded in his office by Mr. John Carroll Brent, of distinguished family, a gentleman of culture and fine scholarship, and who continued actively and patriotically to discharge the duties of Secretary until his death, February 11, 1876. It is as well here to mention the other and succeeding secretaries of the Society, who in turn ardently and effectively aided the work of the Society through years. Dr. John B. Blake, a prominent, highly-respected resident of the District of Columbia, who served from the year 1876 to his death, in October, 1881, and to whose labors before Congress in connection with the Society's special committees, the certainty of an appropriation by that body to aid in the completion of the monument was assured. He was succeeded by Mr. Horatio King, formerly Postmaster-General of the United States, who in turn, on his death, was succeeded by Dr. Francis M. Gunnell of the United States Navy, and the latter by Frederick L. Harvey.
The Society, upon organization, established its headquarters and offices in rooms in the basement of the City Hall, and where its office remained until the year 1878.
An address was issued to the people of the country invoking them to redeem the promise of the Congress. In order that all might have an opportunity to contribute the amount to be received from any one person was limited to a dollar a year. Agents were everywhere appointed in 1835 and the ensuing years to collect funds, and care is shown to have been taken in their selection by requiring the highest and strongest endorsement of their fitness for the work, and as to private character and being men of respectability. The archives of the Society show that in nearly every instance collectors for a State or Territory were nominated to the Society for appointment by the Senators, Representatives, or leading men of the State or community. To obtain security in the returns front collections, it was required in every case that bond should be given by the agent for the faithful performance of his duty in accounting to the Treasurer of the Society. This method of collecting funds was adhered to until as late as 1855.
The following is the form of a commission that was given to the agents of the Society:
"To all who shall see these presents, Greeting: