Excerpt from Oration Delivered by the Hon. Henry S. Foote: On the Fourth of July, 1850, at Monument Place, With an Introduction The Board of Managers of the Washington National Monument Society, having deemed it expedient to celebrate the anniversary of our National Independence, appointed a committee, consisting of Messrs. Watterston, Smith, and Crawford, to make the necessary arrangements for the celebration. The honorable Henry S. Foote, of Mississippi, was requested to deliver an Oration or Address on that occasion, to which he kindly assented; and the necessary preparations were made for the celebration at Monument Place, by an extensive awning, and other accommodations, for those who might attend. The excessive heat of the weather prevented the formation of a military and civic procession, as was at first contemplated by the Board of Managers, but a large number of citizens and strangers attended, to participate in the ceremonies on that occasion. A spacious and commodious platform was erected at the east front of the Monument for the accommodation of the orator and invited guests; and at the appointed hour the Rev. Mr. Butler opened the ceremonies with an appropriate prayer, and was followed by Walter Lenox, Esq., Mayor of Washington, who read the Declaration of Independence in a clear and distinct voice, and was succeeded by the honorable Henry S. Foote, in an eloquent Address suited to the occasion. The Rev. Mr. Morgan pronounced the benediction; and the company were then invited to witness the ceremony of hoisting and laying the large block of marble presented by the Corporation, to be deposited in the Monument, at its west front. General Walter Jones, on behalf of the Councils of the city, delivered an eloquent Address on the occasion, and G. W. P. Custis presented, with some feeling remarks, a box of sand, sent by Dr. Lieber, and taken from the tumulus of Kosciusko, in Poland, to be mixed with the mortar used in laying one of the stones of the Monument. The ceremonies on this occasion were very interesting and imposing, and at their conclusion the company retired highly gratified with the ceremonies they had witnessed. The President of the United States, with a portion of the Cabinet, united in the ceremonies of this interesting occasion, and manifested a deep interest in the success of the patriotic undertaking of the Society. It was the last celebration he was destined to attend; for, a few days afterwards, he departed this life, after a short and fatal illness, to the profound regret and sorrow of his countrymen. A short time before his death, he uttered the following sentiment in relation to the magnificent Monument now being erected in this city, which it is hoped will be reciprocated by every American who venerates the character of the great benefactor of his country. "Let it rise!" said he; "let it ascend without interruption; let it point to the skies; let it stand forever as a lasting monument of the gratitude and affection of a free people for the Father of his Country." About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.