Letter from the National Lincoln Monument Association to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; October 3, 1865
Title
Letter from the National Lincoln Monument Association to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; October 3, 1865
Subject
Mississippi. Governor; National Lincoln Monument Association (Springfield, Ill.); Sharkey, William Lewis, 1798-1873
Description
From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Governor Sharkey Collection. Letter from the National Lincoln Monument Association to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey seeking donations to help build a monument over the grave of Abraham Lincoln.
Creator
National Lincoln Monument Association (Springfield, Ill.)
Publisher
Mississippi Department of Archives and History. (electronic version); Mississippi Digital Library. (electronic version)
Date
1865-10-03
Contributor
Funding for this project provided by The Dale Center for Study of War and Society-USM, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the Mississippi Digital Library, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, the University of Southern Mississippi, and the Watson-Brown Foundation
Rights
NO COPYRIGHT - UNITED STATES; http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Language
English
Identifier
mdah_771-956-11-05
Coverage
1865
Text
Page 1:
State of Illinois
Executive Department.
Springfield Oct 3 1865
To His Exellency,
Wm L Sharkey
Governor of Mississippi
A resolution of the Board of Directors of the National Lincoln Monument Association, Adopted at the last meeting, requires [strikethrough]that[strikethrough] the President—and Secretary of the Association, to make an appeal, in behalf of the objects of the Association, to the—Governors of the Several States and Territories of the Union, and through them to the Legislatures—and People of their respective States—and Territories,
The purpose of this Appeal is to bring officially to your notice—and to the notice of the People of
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2
your State. the organization of this Association And the object we have in view, viz. to erect over the remains of Abraham Lincoln late President of the United States, in Oak Ridge Cemetery (Springfield, Ill.) near the City of Springfield Illinois, a Suitable and enduring Monument to his memory, And to request that you will in some way, bring this generally to the notice of the People of your State—and if consistent with your views, And you beleive its importance and character will justify, to especially call the Attentions of the Legislature of your State to the Subject, We do not deem it necessary to suggest any plan—by which Subscriptions may be raised, preferring to leave this matter to your own direction and control, We will be pleased to Correspond with you at any time upon the Subject—and give you any information, or explanation, that may be required,
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3
The National Lincoln Monument Association was formally organized in the 11th" day of May 1865—at Springfield Illinois, under an act of the Legislature of our State, Approved Feby 23th" 1859, The Articles of Association under the provision of that law—have been filed in the Office of the Secretary of State, and are now public records,—
We have obtained—from the City of Springfield a Deed to about Six Acres of most beautiful grounds adjoining Oak Ridge Cemetery, Access-ible at all Seasons of the year, with Such a location—and Such advantages, As to make it in time one of the most lovely and Enchanting Spots on Earth—
The remains of Mr Lincoln are already temporarily Entombed upon these grounds from which they will never be removed Except by Consent of the Association,
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4.
It is our intention at the proper time to consult the very best taste, and talent of the Country before Selecting a design for the Monument—
Since the organization the Asso-ciation has been controlled by the idea that vol[strikethrough]e[strikethrough]untary donations would in a reasonable time Secure the necessary funds to build the Monument. in this way we have received from Soldiers—and Sailors, and from Sabbath Schools—and other Similar benevolent—and Educational Societies, and from private Sources—About fifty three thousand dollars, We are now impressed with the opinion, that a Solemn duty devolves upon—us—the necess-ity of inviting from a larger field Assistance to Enable us to carry out the organized design, of Erecting over the remains of Mr Lincoln, A Monument—which Shall Suitably represent
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his great name and high character, as well as the patriotism and dignity of the great
Nation he So faithfully Served,
As time passes and other plans to do like honor to him will fail, and be forgotten having been supplanted by the all engrossing requirements of passing Events, under these peculiar circumstances, this Associ-ation—near his last resting place, in the city of his home with his Sacred remains in it keeping; feels that its relations to this Sacred trust requires to Spare no effort to give this great work a National character, And certain and complete Success.
As the object is a national one, to honor the memory of a national man, en-deared to the whole country by his sacrifices to preserve the national Union, we do not hesitate to appeal
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(6)
to the nation to aid us by reason-able subscriptions to build this Monument,
We dislike to begin it with the sum now at our disposal, at least two hundred and fifty thousand dollars will be necessary to build the Monu-ment in the Proper spirit and con-sistent with the great character to be represented by it,
In this spirit, with these views and with this honorable purpose we [ask?]—to you governor and to the generous people of your state, to assist us to honor this good man, to assist his old friends and neighbors, about his old home, where for so many years he was the joy and pride of all who knew him, now that he is
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(7)
dead, to build over his resting place this lasting memorial to his great and acknowledged virtues—known by none better than they, but loved by all who knew him, the friend of freedom and the firm friend of his country through all the days and years of a long an laborious life, Here his virtues show brightest—here his character was moulded, here he was first known to the world, here he received the highest earthly honor known to mortal man and here in the midst of those old friends, beneath the soil of that country he served so well he sleeps his last sleep in this great city, in the very heart of his own state let him rest forever, It was his living and last wish,
State of Illinois
Executive Department.
Springfield Oct 3 1865
To His Exellency,
Wm L Sharkey
Governor of Mississippi
A resolution of the Board of Directors of the National Lincoln Monument Association, Adopted at the last meeting, requires [strikethrough]that[strikethrough] the President—and Secretary of the Association, to make an appeal, in behalf of the objects of the Association, to the—Governors of the Several States and Territories of the Union, and through them to the Legislatures—and People of their respective States—and Territories,
The purpose of this Appeal is to bring officially to your notice—and to the notice of the People of
Page 2:
2
your State. the organization of this Association And the object we have in view, viz. to erect over the remains of Abraham Lincoln late President of the United States, in Oak Ridge Cemetery (Springfield, Ill.) near the City of Springfield Illinois, a Suitable and enduring Monument to his memory, And to request that you will in some way, bring this generally to the notice of the People of your State—and if consistent with your views, And you beleive its importance and character will justify, to especially call the Attentions of the Legislature of your State to the Subject, We do not deem it necessary to suggest any plan—by which Subscriptions may be raised, preferring to leave this matter to your own direction and control, We will be pleased to Correspond with you at any time upon the Subject—and give you any information, or explanation, that may be required,
Page 3:
3
The National Lincoln Monument Association was formally organized in the 11th" day of May 1865—at Springfield Illinois, under an act of the Legislature of our State, Approved Feby 23th" 1859, The Articles of Association under the provision of that law—have been filed in the Office of the Secretary of State, and are now public records,—
We have obtained—from the City of Springfield a Deed to about Six Acres of most beautiful grounds adjoining Oak Ridge Cemetery, Access-ible at all Seasons of the year, with Such a location—and Such advantages, As to make it in time one of the most lovely and Enchanting Spots on Earth—
The remains of Mr Lincoln are already temporarily Entombed upon these grounds from which they will never be removed Except by Consent of the Association,
Page 4:
4.
It is our intention at the proper time to consult the very best taste, and talent of the Country before Selecting a design for the Monument—
Since the organization the Asso-ciation has been controlled by the idea that vol[strikethrough]e[strikethrough]untary donations would in a reasonable time Secure the necessary funds to build the Monument. in this way we have received from Soldiers—and Sailors, and from Sabbath Schools—and other Similar benevolent—and Educational Societies, and from private Sources—About fifty three thousand dollars, We are now impressed with the opinion, that a Solemn duty devolves upon—us—the necess-ity of inviting from a larger field Assistance to Enable us to carry out the organized design, of Erecting over the remains of Mr Lincoln, A Monument—which Shall Suitably represent
Page 5:
5
his great name and high character, as well as the patriotism and dignity of the great
Nation he So faithfully Served,
As time passes and other plans to do like honor to him will fail, and be forgotten having been supplanted by the all engrossing requirements of passing Events, under these peculiar circumstances, this Associ-ation—near his last resting place, in the city of his home with his Sacred remains in it keeping; feels that its relations to this Sacred trust requires to Spare no effort to give this great work a National character, And certain and complete Success.
As the object is a national one, to honor the memory of a national man, en-deared to the whole country by his sacrifices to preserve the national Union, we do not hesitate to appeal
Page 6:
(6)
to the nation to aid us by reason-able subscriptions to build this Monument,
We dislike to begin it with the sum now at our disposal, at least two hundred and fifty thousand dollars will be necessary to build the Monu-ment in the Proper spirit and con-sistent with the great character to be represented by it,
In this spirit, with these views and with this honorable purpose we [ask?]—to you governor and to the generous people of your state, to assist us to honor this good man, to assist his old friends and neighbors, about his old home, where for so many years he was the joy and pride of all who knew him, now that he is
Page 7:
(7)
dead, to build over his resting place this lasting memorial to his great and acknowledged virtues—known by none better than they, but loved by all who knew him, the friend of freedom and the firm friend of his country through all the days and years of a long an laborious life, Here his virtues show brightest—here his character was moulded, here he was first known to the world, here he received the highest earthly honor known to mortal man and here in the midst of those old friends, beneath the soil of that country he served so well he sleeps his last sleep in this great city, in the very heart of his own state let him rest forever, It was his living and last wish,