Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-02-15

MI. j eTfJ 'i!iuiSateu 'ie Noi''u>' VI S'''.
TrumbulI, an said he had il from col. +.
himself, that tie president gave The per-
mission, an therefore it could not he doubt-
ed. Col Trumbuli had, Mr.. I. remark
ed, spent many years of his life in Eng
land, where il was the custom to EXHIBIT
great paintings, whether executed for the
government ur others. before they were
delivere dan instance Of which might be-
mentioned in the great paint M Of the de-
struction of the Spanish hotilla. executed
by our coun,ryman Copley, for the govern
ment, whc. was exhibited in Lonlun by
permission. Col. T. had not conceived
there could be any improperly in showing
his work to bis countrymen, and, had lie
forseen the objections which were now
made to i, he would not have done il tho
it was no doubt, as much TO CRAFTY the
public curiosity, as from any other motive.
If the house choose TO deny this privilege
in future. they could say so, but WHIST had
been done was no reason for refusing 10
fulfil the contract with col Trumbull, &c.
Mr.. Spencer had not denied that the
permission of the president had been given
for the exhibition of the painting-but, if
he had authorised it To be exposed for no.
ney, then Mr.. l.. said the remarks which
he had applied to col. TrumbuIi, on this
occasion, he should have to transfer t. ano-
Their person. As to the charity which had
been mentioned, the fact, DR. S. said, was
this After the picture hal been exhibit
ted in New-York until the public curiosity
was satisfied, it was shcwn, on the last day
of exhibition, for the benefit of charitable
institution.
Mr. Taylor. Of New.York, said the sum
required for these paintings was certainly
far greater than was supposed at the time
of passing the law. He believed it was
then considered that what was auho-
rised, would give to col. T.. about 1000
dollars year while engaged in executing
tie paintings, and that 5000 dollars would
delray the whole cypence but it now APP
peared that the paintings would cost in all
$4,000 dolls. As to the exhibition; the
painting did not belong TO congress unit! it
was delivered and in the mean time col.
T. could use it as he pl ased. But Mr.. T.
denied that the president had any right to
give permission for its exhibition. twas
the property of congress, not of The execu-
tive, and the permission, if given, was i'm
proper. While he considered it proper to
express the opinion that The cost was much
more than was originally contemplated,
ye-the appropriation ought not to be with
held now the contract was made.
Mr. Stors, spoke of the merits of the
painting, and said, the very fact that he
had received 5000 dollars in one town a.
lone, for its exhibition, proved that il was
worth more to col. Trumbull than con-
grc>s were TO pay him for it and if the
house chose to dlsavow the contract, col.
Il. would, he had no doubt, be glad of it,
as he could derive double the emolument
from the painting by keeping it, or even by
selling it elsewhere. Respecting Mr.. Spen-
GERS motion, Mr.. Storrs said, it could do
no harm 10 make The appropriation, as col
T. would not get the money until the paint
ing was delivered. &c.
The question was then taken on striking
Out tic appropriation, and decided in the
ncgatiye-ayes 22. Ibid.