The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-11-08
JACKSON MONUMENT.
n ne peonIe offhe Un;ted States:

n idtSo ihOS S'lhS VI eio oitiHo"o
Washington on the 18th Of September,
I845, (Gen. John P. Van Ness pre-
siding0 unanimously and enthusiastic
cally adopted these resolutions:
Resolred, That the American people
be called upon to unite in erecting, ut
the seat of the federal government, a
suitable monument to the memory Of
the Hero, Patriot and Sage, whose re-
cent loss the nation still 1eplores, 10 go
down to our most distant posterity, as
record of the great mans glory, and
OF his country's gratitude and grief
Resolued, That colossal equestrian
statue, in imperishable bronze, is deem
ed the most suitable for the purpose
to transmit to future centuries the tea-
lures and form on which the annals Of
the republic will teach each new sue
ceeding generation to look with an ev-
er-renewed love and reverence, and
an ever-renewing ambition to emulate
his noble deeds and noble virtues.
Resolued, That for the purpose of
raising, by voluntary subscription. the
requisite sum, central committee of
thirteen be appointed, which shall pro-
coed forthwith to organize the neces-
sary measures for the collection OF such
subscription, by whom monthly pub
lication Of the same shall be made, and
the money securely invested and
Resolved, Thatas General Jackson's
own most trusted and beloved friend,
and the selected inheritor Of his papers
and guardian Of his fame, FRANCIS P.
BLAIR. be appointed treasurer.
Resolved, That the following citizens
constitute said committee of thirteen,
with power to suppl Y vacancies in their
own number; and, after the compile
tion of the subscription, to direct and
superintend the execution of the pro-
posed work: Cave Johnson, Francis
P. Blair, Thomas Richie, Amos Ken.
dali, John +. Van Ness, John c. Rives.
VIM. A. Harris, Jesse Z. Dow, Ben
jamin B. French, John W. Maury,
Charles K. Gardner, James Hoban, and
Charles ]. Sengstack.
Inc committee on whom devolveS
the execution of the high trust designa-
ted by their te!ow-citizens of Washing
ton, feel confident that its tuflment is
not more earnestly desired by their
immediate constituents than by the
great mass of the American people.
A colossal equestrian statue. in in
perishable bronze. presenting to the
eyes of all future generations the Hero
and Patriot as he lived, exhibiting the
features, the person, the apparel, the
attitude, and almost the action, which
belonged 10 him at the moment of rem
dering the highest services to his coun-
try, has always been looked upon by
the free and noble minded people of
every age, as the best bequest they
could give to their descendants. In
such model, the virtues to which the
republic attributes its greatness are,
in some sort, enduringly personi6ed;
and the posthumous honor which i'm
parts an immortal presence in the midst
ofhis countrymen to one great public
benefactor, gives birth to patriotic en-
ulation, which through succeeding ages.
multiplies aspirants to kindred fame,
1t is not only, then, the national
gratitude, but just sense of the public
interests, wise care of the national
glory which erects lasting monuments to
commemorate the citizens who devote
themselves TO the service Of the public.
The Congress Of great men, who
contributed to found the free govern
ment we enjoy, decreed an equestrian
statue TO Washington, as the man most
worthy Of the renown of our glorious
revolution. 1t was to hand him down
to the remotest posterity in his militia
ry character, in the lineaments and
hablllments which he wore when he
achieved the independence of his coun-
try, that the Congress voted monu-
ment which should present the general |
as he appeared on the scene Of his
greatest exploits. At that time the |
fine arts had not attained a maturity in
our country, adequate to execute wor-
thlIy the design. Now, American |
scuIptors have arisen, from whom |
Europe borrows the power to eternize |
the features other iilustrious men; and |
hence the last Congress took the first
step towards the accomplishment of
the resolution for the construction of |
the equestrian statue to Washington.
The gratitude and honor of the nation
imperiousy demand the full and i'm
mediate execution ofthe work, which |
circumstances have already too long
delayed. If our countrymen should |
also decree an equestrian monument to
the patriotic chief "who shed his strip
ling blood in the revolution" and who
closed the last war for the maintenance