The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-17
TO THE EDITOR OF THE UNION.
r. J. WALKER,
Secretary Of the Treasury


Your paper has ever shown your high regard for
Professor Morse. The enclosed article contains, in
fact, biography Of a man whose name is in every
bodys mouth, but who is but little known. VIII you
not hnd space to notice u in the way you deem best
calculated to promote his high claims as artist
and benefactor Of the countryi a..
...a..as From the New York Telegraph July 10.
PROFESSOR MoRsE's CLAIMS TO PAINT THE PIC
r. r..-r- TURE FOR The RofUNDA. . -l...
We present to our readers'the following petition
To the Senate Of ths United States. presenting the
claims Of Professor Morse to paint the historical
picture in the rotunda of the Capitol, which had
been assigned 10 the late admirable and lamented
Inman. The snecdote rea,ed of Inman in this pc
ution is equally honorable 10 himself and Profess
cor Morse The great services rendered TO the
country by Professor Morse, his acknowledged tai
ents as an artist, certified as they are by the dIsn-
guished names of the petitioners, and the interesting
fact, that we owe the invention of the telegraph 10
the failure of Professor Morses application, and his
reinqushlng his pencil for scientific pursuits all
eonsplre TO give 10 this petition peculiar claims to
consideration. ...g.. 4 $751;. .a... ....
To Professor Morse it will be the crowning act of
his life, should the panel be assigned to him. under
the circumstances of the cnse; and ask does he
not merit il by his zeal in founding the national
ACADEMY OF DESIGN GA this city, and the glorious ia
rniion by ,ohch he has annihilaied tine and space7
1t may not he generally known that Fulton
an artist, and pupil OF West. Now, if one of the
production of his genius, how greatly it would in
crease the value Of the painting, and how greatly
we should regret, had he been an applicant for one
OF these pictures, that his application rejected.
And is not the name Of Morse destined to rank with
that Of Fultoni And shall this opportunity of re.
cognlzng his claims, and of expressing the gratitude
OF his country, be forever lost
Petition of A. B. Durand and others, praying that
Professor Morse may be employed to execute
The e tka =, 81. 20
the Capitol, set apart for Mr. Inman, since de-
ceased.
To The Honorable the Senate Of The United States:
The undersigned the friends of Professor Sam.
uei f. b Morse, beg leave
RESPECTFULLY TO REPRESENT:
That Professor Morse, whose early life for thirty
years was devoted to the cultivation of the art of
painting, studied for four years in the Royal Acade
my OF London, then under the presidency of that
Distinguished painter Benjamin West; but Mr..
Morse was more especially, while in England, I'M
DER the tuition, in historical painting, Of the late
Washington Aston, and was fellow-pupi under
The same master with Leslie, so well known as now
one of the first painters in England when he re-
turned to this country, and practised painting with
distinguished success.
In the year 1926, Professor Morse was the prin-
cpa instrument, aided by other artists, in founding
ana establishing, at great personal sacrifices, the
.Nafiondl academy Of Design, one of the most -four
shing OF the institutions of the city State of New
iork' From its foundation, for nineteen years, he
was annually unanimously chosen to preside over
the academy, and then declined reelection, from
causes which will be presently explained
In 1879 he again visited Europe to perfect him
sell IN historical painting, having in view to offer
himself as candidate for the commission to paint
one Of the great historical pictures to be pnc ed in
the rotunda Of the Capitol and pursued his studes
Tor three years in Rome, Naples, Florence, Venice
and Paris; and, with the common consent of the ar
lists and connoisseurs of this country it was con-
ceded that this honor would unauestionably be con-
ierred upon him. and for This object he had made all
the requisite preparation for painting to represent
the germ Of the republic. That the committee of
Congress, then appointed, CONTRARY to the univer-
sal expectation of those best qualified to Judge of
me merits OF the several candidates. set aside the
claims of Professor Morse, and, as an evidence of
he sense OF injustice which was felt among the pro-
lesion, we can state that the late eminent and ex.
cellent artist, Mr.. nman, wrote President Van
buren letter, IN which he offered TO resign the
panel which had beer assigned to him expre ssing
his hope that Professor Morse might be appojnteJ
to supply his place-a generous offer, which the
committee to whom this letter was referred did not
think proper to accept. That as further exnres
SION Of the sense of the injustice done to Professor
Morse, IN rejecting his application to be emplo we'd
as one OF the painters, association was vountari-
~ formed OF tsenty-nine artists and amateurs of
New York and Philadelphia, (among whom we note
me names Of three out Of the four success fa eandl
oates for these pictures,) who subscribed sum OF
money, and appointed committee Of their body to
request Professor Morse TO paint for them in small
me picture he had intended to paint for the rotunda
mad Congress seen fl to grant him the commission.
although the money was subscribed, the neglect
70 pay promptly the quarterly instsiments, en-
oerrassed Professor Morse il the progress of
painting the picture, and, after every effort TO
proceed, he was reluctantly compelled TO abandon
MS enterprise. He consequently laid aside his
pencil, Determining to devote himself for while
70 pursuits which would furnish him with the
p'esns OF resu'ning his pctnrs at future day; TO