Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-02-15
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
WEDNESDAY, MORNING. FEBRUARY Is
WASHINGTON MONUMENT.


Washington Monument which proves 10 De rtiui source
o contaretv Of opnion hope to clear the way Tor
halter view of this truly admirable design by asking a'en
ton 10 what was done in Congress assembled some sr
years ago. ,.a;-o
Il @ he seen bv this retrospective glance that the desire
10 possess Bronze Equestrian Statue q dSaston
mated at period when the importance OF 'c e"o'
had been made to accomplish our independence was !
strongly impressed upon the minds oil our Al
the year l783 il voted undn'nouSy Soo'ei'' VI.
"usAs,aousLy by in session at Prince
,on thu, an Enpestrion Statue of General Washington
should no ersc,ed NJ the place where the residence OF Con-
should he established and that il should be executed
by the best artist in Europe under the oil the
Amercan Minister NJ the Court OF Versailles We shall mere
give the description contained in the journals OF Congress-
Resolved That the statue be Of bronze pray observe
again unanimously Bronse the Genefai 10 oe
in Roman Dress holding truncheon In MS fient manu-
and his head encirced with Laurelweah, to be support
ed by marble pedestal on which WIN be I @ in
basso relievo the following principal events OF the war IN
which Washington commanded in person. The evacuation
of Boston, Ihe capture of the Hessans at Trenton line
Battle of Princeton The action OF Monmouth, ana Inc
surrender of York In the upper part of the front OF the Pc
desta TO be engraved follows: THE United States III
assembled ordered this Statue TO be erected in the
wear Of our Lord 1888 honor Of George Washington the
ustrous Chief of the armies OF the United
States during the which vndcaed and secured their
Liberty, Sovereignty, and independence
Here will be seen, difficulty OF opinion regard
ing the propriey of Equestrian Statue neither were
our ancestors so scrupuous gentlemen of the
present day. in expressing very decidedly that "uhdry
Glory was great element in the renown of Washington
Indeed it is quite evident thunder of the enemys guns
vel echoed in the Imagination of the who passed unani
nousiy the above resolution.
But have wish to play upon the Inauguration Oh
our readers shall return facts in connection with the
resolution of Congress- and BY singular coincidence II
will be SEEM that Thomas Jefferson whom statue Is con-
empated in the design selected while Minister to the
Court of France in 1885, the Virginia delegates IN
Congress, the following "a ,-o-
"Gentlemen consequence of the orders OF the Legs,
atye and Executive bodies of Virginia, nave engaged
Monsieur Houdon make the statue of General Washing
ton For this purpose necessary for him TO see the Gen
eral. He therefore, goes with Dr. Franklin ana WI" nave
the honor of delivering you this himself AS ms Journey Is
al the expense Of the State according TO our contract VIII
pray YOU him with your patronage and counsei
But the most important object with him, is to be employed
to make the EorEsTRIAS Statue for Congress Notmng
but the expectation of this could have induced MN 10 I'M
deake the voyage the pedestrian statue for virginia
NOV in our Capito would make worth the business he
loses by absenring himself was therefore, Obliged 10 as
sure him OF my Recommendation for this great rork"
There can doubt regarding the cultivated taste OF
Thomas Jefferson in matters pertaining to the hnc arts ana
we look upon his opn thus expressed during the lifetime
of Washington as conclusive evidence Of the prorey OF
an Equestrian Statue.
The subject must have been we'll considered in the Con-
gress of 1888 before the unan declared IN our extract
from its Journals could have been arrived at We look up
on this additional instance OF the strength Of our po
son and we would en- passan aude the prevailing desire
of our counrymen 10 see General Washington brought
vvidy before them in the character of the hero The CT
forts being made in Philadelphia suitable ,estmo
NAL TO the greatness of e first in rar are oil tending
towards an equestrian work In New York the same spirit
prevalent in spite of the architectural monstrosties that
from time TO time thrust upon the attention OF her cit-
Many years ago the model OF an equestrian sae'
intended commemorate the military career OF washing
ton was completed by Causic Italian sculptor. This
model was exhibited in the "Park during Fourth of July
celebration and no doubt would have boen ordered in
bronze could little generosity have been extracted from the
patriotism of Northern friends. Fortunately the greaf
york; TO the word, of Jefferson has been left for Vr-
GINA 70 accomplish. She has taken the first step in
defence of her right this honor and certainly such
favorable moment existed the resolution of Con-
ress in 1888 While political discussion is rapidly strdng
fair country, under the influence OF the sinister
Of enemies leaving here and there the seed
of bitter fruit what powerful example Of all the
christian virtues could elevated before than presented
by the Godike image of tho Father of our Country7
But as no man doubt the necessity of this we hasten
observe that objections have been taken to an equean
group the ground Of its being "a mere rugdr IDEA o.
military glory" In answer to this we would ask fellow
has ever occurred them that the visible embodiment of
General Washington could in the remote degree, be as
ISOLATED in their minds with "a ruar idea of military
pory" We take upon ourselves the responsibility of
tradictng Indignantly the insiuuaton that any true
hearted Vgnan would regard the statue; and we would
have it remembered that the military career OF Washington
should be lost sight Of 1t the brightest purest page
in the history of battle He began soldier andy his
honorable patriotic spirited conduct, noble sesacrce and
Godike humanity soon won the esteem Of all men. His
war sword preserved Washington has engraven on its
silver belt buckle sc. 1857 W. thus showing plainly that
the early tendencies OF Washngtons mind towards the
camp and it's consequent glory To the military spirit Of
George Washington indebted for liberties; and
certainly otis passing strange affirm that The heroic
qualities Of our delverer would if represented by the scup
tors noble art become "mee vulgar idea Of military glory"
We shall answer one moro objection which We observe is
dwe upon with peculiar enacty and after we have shown
the applicability OF Bronze being worthy in every respect
for the Statuary of the Monument We must request our rea-
ders to form their Judgment The objection we aude
bases itself upon the of Bronze and declares that
the Equestrian Statue, if made of this MATERIAL would repre-
General Washington disguised Biaekamoor" Ii
is certainly be expected in country, where the
Fine Arts have as yc, received bu, small encourage
ment and where opportunities of forming correct taste
upon the great models of antiquity, and the productions
familiar acquaintance with the subject of Bronzes As yet
every thing in relation this is as il sealed book
and now that about open its pages for the nstruc
lion of counymen by the erection of Monument that
is convey the latest poserity the indication OF
for Washngton-and the progress that Anne
rca as well other civilized nations i, making in the arts
that embellish and refine the enoyments of exsence-we
are BY the Of the would and charged
with the intention of disgusting the Great Washington
Blackamoor" Really, shall allow ourselves sup
pose for moment that this puere attempt to dccry the
great works have its origin in ignorance Ii cannot
be possible that those whose duty is stand forth and
enlishten the public mind would, after serious reflection
have placed themselves in this uncnviable position.
In order however, clear up this apparently dark ques
tion shall take the liberty of calling public attention to the
subect-and do so in sprtinviting the
sideraon of every disposed believe that country
should be great in all things.
Bronze as material for Satuary, has bsen from the ear
est period in Grecian art largely employed in commemorative
monuments and lattery within the last three centuries
many Of the greatest efforts of modern genius have been
preserved to in all their freshness by the of this al
most nperishabe metal It's composition being Copper Tin
and Brass renders easy for the artist produce variety
of coors darker brighter according to the infusion OF the
Nd haya