American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-08-07
Communicated
Ia. 49, III - a. H. n a

MEssRs. EDIToRs: Why should there be SO
much noise and confusion raised in regard to
the course which the Commissioner of Public
Buildings and Grounds deemed it his privilege
to take, in the matter Of the location of the
Bronze Equestrian Statue of General Jackson :?
The facts in the matter, as understand them,
are simply these: Mr.. Mills, the artist and
Captain Easily, the Commissioner of Public
Buildings and Grounds, happened one day to
be riding together in an omnibus past the Presi-
dents House and Lafayette Square, on the OPP
posite side Of the great avenue. Mr.. Mills
made some remark on the beauty of the site
selected for the jackson statue, pointing to
Lafayette Square. Captain Easily said at once
that Jackson's statue could not go there. Mr..
Mills remarked that he thought the late Presi-
dent Polk had located the site Of the statue in
Lafayette Square Well, said Captain Easily,
he had no right to do it. The statue can't go
there A site may be had for it over on the
Island, by the Washington Monument but it
can't go in Lafayette Square
Mr.. Mills got somewhat indignant at this
emphatic resolve of the Commissioner Of Public
Buildings and Grounds, but, lest he might be
in error in his views on the subject refrained
from making any positive reply, and went to
seek the Secretary of the Jackson Association,
John W. Maury, esq, and inform him Of Capt
Easby's position in the matter.
This brought about an interview between
Mr.. Maury and Captain Easily, on which oc-
casion the indomitable Commissioner first took
the same views of the subject which he had
maintained in the omnibus with Mr. Mills the
artist. Mr. Maury, in his own quiet way, asked
Captain Easily if he had consulted President
Fillmore on the subject and the Commissioner
said no, he had not, but the President would
stand by him and back him up in the matter.
Whereupon Mr.. Maury said, let US look at the
joint resolution Of Congress on the subject and
see if even the President can prevent the jack
son statue from being erected in Lafayette
Square. The joint resolution was then read,
authorizing the President of the United States
to select the site for the statue, with the en-
dorsement of Mr.. President Polk, locating the
site in Lafayette Square. Capt. Easily acknowl-
edged his error, and surrendered at discretion,
like convinced man, ready to obey as well as
to execute the laws of his adopted country.
Now, what more could be asked Of the Com
missioner than thisf Would you ask him to be
jackson man? He had right to be an anti
Jackson man, and he had a right to suppose
that his fast and answering friend, President
Fillmore, would stand by him and back him up
in forbidding the erection of Jackson's statue
right under the nose of Wing President. They
had both been old anti Jackson men together.
They had fought hard against him, and he had
looked upon them, no doubt, with something
akin to contempt. Why, then, expect them to
turn about and fall in love with the memory Of
Andrew Jackson?
Was not Capt Easily fully justified in count
ing upon the Presidents backing him up in this
business? He knew President Fillmore's old
f,,anloh,,~ Co anl that
nothing short of a pretty smart earthquake
would be likely to break off that friendship.
Hence he had a right to say that high func-
tionary would stand by him. But as soon as
he looked at the law relative to the statae, he
was all obedience to its mandate. What more
could be asked? True, his enemies may say he
ought to have known the law relative TO the
public grounds, or he ought not to be the Com
missioner over them. But he claims to be no
lawyer; why then expect him to know the law
by heart? 1t may be urged that his conduct
shows what he would have done if he only had
had the power, and that President Fillmore
would have backed him up! Well, what of
thatl They are in power, and are both anti
Jackson men, and they have the right to display
their anti-Jacksonism in their high places,
haven't they?
1t is complained of Captain Easily, that he
has removed that venerable and most highly
esteemed man, Robert Mills, the architect,
from Office. But did not President Fillmore
request it, or sanction it; and win he not stand
by and back up Captain Easily in the matter
AS for Captain Easby's manner being emphatic
and English-like, it must be recollected that he
is an Englishman by birth, and can't be ex-
pected to be entirely free from Englishisms
one Of which-energy and emphasis of man
ner-is q credit to him.
In conclusion, let me tell the enemies Of Cap
tain Easily, one and all, that he and President
Fillmore are understood to know, understand,
and love each other like brothers; and that mo-
thing which Captain Easily may do will cause
his devoted friend, President Fillmore, to dis
miss him from office before he goes out of Office
himself-on the 4th of March, 1858.