Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-02-18
KNc0URAaEKENr TO AMERICAN porr.
&c TALENT!
$500 pr r NJ Inn

&c TALENT!
$500 PREMIUM.
l MfHEcoAO ~ am with the controlling infiuenos
wmcn Is exercised by the hns upon the dire
tom and destiny Of human Affairs it has given m. in
mute pleasure to witness the bountifui manner in
WHICH, nom time to time, painting and statuarv have
Nation. Va 'Ao
But, while this acknowledgement Is due to the dis
eerng and worthy patrons OF these noble arts it in
oQua source OF humi iation and sorrow to behold
IN apparent apathy and indiferen with which thev
seem 70 regard the incomparxbiy more valuable crs-
ah ons Of poetry.
70 sss them adorn the walls Of the Capitol with tn.
glowing revelations of the pencil, aud decorate the
public grounds with the costly chef doeuvres of the
chisel, 10 an omen Of good which will be hailed And
sppiendsd BY al - cheerng pledge Of the progress
OF reunement But, whilst they lavish their thous.
ands upon these immobie products Of canvass and
marble and bronze, they offer reward for the mors
exalted, more enduring aud renow ned ovaons Of hs
pen. No fostering hand from these high places has
ever yet invited the promethan fire Of poetry to AMI
mate the history Of our country. which, with all is
harmony Of form and onder OF proportion lies ssleep
around the humble vault OF Mount Vernon, ready to
spring into life and beauty At the first kindine toucn
Of this genial inspiration.
1t surely were work of supererogstion to introduce
the proofs that crowd the records Of the past to show
poesy. What are all the paintings statues and reRa-
liz OF Versailles Of Fontanbleau, and the Tuleries
compared with the Is Msrseiles Hymn" What the
ningiy psnopy Of gold and gems hesped up in tho
Tower Of London; what the soleciens of the ROYAL
Academy or even the time hallowed shrines Of est
minister Abbey, when compared with the songs Of
Burns, and Nbden, and Campbell! Or what has the
world that We would take in exchange for Hail Co
lumbia'' and the 80 tar-Spangsd Bannsrw We'll
might the British statesman sxclaim, "let me but
write the ballads Of . nation, and care not who
makesit laws"
As far a. the living. breathing man is above the cold
inssnssts marble that is made represent him; as
Tar - the radiant skies of summer above the per-
lshabe canvass to which the pal. has transferred
holY fo.hlo l.~
other arts that have their mission console and Gle
vste and inspire the immortal mind of man.
In view OF these facts, and considering the lament
able paucty Of patriotic songs in nv distinguisbed
and beloved country and with the hope Of being the
humble means OF proper public feeling upon this in
teresting subject, have been induced to Offer and
DO hereby offer, the sum of five hundred dollars a.
prize for the best National Poem, Ude, or Epic
The rules which will govern the payment of this
sum ale as follows:
1ss have selected without consulting them the
following persons to cot a. judges or arbiters Of the
prize thus offered, namely:
The President of the United States.
Hon. A. o. P. Nicholson. of Tennessee
Hon Chas. Sumner, of U. 8. Senate.
Hon. X. NJ. I. Hunter, do
Hon. Jas Z. Jones, do
Hon. Chandler, of u S. House Representatives
Hon Addison bite, do do
Hon. John p Kennedy, Secretary of tho navy.
Dr. John W. T.. Evans, of New Jersey.
Joseph Gales,
Gen. X. Armstrong, | .D
Dr. G. Bailey, u '"s h'es''
w. W. Seaton,
Professor Henry, ofthe Smithsorian Institution.
VIM Seldsn, late Treasurer of the United States.
Rev. C. NJ. Butler, Episcopal Church
Rev. K. K. Gure., Presbyterian Church.
Rev. S. ;. Roszell Methodist Episdopxl Church
Rev. MIR. Douelan, Catholic Church.
I'd. These gentlemen, any three Of them, are
hereby authorized to meet at the Smithsonian insti
tute the second Monday of December next at such
hour as they may appoint and there proce-d to read
and examine ithe various poems which may have
been received, and to determine which of them In
most meritorious and deserving Of the prize. And
hereby bind myself to pay the sum aforementioned
forthwith t. whoever they shalt present to me as the
who has written within the time prescribed tho
bert National Patriotic POem and upon the represen-
tation tnat he or she is American citizen.
81. ALI communications must be sent to me at
Washington lpostpaid) before tae first Monday in De-
eenber next with full and complete conveyance Of
the copyright to me and my heirs and assigns for
ever.
4th. hereby bind and obligate myself to sell the
poems thus sent to me practicable, the
highest price, and to give the proceeds the poor
the city of Washington.
5th. No poem will be considered subject to this
prize which ehsll not have been written subsequent
to this date, aud received before The first Monday
Decemb'r next r. w. LATHAM.
WASHINGTON, FEB. 10, 1853 febl7-