Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-06
TERMS OF ADVERTISING.
For fourteen lines or less
JaAGEMENT TOAMERICAN POETIC
So 90 PR T. MUM,

$500 PISEAIIUM.
PRESS I'D as [ am with tn. controlling influence
Flic l. exercised by the fine arts upon the direc-
AM d.Stlny of human affairs, it has given me- in
! pleasure to wItleSS the bOuntlul manner in
j. from time II time, painting and statuary have
tlcouri5ed and rewarded by tue Councils of the
~. while this acka Dwled smsnt is due to the dis
~ aIi worthy patroaS of these noble arts it is
..uai source of humi iatjOu and sorrow to behold
aoyIreIt apathy ana indilferen :e with which they
l :, reg ri tue incUmparably more valuable Gre
! g, u poetry
ree them aIorn the walls of the Capitol with the
,l, revelations OF the pencil, and deco rate the
\ l. .cJulJs vita the costly chef d'uuvres of the
....i an omen of good which will be hailed and
lIel by ali as Il cheering pledge of the progress
-jIrmcHt. But, whilst they lavish their thous-
upDI these Inln0bi,e products of canvass and
aaI brJnzs, they olfer no reward for the more
4 t. nJre cuturlls aod renowned ovations Of he
BE- Ao t'SterIn5 hand from these high places has
ye, invited the PrOmethan fire of poetry to ami
nc history OF our country, which, with all it's
lJy OF tIr1 and Onder OF proportion. lies asleep
! mi ths humble vault OF Mount Vernon, ready to
; mo ife aud beauty at the first kiud,ing touch
! L, Mai inspiration.
surely We're Il work of superero-ation to introduce
Is that crowd the records of the past to show
ar above all other stands the ''divine art ~ of
:. nat are ali the paintings statues, and rega-
u.
lslrrd with the - Narsries Hymn - What the
y p'nopiy Of gold and gems heaped up in the
'~r u London; what the collections of the Royal
4tny, or even the time halowei shrineS of West
TT Abbey, when compared with the songs of
.as aa1 Dib len, and Campbell? Or what has the
III that We would take in exchange for '' Tail Co
-Ila and the 'Star-Spangled Banner?" Well
,Ii the british statesman eXclaim, ''let me but
II. tue ballads of u nation, and L care not who
Eas IL laws"
Is ftr As the living breathing is above the cold
~asa,e mIrble that is made to represent him; as
lS the ri liant skies of summer above the per-
'3ie canvass to which the pal ater has transferred
er ieDle resemblance, so far is poetry above all
Der arts that have their mission to console and ee
| Il and inspire the immortal mind OF man.
Ia view Of these facts and considering the lament
lalcl.y of patriotic songs in my distinguished
Al beloved country, and with the hope of being the
a1e means ola proper public feeling upon this in
FrunS subject, L have been induced to offer, and
hereby otter, the of five hundred dollars as d
tor the best National Poem, ode, or Epic.
il' rules which will govern the payment of this
al ale as follows:
- | have selected (without consulting them) the
'fIas persons to act ud geS arbiters of the
Il thus offered namely:
l' President of the United States.
loa \. y. P. Nicholson. of Tennessee.
-t'a ChaS. Sumner, of U. s. Senate.
l'a r. Vi. L. Hunter, do
la. Jas. c. Jones, do
iol.J. r Chandler, of u S. House Representatives.
.'l ALLISON White, do do
..5a Thos. IL. Bayly, do do
ill. D. [. Disney, do do
la. John p. Kennedy, Secretary of the Navy.
y. Joan ". q. Evans, of New Jersey.
| DI IhoS Saunders.
| LSeph tales
r'l K. Arm strong
J:G. Bailey, ol 'ne fresS'
Nv. S.lton,
i''>or Henry, ofthe Smithsonian Institution.
q >'llen. late Treasurer Of the United States.
~ W. Butler, Episcopal Church.
- ID H. Cure PrcSby terian Church.
- = Resell. Methodist El,is lopal Church.
w. Ar Dodelan, Catholic Church.
lH'Nt gentlemen, or any three of them. are
E authorized to meet at the Smithsonian Insti-
IA The second Monday of December next at such
| E 'ley may appoint, and there proceed to read
r'tHIIne the various poems which may have
.''elved, and to determine which of them Is
".FHoriouS and deserving of the prize. And L
| :" bint myself to pay the sum aforementioned
-''h t. whpever they shall present to me as the
=. nho has written within the time prescribed the
'tt9na Patriotic Poem, and upon the repreSen
' 'hat he or she is an American citizen.
III communications must be sent to me at
'i';t0u ipost-paitU before the first Monday in De-
@' mkt, with full and complete conveyance of
-'Iyrlsht TO me and my heirs and assigns for
:" hereby bind and Obtgate myself to sell the
- us sent tn me soon aS practicable, tor the
- Frice aud to give the proceeds to the poor of
/ E OF Washington.
4 ' A6 poem will be cOns Tered as subject to this
Nhch shall not have been written subsequent
1, 4ate. and received before the first Monday in
/ ,.a1r next Il. W. LATHAM.
-Li!SGToN, FEE. 10, 1853. h17-