Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1853-02-01
History of the Jackson Statue.

From the Washington Union, Jan. 49, 1853.
It is but just that we should give, and that po
terity should know, whatever merit is. due
those who have done anything in giving to Amer
ca aud to the world the magnificent bronze eque
trian statue of General Jackson, no. in Lafa
ette square. Especially should tho name, Il s
character and knowledge OF the difficulties =
the artist, be handed down to future ages. We
have collected the facts from The artist himself
Mr.. Clark Mills-and now publish them as his
torCal record.
We know not with whom the idea OF erecting
a statue 10 General Jackson originated 1t was
a common thought, and probably had been sug.
gested by many at different times, hear
every day of statues 10 Clay, to Webster,
and to others OF our great countrymen. The first
movement made TO carry out the idea appears to
have been at u public meeting in Apollo Hall,
on the 18th OF September, l845. Resolutions
were there passed for that purpose. Subse-
quentIy, and during the Presidency Of James X.
Polk, a meeting OF the Cabinet officers and other
officers of the Government was held at the Presi-
dents House for the same object
"A committee was formed OF the following gen.
tlemen: Cave Johnson, Amos Kendall, john p.
Van Ness, James Huban. John w. Maury, Chas.
K Gardner, Jesse f. Dow, William A. Harris,
Charles p. Sengstack, Francis 2. Blair, John G.
Rives, Thomas Richie aud Benjamin 3. French,
TO collect contributions aud To carry ont the work
After wards, in consequence Ot the dcCease of J.
p Van Ness James HODam, and Jesse T.. Dow,
and the resignation of William A. Harris, Messrs.
John NJ. McCalIa, George w. Hughes, Andrew
j. DUnelson, and George Parker, were chosen in
their places. This committee collected twelve
thousand dollars. To their eXertions we owe
the means for making the statue. But at the
time, nU one deeming 1t possible that aby artist
wonld make bronze equestrian statue ot Gene
raj jackson for the small sum collected, 1t WAS
seriously debated whether not pedestrian
statGe should he erected and the work given to
Mr. Powers Even after Mr. Mills had proposed
10 make the equestrian statue, some ot lhe, COM
.nittee doubuIng his capacity, we're disposed 10
have pedestrian statue by Powers. But when
Mr. Mills produced his model, and offered TO give
security for the due performance of The work, the
contract was made with him for the twelve thou
sand dollars.
1t was in the year lS48, while the jackson
statue committee we're looking for an artist, that
Mr. Mills chanCed to be passing through Wash
ingIun city on his way to Italy. He had been
house plasterer in Charleston, South CurOlna.-
He was citizen of that State, having lett the
State of New York, the State of his nativity,
when boy and settled in South Carolina. His
first efforts in art were directed to making plas-
ter busts He succeeded in giving such admiTa-
Bile hkenesses that he soon was much employed.
He then resolved to make u bust OF Mr. Calhoun
in marble.
The great South CaFolinian saw there was
genius in the man, and he sat to him. Mills
chose the finest piece Of CarOlinian m5rble he
could find, and chiseIed it into shape amid the
gibes and sneers of the people. What folly,"
they said ''for this pIaserer to presume 10 scup-
ture marble like the great artists of Italy !" He
shut himself up from their gaze-he hid himself
from their sueers in his little shop until he had
finished his work He had never seen works of
art the manner in which the sculptor does his
work. nor the instruments he uses; yet, with his
own rude tools he produced one ofthe finest Piec.
es of sculpture in the world in the bust OF Mr.
Calhoun. 1t was the admiration and astonIsh-
ment of all. The city OF Charleston as an ap;
probation Of the work, pTesented him a splendid
gold medal aud placed she bust IN the City Hail.
Some friends, admiriDg his genius, offered the
means to send him TO Italy; and he was, as we
have said, on his. way there, passing through
Washington, at the fortunate moment when the
Jackson-statue committee was in search OF an
artist He had never before been in Washing
ton. But spending a few days in this city, to
look al its public buildings and its works Ot art, he
became acquainted with some of the committee,
and with their object They invited him to give
design. At first he declined, never having seen
an equestrian statue. lie was modest-that is
his character. But the genius OF his lame dis
turbed his rest, and woke up the strong natVe
powers of his mind. 1T haunted his lmaglne-
ton; when all the world was asleep, a thousand
beautiful forms hoate6 before his waking visions.
There was the great Jackson, who has Impressed
the grandeur of his soul and the republican sim
plicity OF his character on the institutions and
mind ofhis country, and on the future otthe world
That form passed before the imagination ot the
artist in the character of poor Peasant Boy, of
Hardy Pioneer of the wilderness, Of Judge,
of a Senator, of a General, and as President OF
the United States the artist saw him IN all the
remarkable scenes olhis life. He embodied them
in marble and in bronze. One form he selEed-
one vision he arrested and fixed in his mind. 1t
,e NJo,t n-Ia in n hi1 ChAFRCs
terstic majesty, intrepidity, aud hrmness, mount
ed on a magnificent war.stced, paving the air
with ferceness and restless mpatenCe, as con-
! scious of the coming battle yet yielding TO the
iron nerve of hs rider. It was at the battle OF
New Orleans, when the General was hurrIedIy
riding in review of his forces, few moments De.
fore the epga cement which was the form and
scene that fastened itIeif on the artists mind
In an Instant he woiked it into bronZes and It
stood before him like a living thing. His mind
| was agitated he was'' haunted with an idea.
But doubts came. Heooked back to his past his
tory, and to the difficulties before him'--a fatal
stumbling. block TO modest genius. The world
Of art with its schoob, It's authorities, nnd its
rules, stood mp to TebuEe the presumptIous Plas-
teTer. Itdid not recognize him; he was ont OF
the pale of its society ;ghe had never graduated,
Fora moment he felt discouraged. But Shen he
heard q whisper in his ear--the Genius OF his
! fame, said: g follow Nsaure Genius ia superior
tosATt-A Art makes its mics from ~ NatuFer-79pch
is the evidence from history Nature Id as grand,
as beautiful, and as Vaiotss in Ametica as in
Italy or Europe study Nature follow. AatuTe. y
Now he was cheered. 0ther visions ps sed be-
fore him he thought os the glory of ds ng this
vorks-of leaving 70 pcs eTtty Representa- llons OF
other heroes and great hon of AmeneaS and of
qEest scenes and eyents la his coantry story,
and, shove III, of the ~ SgY ef making e liglty
co6ssal statne, laEgeHt tlitn 6pYthing IN old,
10 the Father Of his epnEtFys He deSided TO
nd be Tie Jaclssol statl5t, 1le knew amount
ofsFed would not pay hi Ssl0ch less him;
tit be said g n iiI vol f1EA future shall