The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-15
For the Union


1t is well known 10 the public 10 general, that some
years ago Commodore Elliott brought this country
from Beyrout, in Syria marble sarcophagas, which he
presented to General Andrew Jackson the sarcopha
gus in which reposed the remains OF the Roman
Emperor, Alexander Severus. The presentation
companed with the suggestion, that sarcophagus
which had been honored with the mortal remains OF a
Roman Emperor might be reserved fitting receptacle
for the ashes Of the Hero OF New Orleans.
General Jackson while he duly appreciated the honor
intended him, noby declined it, frankly declaring that
he could TO have his body after death, de-
posted in tomb which enclosed the remains OF a
King or Emperor His republican feelings and patriotism
revolled at the idea. He was right and his patriotic
countrymen will honor his memory the for it.
Whether Andrew Jackson ever questioned the GENT
nsness of the sarcophagns presented 10 him by Com
Elliott, we have never heard We presume that Com.
Elliott had antiquarian doubt the subject,
and that he presented it to Andrew Jackson. in perfect
good faith, the veritabe sarcophagus of the Roman
Emperor, Alexander Seyerus IT, however, the good old
Hero of New Orleans had been OF antiquarian,
he would have BEEN perhaps less scrupuous about hav
ing his republican remains deposited in il; for he might
have elected. by little research, sufficient reasons for
believing tina, the sarcophagus in question con-
tanned the remains OF Roman Emperor, and much less
those OF Alexander Severus.
We shall endeavor 10 show in this paper that the
cophagus presented 10 Andrew Jackson. and to be
seen in the basement OF the Patent Office, tina,
OF the Roman Emperor, Alexander Severus.
About half a century ago-ls0l-a fine specimen OF
the Greek sarcophag discovered by the English in
Egypt, and conveyed 10 England, that OF Alexander
the Great II was deposited in the British Museum,
where il now remains and DR.. Clarke the traveller
wrote at the time. elaborate and learned essay to
prove that the remains OF The Macedonian conqueror
had actually been eniombed in it, Subsequent researches
however have rendered nearly, IL not quite certain
that the conclusions OF Dr. Clarke erroneous; and
the boosted sarcophsgss OF Alexander the Great in the
British Museum has oag since ceased 10 be regarded
with much interest And thus il will be with the mu-
tlated sarcophagus which Com Elliott took so much
pains bring biiher, all the way from Syria,
final receptacle for the remains OF Andrew Jackson
Where Com Elliott obtained bls authority for suppos
log that the sacopbagus which he found al Beyron, was
that OF the Roman Emperor, Alexander Severus. we
know not but any who will take the trouble to in
ate the subject will discover that there no
good ground for supposng that il contained the
mains OF Alexander Severus, or Of any other Roman EN-
perof.
/ The story OF Alexander Sevetus j. brief. After a
short war with the Persians, IN which be vctofi-
Gus he returned TO Rome in the year 234 after Christ
After a short repose at Rome, the invasion OF Gau by
the Germans required his presence the banks OF the
Rhine An attempt to reform abuses that bad crepi
into the discipline Of his army brought down upon him
the hatred of his soldiers who, headed by ambitious
Thracan put him death. together with his mother,
MANN m, al Stella. near Mentz. A. ID 23J His death
was greatly lamenled by the whole Roman people, and,
according to the best historians, stately monument
erected to him in Gaul His body earned TO Rome,
where IL received the greatest honors and there
closed in a magnificent tomb. The Roman Senate de-
creed 10 him divine honors and appointed for him al
tars priests and sacrifices II also Instituted annual
festival which celebrated on The i OF October, the
day OF his birth.
Such are the facts regarding the death of Alexander
Severus as given by credible Roman historians, in
whose writings nothing said OF his having been de-
posted in tomb in Syria Indeed such thing is i'm.
probable in the highest degree for in the fret place. il
is positively asserted that his remains were enombed at
Il Rome--a abatement which we believe has never been
contradcied and, secondly is highly improbable that
the Romans would have carried his remains away from
Rome 10 be deposited in tomb OF modest dimensions in
SYRIA remote province oil the Roman empire. II is
,ne that he was a native OF Syria bot there is no
account Of his body having been taken any other
place than Rome, the opinion that occupied the
.acopbagus in question in Syria rests upon con
lecture.
The sareopbaxus itself presents no evidence tina,
would Justify any in supposing il ever to have been
the tomb Of Roman Emperor I,mght have been lha,
Of Syrian prince, Of some rich oriental bat
il could never have been sufficiently magnificent. even
when fret from The chse Of the sculptor for Roman
Emperor whom The Roman Senate had dccreed divine
honors s style and ornaments indeed, not such
usually characterize Roman lombs. The winged and
urbsned images carved upon il do not belong the my
biology Of the Romans. They more Christian than
pagan and the tomb might have been that Of
tyr to Christianity II is true that the figure Of the Ro.
man eagle is cafved each end Of The sarcophsgus
but that is all that s Roman about H. and shows sim.
lpIy that It might have been made while Syria =
Roman province
/ ALBERT wELLEs ELY,
Arm ~, 1854 Census Bureau, nth street