Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-08-24
VIRGINIA WASHINGTON MONUMENT.

Yesterday morning the colossal bronze statue of
Thomas Jefferson was elevated to ii. temporary pc
dosta the lower pcdincnt of the Capitol steps and
when the covering wns removed, n presen. were dc.
lighted with its majestic beauty. Ii il in beautiful mud
per:ec, contrast with Henry The latter is all action
the Jefferson is calm and grand rcpo". The one re-
presents the fire and mpe,uosity Of The impassioncd
orator-thc other, the deep thought sad majestic com.
ppsure of the naster-stntesmam. Both statues arc
great triumphs Of genius, and, for true expression
grandeur, fidelity to life, and artistic ard perfect exc
cuton in the mnutest details, canmr: be surpassed
Henry and Jefferson stand like the Guardian Grnii oi
Virgina's Capitol. They are both greatly and uni
versally admired for their rcspcctiv merits; and their
erection will form an era in the history of our State
and country. They have already produced u great
sensation among the art-critics G Europe. There
the statue Of Jefferson hos been ,sty ranked with
Michael Angeles wonderful state, einblcmatic of
ThouSM,
The statue Of Jefferson is taller an that of Henry
1t represents the Snge Of Aontcelh wrapped in the
ample folds of cloak gracefully 4llinc around him.
with the head slightly bent as ii il iecp ixed thought
In his left hand folded across his Irea.) lie holds
scroll, iuscrbed "l77G" (,hc Decoration Of Indepen
u
his chin, he srasps pen. jefferson is per-
sonated US meditating on the PREPARATION of that i'm
mortal document, at which time lc was thirty three
years aud three months Of age. from fuckers Life
Of Jefferson we extract notice + this great act in
the drama Of his life:
From the time of the battle Of Lexington in ApriI
l775 the public mind Throughout America had been
preparing for separations and n Nrgua, the course
pursued by LORD Dunmnre hs' for time kept
| the people in state of fever N aptatou: which,
provoked without illuminating aud by n succession
| Of ndecisve skirnshcs, fumi.-zcd their minds to
scenes of war, and greatly increased their confidence
! in their courage and milta.v resources
The Convention met for The fifth and the, last time
in Williamsburg on the 9Th Of sav and on the 18th
of May l776 it took the Dol! md decisive step Of
iusructing their delegates in Congress to propose to
that body, 10 declare the cGrilics udrDu.dent Uf
Great Britain; and the Convection itself Immediately
set about declaration OF rs4ts. and II new Consti-
tuition for Virginia. In obrIicncc to these instruc-
tiuns on Friday, tho 9Th OF June, Richard Henry
Lee by the request of his coleayucs moved that the
Congress should declare "tIs these United Colonies
are, and OF right ought to b.. free aud independent
States that they absoly@d from all allegiance to
1" the British CROWN and tina all political conuexion
between them and the Sa, ui Great Britain il, md
fought to that measures should inn
"mediaely be taken rprorurng the assistance of 70.
"resn powers and confederation Ec formed to bind
| " the Colonies nure closely ".cther."
The consideration of the subject bcuf- postroned
TO the next day, 1t was then taken up and debated
that day, Saturday, nnd the following Monday, by
Messrs. j. Albums, RclIur; H. Lee Wvtle and some
others, in favor of the proposi:ion and by Messrs
Wilson, Robert K. Livingston, Edward Rutledgc
Dickinson, and Others against il. whose obiectionq
however, went ru:ler to TN tine than to :he measure
itself. AS six Of the Colonies TO wi;: New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware. MARYLAND aud
South Carolina, were not vet prepared for this bold
step, it was thought prudent delay decision for
short time, the lst of July but meanwhile, to pre-
vent unnecessary oeIF' d committee was appointed
to prepare, by way OF manifesto, Declaration OF In
dependence.
The committee consisted Of Thomas Jefferson John
Adams of Massachusetts, Dr. Franklin of Pennsyl
vaaa, Roger Sherman of Connecticut and Robert X.
Livingston OF New York. The committee being, ms
usual, appointed by ballot, aud Mr.. Jefferson having
received the highest humber of votes was selected by
the other members to pakr tie druught lie accord
ing undertook II: and thu. became the author of the
most lnenoraoie puo,lc document which history re-
cords-onc with which his name has become so nt
mnelv associated that il would alone be sufficient 10
keep that fresh i'll tn. recorc,ions of his coun
try,nen TO the latest posterity.
Before the original drnusht was submitted to the
whole committee, 1t WIS shuwa, bv its author TO DR..
Franklin aud Mr.. Adams, both Of whom conteuted
themselves with two or three verbal alterations.
Accompanying the statues of Henry md Jefferson,
,wo massive and beautiful bronze shields have ar
rived representing the two sides OF the Great Seal OF
Virginia. The following description of the Great Seal
we copv from the Journal Of the proceedings of the
Virginia Convention of July 5th l'6:
Mr. George Mason, from the committee appointed
to devise proper seal for this Commonweah re-,
ported. that the committee bad accordingly prepared
the following device thereof; whlch ne reau IL MS
place. and afterwards delivered in at the clerks table,
where the again twice read, and agreed to-
TO BE ENGRAVED on THE GREAT SEAL.
VIRrUS, the genius Of tie Commonwealth, dress
cd like an AaaEon, resting on spear With one hand