Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-02-18
Inauguration at New Orleans

INAUGURATION et New orleans
Judging from our correspondence, (too long,
we regret to say. for publication,) and from
| tho New Orleans papers, the 9th Of February
was great day for the denizens Of the Ceres
cent City" and 1.-THE strangers within their
gates" Business was generally suspended,
aad thousands congregated TO witness the in
auguration of the statue commemor atng the
form and aspect Of tho Hero of New Orleans.
Need we remind our readers that it is a dupli-
cate of that in Lafayette Square, and was
executed at Bladensburg by Clark Mills, Esq,
who will soon return to complete his chef
d'eurre for this Metropolis. E ~. ..
The day was delightful. Cannon doomed,
flags futtered, music filed the air, and the
streets literally swarmed with the population
in holiday attire. The military, iremen,
benevolent societies and other civic bodies,
turned out in full uniform and regalia, with
banners and music under the marshalship of
Gen. Tracy, and formed into a procession that
actually seemed interminabls. This process.
sion once under way. the wide-scattered null.
titude began to concentrate in the direction of
jackson Square; and when, at MONDAY, the
concentration had come to a focus, the square
and its vicinity formed spectacle such as
was never before seen in New Orleans.
Upon platform appropriately decorated. in
front of the statue, the ceremonies of the in
auguration took place. Ex-Mayor Crossman,
President of the Monument Association, intro
duced l.. J. Sigur, Esq, as the orator of the
day Mr.. S. made IN eloquent and appropri-
ate address, reviewing the life of his hero as
the warrior and as the chief of great people,
and was interrupted by the frequent applause
of those who were able to hear him. Whom
he concluded, man by the pedestal pulled a
string-the canvas fell-and the bronze figure
of the warrior, upon his rampant war-steed
glittered in the light of the sun. Instanta-
neously deafening cheer arose, and the hats
of the multitude were waived aloft; the vari-
Gus bands Of music joined in a chorus of the
most inspiriting music and a salute of hun
dred guns, given with cannon on the levee,
awoke the echoes far and near.
Subsequently Ex-Mayor Crossman intro.
duced Clark Mills, Esq, the designer and
builder of the statue, to the assemblagc, whom
he addressed as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen: The statue before
you represents one who, with handful of men,
proved himself the savior of your beautiful
city. Gen. jackson is there represented as he
appeared on the morning of the 9Th of January,
forty one years ago. He has advanced to the
centre of the line in the act of review; the
Zines have come to present arms as a salute to
their commander, who is acknowledging it by
raising his chapeau, according to the military
etiquette Of that day. His FESTIVE horse, an
ticipating the next move, attempts to dash
down the line; the bride hand of the daunt-
less hero being turned under, shows that he is
restraining the horse, whose open mouth and
curved neck indicate that the animal is feeling
the bit. L have thought this explanation
necessary, as there are many critics who pro-
fcss not to understand the conception of the
artist.
Ladies and gentlemen, it will be to my
memory dark day, indeed, when shall for
get the vast crowd of faces around me; and
should this humble effort meet your approba-
ton, my proudest reflection will be the con-
seriousness of having perpetuated, in imperish-
able bronze, the form and features of one
whose life and character have been my admi-
ration.
Mr.. Mills was loudly cheered. After that,
the venerable Bernard Marigny addressed the
multitude in French, in very spirited and
appropriate manner, and came off with voci-
ferrous honors.
A large portion of the crowd remained in
the square for hours, admiring and criticising
the statue There were still numbers of people
in the square at dark. All next day the
square was alive with the beauty and gallan-
try of the city; and there We hope the statue
will stand and be visited by admiring crowds
for unnumbered years to come.
In the evening, at the st. Charles Hotel,
the city authorities gavo a sumptuous dinner
to the leading personagos of the day tc-wit
Governor Wickliffe and suite, the Legislative
Committees, the Monument Association, Clark
Mills, Esq, the artist, and other gentlemen of
distinction. The dinner was eminently worthy
of the occasion, and after the removal of the
cloth, toasts and responses were given, of a
nature appropriate to the occasion, and of
such quality as might have been expected
from the gallant and eloquent spirits present
We regret that our space will not permit us
to narrate the proceedings in detail.