The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-02-22
THE CELEBRATION IN WASnMeTOa TO-DAY


THE CELEBRATION IN WASHINGTON TO-DAY
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To-day the city OF Washington win be the scene OF
pageant OF triple interest and significance to the American
people First because the ceremonies are In honor Of the
anniversary Of the birthday OF the ustrous and mmor.
tai Washington so apty led the Father OF HIS Country
for was he TO whom our national existence
Second, because the nation through their immediate rep
resentAsves, are hangurate TO his nlustrious me
mory work OF art, representing him In as vivid q
manner "a the practical human mind could conceive
statue representing the man, 10 which the eyes Of
counrymen Will be directed in future generations, and
which will renew in their minds tho memory Of the
whose deeds furnished the basis Of national history
Thirdly, because s bestow tribute TO native Anne
Ican art
The Coossalstatue Of Washington which 10 be nsngu
rated 10 day not primarily caused through any recent
act OF national legislature, but merely the revivy
Ing Of old series Of resolutions adopted by Congress
1885, and which remained sacred the records Of the
nation, when the nth Of January, 1853, tho old pAsr
otto spirit Of '76 knded anew IN the breasts Of oux
national legislators, and that day the following reso
iuuons, which copy from the Journal Of Congress-
Resolved Unanimously ten States Of the Union being
presently That an equestrian statue of General Washing
ton be erected at the place where the residence Of
gress be established On the report Of the COMMITTEES 70
prepare plan for the statue, 1t Was
Resolved That the statue be Of bronze the General
be represented In Roman dress, holding truncheon
his right hand and his head enccled in laurel wreath
The statue to be supported by marble pedestal on which
are TO be represented, In bass0 relieve, the following
lon Commanded 10 person vzTSs evscaason Of sos,OS
the capture Of the Hessians at Trenton; the battle Of
Princeton the action Of Monmouth and the surrender
Yorktown On the upper part Of the front Of the pedestal
70 be engraved folows"The United States OF Ameri.
Congress assembled this statue TO be erect
cd the year OF our Lord 17sS in honor Of General
armies Of the United States Of America during
which yndicated and secured their liberty, sovereignty
Resolved, That statue comfortable 10 the above plan
be executed by the best artist in Europe under the
nsendeaee Q. inc Minister o. ,he United stases ~ the
penses OF the same be furnished from the treasury q
/, the United States.
Resolved, That the Secretary OF Congress transmit 70
the Minister OF the United States ut the Court Of Versailles
the best resemblance OF General Washington 10 be
cured that suitable statue be erected together with the
fullest description Of the events which 70 be the sub
jet Of the previous resolutions.
On that day the Hon. Gilbert Dean, OF New York,
asked unanimous Of tho House TO introduce
bill TO carry effect the resolution Of Congress passed
August 1783to erect in the capital Of the nation an
equestrian statue Of General Washington.
The introduction Of this matter was received with Tie
greatest enthusiasm and by request the bin was read
and passed the same day. It reads as follows
Be enacted, &C., That the sum of ry thousand dol
lars hereby appropriated to enable the President the
United States 70 employ Clark Minis erect the city Of
Washington colossal equestrian statue Of General Wash.
shall be designated by the Committee Public Buildings
and Grounds and Substantially carry into effect
resolution passed August 1885, in the Congress Of the
United States Of America
Mr. Orr ofS nnth Cayoius do q motion uvh;rh ~.
finally adopted 70 suspend the rule Of the House which
requires bill calling for appropriation to be referred
to the Committee of the Whole the State Of the Unon
30 that the bill might pass then.
Some miscellaneous debate ensued as TO whether the
statue TO represent Washington should be clothed in the
old Roman toga the Continental unform-the former
style designated by the original resolutons-but il
was finally agreed to leave this question 70 the better
judgment Of the artist.
We win ask readers 10 observe this point In the
resolutions Of 17s3 that Congress authorized the employ
ment Of foreign artist, little thinking that before those
resolutions carried into effect, the halo OF genius
would encrcle the brow of American artist-a Sigh
sketch Of whom annex.
We repeat, then, that the event in Washington to-day
has national significance, which will In future occupy
pre- minent place In our history
The event win be OF very imposing interest Najo
sion The President and his Cabinet the Judges Of tn
Supreme Court, members Of the diplomatic corps, ooen
Of the army and navy the orator Of the day r Bocook
and last though not least Clark Mills Eq the artist VIII
executed the statue, besides officers and soldiers of Ii.
Revolutionary army, in uniform.
The military column will consist CT tho Seventh reg
ment Of New York. Col. Augusts First Virginia regiment
Major Warmers battalion Of Baltimore City Guard, q
oop OF Maryland Dragons the companies Of the District
Of Columbia and probably the United States artillery from
Fort Monroe win be present, and the Communicates Of
Knights Templar from Richmond, Baltimore and Wash.
ington, under Eminent Grand Commander French.
Taking altogether, 1t will be OF the most imposing
ceremonies held in Washington for long time.
CLARK MILLS, THE ARTIST.
We do not propose in this paragraph TO give bio
graphical sketch Of the gentleman whose name forms the
caption Of this article, but merely inform readers
on the main points Of his artistic and evenul career
Clark Mills An American, native Of the Empire State
he saw foreign shore, and for education he fol-
lowed the light Of his genius until he reached the
top round Of the ladder Of fame An orphan, With
thing but the trade Of . milIwrisht, he went from
New York to South Carolina TO seek his fortune. There
he adopted the trade OF a plasterer, and, by the
strength Of that will which has secured him relown he
deter mined 70 seek additional fame Taught by kind and
distinguished friends in his early career and hs impulses
those Of genius that alone be- amidst the dscou
fragments which usually besiege the paths Of true merit
struggled for years. until he produced the equestrian
OF Jackson, which stands forth in Lafayette
square Washington, Triumph Of art TO the memory
the "Hero Of New Orleans" and American genius.
Perhaps anticipating the thread OF sketch, should
have said something about the foruity Of circumstances
which obtained for him the work Of executing the statue
Of Jackson, and his introduction into artistic life. After
his migration TO South Carolina his first efforts direct
ed TO making plaster busts, in which he obtained such
celebrity In making admirable hkenesses that bis merits
appreciated by soon finding plenty Of employ ment
In his new sphere He subsequently, made bust Of John
C Calhoun from piece Of Carolina marble At first the
great nullner ncredulous in regard TO the ability
Of the artist to execute the work. but encouraged him with
view to foster tho aspirations Of American art Time
rolled on, and when the work finished it was pro-