, 1860-02-24
Seunt1r 11nle OH ART under the Fat
TQn tts& Of &xQYtEnllEill.

r0n4Ee of Government
Senator Hale made Il rich speech in the SEN
ate the other day on Government art. The
subject under consideration was an appropria-
ton for the inauguration Of Clark Mills statue
Of Washington: Mr.: Hale said:
feel 40 particular interest in this matter;
only want TO wash my hands Of any respan-
sbl'ity for it ut ali; fur think if there is any
thing ou earth ,but llis Government ils been
most EN- nently unfortunate in, IL Is in its at
lellpts to decorate the grounds in this city with
statuury and ornamental work.
Mr. Davis.-The Senator from New Hasup-
shire will not understand me is lIdorsipG
statue that have nerer seen. do not know
whatit is.
Mr. uule.-That is my condition, and want
to put in little protest: It will not do any
harm. The Senator from south Carolina Mr.
Hammond denominutes the bronze atue Of
jefferson. in the Presidents grounds, as Il scare.
crow. We'll, sir, we have SOME en- the east frunt
Of the Capitol. do not pretend to be u COLI
soisseur iu ktutuaty or painting, or anything Of
that sort. utn not going to say anything that
the Chairman OF tue COMMITTEE on the Library
a1r. Peal ce] can con.e down OIL nae for; but
do sny that more tlorrid caricatufes caunot be
fouoh in nug wax museum travelling through
the New En.'and States tor ,al'bition 10 the
boys, lhun are to be fuuhd on the cast front Of
yoar Capitol. They are perfectly horrid, Alr.
The artist has undertakes to nuke dog. aDd
h. docs nut look any nlore like u dug ti,an would
leap Of clay with i stick stuck into one end.
[Laughter.J That is your dog. 1t - tire most
horrible looking thing ever saw. .anshcr.]
d Senator asks nle whn: makes me t0tnk 1t is u
dog: 1t is because unl told that it Is d,'-.
Mr. Clinginau.-l have read in piper that
it did represent j dog.
Mr I.,e.-Tua, is it; and it is au impruve-
lnent Oh soulc Of our OLD ar:isti-tic w"rS*. !
should like 10 hare the Senator trum Kentucky
f,Ir. Crittenden] give bis opinion ot Pefs.so,s
comments on it. Ithipk that Is IL miserable
abortion. II it looks like anything. it !ooks
like pretty stout gyinna>tic gamulrr with L
bail in his haud, a1out to roll ut mae Plus.
il. ugh.cr.] That is the Ideal it would su.ses.
10 u stranger. Then, there is another statue
there ,h, it used to be the fashlon to praise
very uLuch, und that Is Grtcnongh's statue ef
Washington. That IS carried oil somewhat fur
tier from tie Capitol, and, eto:e, is less Of
ten$ige u good iuste than II used 10 be when 1t
was nearer.
au, no. IN artist, sir; never was in Italy in
my lie cannot talk Itaiiun; and do not. know
whut is tue oplniou Of connoisseurs on these
matters; but know how they strike u,e, n
plain, unsopnisticattd man. l think they are
utter abort,ous; aud jim unwilling t" appro.
PIRATE auv more OF the public u1ouey Tor tho
purpose Of filing up the city with these scare-
crows, Us the Senator from South CarulinA llaS
depomiuatcd them. rrcollect, sir, Ill old gen.
tlemaa, WHO used TO represent my StAte in s"ne
OF the early Congresses, stated thnt the order
for filling up the panels OF the ro,unda, that
was Joue By Trumbut, w4s done by ordes ng
certain pictures 10 u,auy feet long, aud so many
feet vide; that WIS the ouiy direction giren !;
that certain dimensions should be- painted to
fill up those places; anl he retnarAc ], "this is
hiring painting to be dnne by tlr acre )" ND
tiat Was literally 50. But, fortunately, Or Ut
fortunately, m artist happened to be standing
by him, though Ac did not know it, und he sud
to the gentleman, /" if you will call Ut my ROOM
in New York when you 20 through, will ehuw
you some painting tnas was not done by lie
acre" and h4 did.
These are my yiews, candidly expressed. I
think that every attempt1hut Nc have lnade has
pu. us deeper iu the lnlte. Grecnough's statue,
thought, was very bad, but that one on the
left band Of the ca I do IT ua the poriico, is ill.,
tinite'y worsc; and do lope HAT until VIC hare
rot sumo better mode OF selecting works Of art,
We shall not undertake 10 .Anent our grounds
in this way. / u,n not saying wurI against
this statue, because | do nut know anything,
abou. it, aud have not seen it. Possibly when
it comes out, it may illustrate that my comments
we're unnecessary, that we have made wonIer.
full progress in the arts, .nd that this statue
had. %a{ be something different fro" what " c A'Tt
Mr. Dr:ght-If tde Senator will allow me,
while he is critcising the works of art Of tue
Government here. ask hin to hive his option
On the statue Of Jackson by Mr. Mills. He omit.
ted that. That is the reason lask him the ques-
tion.
Ar. Hale-I omitted that for this reason:
rather .hnk that's better. [Laughter.] 10.
absolutely. want to be candid; but still the
Senator should remember that i'm not skilled
in these maAers. ! do not pretend to hare any
professional taste auou: them. only judge Of
thens as they st.ike my eye. am ii cr 10 say
that, while hare heard some who pretend 20 te
I connoisseurs, and some who pretend TO he ar.
lists, ctticise tnat siatue, it strikes me fayora.
by. rather like the looks Of il. think it is
| an improvement.
II. ilammond--1 will ask the Senator another
question, ss he is going into the catechism
| What do you think OF tile statue Of Cruwlurd
| in the old Representative Hail: :s.>
Mr. uala-The new one!
alr. Hammono-That is to be put On the CONC
| Of the Capitol.
Mr.. Halle have not looked at that very mar.
ticular.y but confess it has not struck me rs
| anything very credltuble. will say that. |
have lot examined it very crit,c.lly; but the
impression it has made On MY mind is, that i,
| far iron, being very tiue work Of trt