New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-04
The Seizure OF Photographic Plates.

Two or three days before the aTl4fh Oi tNc i""'
oor,6ge il occurred TO that picture fepresehms
the at the City Hall, would meet with nmVersa
fayor and satisfy, by its necessary correctness to
curiosity Of that large class OF people Throughout '"'
country. who from various reasons were unable 10
participate in tho solemn homage paid TO our country
martyred hero.
With this view. applied FOR and receiver rom i
committee of Tie Common Council the exclusive priv
legt Of taking tie photographs above menioneu' al"
hc solemn honor was further Endorsed from the fact
tist Gen. L. ID. Townsend and Admiral DAVIS VINO
pwele in special charge OF tie remains were included III
s,he pictures while Gen. Dix, rs wei as many olnei
promnonl men, were in waiting iu the Governor room
during the time occupied by rs, ard were aware that
ephoios rapls were being taken Having occupied the
time allotted rs. We proceeded TO complete picture
with the cid Of three OF our best artists Who were
present at the taking ol the negatives onr intention De-
sng 10 spare pains and labor which might give 10 the
.pubc correct artistic and historical representation
If one OF the most memorable scenes in american BIZ
5iory.
il lad been suggested that IT was not advisable 70
represent and perpctuafe tie features OF the doad Fres
dent with the unpleasant impress deaths finger nPon
them and it our object 10 have represented the
face oour beloved Chief 50 thai be should appear to be in
cam peaceful sleep thu. preserving Likeness which
should suggest none of the unpleasant impressions Of
,dssoution And cannot but feel that had we been
permitted to have submitted large pctuTe for the APP
moyal or disapproyal Of The family of the late pres
dent instead OF this approach pubc ccusurc by the
Hon Secretary Of War. should have been able 10
shaye graticl the thousands upon thousands Of people
Ia Ibis country who were unable to see the remains
Such however has not b,on the ease; and while ardu
ousy engaged in our work were, last Wednesday
moon called upon to act on the following order.
= HrADQuARTfRs or TIE EA-r
y. Y. CIN, April 2i. lst..
Messrs J. GyGNTY s Son--Srs: The follow Ing tele-
Agiam received IBIS morning ana You VIII please
Send AL tAe plates and pctures any are taken tOesc
HEADQUARTERS Ey command " Naior Gen. PICK.
II WRIGHT Ryr-. Capt L. :. \.
ALBANY April - lr6j.
Cen DIX: have received a dispatch from the Secrc-
iarv Of War condomuing the taking 81 photograph
lof the President. remains In New York The Secfe.
5tary orders that the Marshal - "a the Photo
rrupheis seize and destroy tie plates. ana any PIC
srugcs or cugrayir Is. that may have been made.
sPlcdsc report 10 the SceIciaty the execution Z" lhs
sorder. T. u. TowSsiSD \. n. g..
4 We Immediately complied with MS order by de-
lvcrng the negatives. pictures etc, TO Gen. Peck al
llcadqlare but succeeded In obtaining delay IN the
dcstructiono ~ The plates uni 20 O'Clock y To Of that
day feeling certain HAT some misrepresentation lad
been made or that there mistake IN the order
~ We iWM'lii'l Ffbihl i'" u W hT"H-N'' ''i' .' y
y bad an Interview with tho Rev Henry Ward Beecrr
and the Hon Henry j. Raymond. who each also ts.c
= eraphod to Washington ia behalf asking that the
order ghi be suspended until further hearing could
be- had IN tie matter Fortunately through Tho com.
fbncd influence Of .hcse gentlemen We received the
, 'olov ing telegram dated
WASHINGTON. April " 1905.
i J. 81 RSTl & 500. Ncw-York; Secretary ~ War j.
Of the opinion thai photographs Of Presidents remnins
shoYd not hay. been taken without the consent Of bis
smmik. IN that be- ordered the plates 20 be seized
aud destroyed. lie has objections 10 susPendiug the
order for their destruction until further orders upon
fthcir being turned over to Cen Dix 10 s1ide such
y 5oIdcIs. rs may b. made. Signed.
A 81. \ HAnrdI Brcyet Brig. Gen.
II On receipt OF This. We Immediately proceeded to
Washington to lay the before Secretary Stanton.
twith whom We lad two interview. Lying before him
Il the facts above mentioned But the Bon Secretary
Il did not seem disposed grant such interview
sas desired. and remarked IL. Sir far HE.
I'll iofcal picture concerned know all cbou, that 1t is
Ota mere matter Of trade with Won" telling Us we
Knight call for his decision on ihe folosing day ",
called the following day. not confident from the
mildnes- Of oar first interview. and simply In.
formed that IN Difference To The wishes OF Mrs. Lincoln.
The plates must be destroyed md thar We should get
5our orders from Gen Dix We will not enter into an
3 analysis Of the motives Of the Hon. Secretary
bat when. on our return happily sur
Iprsed To hal only ono negative had been
destroyed by Gen Dix with whom We had a rros agree-
lb nferre clicng the fact that lie had, unsolicited
Iby vs. addressed letter 10 the Secretary of War in.
ciong Of our Photographic proofs and copy Of one
Of the NcwYork illustrated papers, with the request
That. the ilufrated papers had been permitted 10
Epubli.h q wood.cm engraving OF the remains Mcssrs.
eGuncy SON might be permitted TO 60 with their
aargc historical picture b. submitted for the approval
tof the family Of the late President we could not but
81 that in all justice The same privileges should be-
iexiended 10 " which enjoyed by the Illustrated
lournas and which probably will hereafter b, extended
every engrlver in the country and regarded this
5delay rs favorable TO We patiently waited the
result Of GEN Dix letter L. the secretary OF Wax and
at hs writing have before letter from the General
as follows.
HDQRs. DTP1RnirSr Of IHT EAST.
i Mossrs. GuRNgf 4 Sos -- O,HfsmeH: The mega
/ lives and photographs sent to my headquarters
brepresentiug the remains of President Lincoln Al
The City Hall. have been destroyed. bv order Of the
War Department. Respectfully yourg,
JonS A. DiX. Mlj..Gen.
This ends the last scene in The small drama cnact,d
By the Hon Secretary Of War. May the aircl- won
by this onslaught, upon indvdual operations destined
crafty and supply want 10 which the multitude Of
letters in office will attest. adoTn son Of Mars
I We beg TO state in order that may not be- mscon
struol that If any immediate members % the lanented
Frc,dcns family had III to have expressed To us
desire that should refrain from publishing the
intended photographs Of the Presidents remains such
Hcxpression would have found immediate and cheerful
action part. IL has never been our desire 10 do
anyt thing which might wound distress the feeling. oil
hose who. through their connection association with
the honocd dead have become sharcrs IN the love and