Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-06-07
statues OF Clark MiIIs.

Equestrian Statues of Clark Mills.
The Washington National Republi blican,
under the caption ofNe Art in the Dis
trict of Columbia" alludes to the "Eques-
trian Statues of Clark Mills, erected in
Washington. Mr. Mills is. a native of
this city, and exhibited great genius as
an artisan before he took up his abode
in Washington. The Republican says:
Nos. l5 and l6. These are the bronze
horses of Mr.. Clark Mills-one standing
in Lafayette square and rode by General
Andrew jackson; the other in the Circle,
at the West end of Pennsylvania avenue,
and rode by General George Washing
ton. Some time in the year l849, in
duced by the promise of genius ON the
part Of Mr. Mills, and the exhibition by
him of miniature equestrian statue of
General jackson, in which the horse was
made to stand rampant on his hinder
feet, a number of prominent and patriotic
citizens, friends and admirers of the
General formed themselves into o body,
called the *Jackson Monument Associa-
ton" These gentlemen subscribed $l2,-
600 to enable Mr.. Mills to carry out his
design, and to them we are indebted for
the equestrian statue of jackson in La
fayette square.
A little foundry and studio combined
were erected just south of the treasury,
and there Mr.. Mills worked with ma
chinery of the most primitive kind. His
means were small and he certainly de-
serves praise for his perseverance, if for
nothing else. Three different resolutions
we're introduced into Congress, appro-
priating cannon captured at various
times, to supply him with metal In one
of these resolutions the guns captured
at Pensacola by General Andrew Jack
son were ordered to be delivered to Mr.,
Mills for his equestrian statue. The
work was set up and uncovered with con-
siderable ceremony, the address being
made by Mr.. Stephen A. Douglas
General Scott and Several other officers
being present in uniform-on the Sth of
January, 1853 The posing of the horse
on his hinder feet for which no greater
achievement in art was claimed at the
time, was simply question of mechan-
les. The Government voted 1000 for
suitable PEDESTAL; and in March, 1853,
also voted $4,000 for the purpose Of
completing the pedestal of the equestrian
statue Of Andrew jackson, in Lafayette
Square, and the erection of a suitable
iron railing around the same.
Mr.. Mills urged that he had been in
sufficiently paid for his work, and the
jackson Monument Committee very gen
erously proposed to relinquish all interest
in the work to the Government provided
Congress madet the artist an additional APP
preparation of $20,000 This Congress
agreed to do; and by section Is of the
Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation bill,
passed March 3, 1853, the President of
the United States has placed at his dis
posal the sum Of $4,000, to enable
him to compensate Mr.. Clark Mills for
the execution of the equestrian statue of
Andrew jackson, recently placed upon
the public square in the city of Wash
ington, north of the Executive Mansion,
and to make the same the property of
the United States; and that the said sum
be paid under the direction of the Presi-
dent out of any money in the Treasury
not otherwise appropriated, when clear
and satisfactory title to the said statue
shall be vested in the United States, pro-
vided that the sum of $4,000 thereof be
vested for the family of the said Mills,
and after his death to be given to such
children of the said Mills as may survive
him.
On March 81, 1854, an appropriation
of $500 was made for completing the
pedestal for the statue of Andrew Jack
son. The whole amount paid by the
Government, inclusive Of the metal, was
S3s. 500. This statue weighs fifteen tons,
the hind parts of the horse being of
solid metal The jackson Monument
Committee were given a deed of the
ground on which fhe statue stands, which
Il is said they still hold. ilHoir f11t
Congress seemed to be well pleased
with this effort of Mr. Mills, and in such
great haste 10 do justice to what it con-
sidered genius of an extraordinary kind,
that on the 25th day of January, 1858, It
passed a Joint Resolution, setting forth
that the sum of $50, 900 be and is here
by appropriated, to enable the President
of the United States to employ Clark
Mills. to erect in. the city of Washington,
a colossal equestrian statue of George
Washington, at such place on the public
grounds in said city as shall be desig-
mated by the President Of the United
States In addition to this, Congress
voted cannon for the metal.
Mr.. Mills deserves great credit for hls
pefseverance will not be denied; but his
contributions to art, if they can be
called by that name. are not such as
will give him a high position among
the sculptors of the country. The stran-
GER in Washington looks for, and very |
naturally expects TO find the capital
city Of so great and wealthy q nation as
ours, the very best example Of American
art; and il may be questioned. whether
we have right % confuse and perplex /
his mind by merely saying that our best /
artists are not represented here, and /
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