The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-11-25

The Poinsott Picture.
ISLAND FORD PLANTATION, NEwBKRRY Co.
~ November II, 1873.
Mh>ED1ron: That proud and beauti-
fnl incident of American history, 80
familiar to every school boy. the uu-
furling Of the American flag in the City
OF Mexico. before an enraged and
threatening popuiace, whose stormy
wave became paralyzed at its display,
would be as Insignificant legacy of the
past as it would be Indifferent, but for
the participation of one of Carolina 3
illustrious sons, the Hon. Joel r. Poin-
sett, as the principal actor in the me-
morable scene. The "reminiscences is no
less incomplete without recurrence to
another fact quite as worthy of record
and of pride; that the grand picture
itself, SO splendidly illustrating the inci-
dent, and to which you refer iu your
issue of the 11th Instant, us having
been destroyed at tue sack and burning
OF Columbia. was from the pencil Of
another of Curolna's gifted and dis
tinguished sons, the lato John Blake
White, of Charleston, whose fuitbfnl
and stirring delinea,ions on canvas
have immortalized most of the promi-
nent incidents OF our early aud past
history. Tho OCCASION upon which was
so strikipgly demonstrated the protecting
power aud benificence of the nutioual
standard, whilst upheld by the statesmen
and patriots of our country's past, was
9lorlously counterpnrted at later date
by the gallant InSrnham, in the Kosta
affair, aud how remarkable commenta-
ry, that the only two occasions in which
the power, rs well as the beniiicence, of
the United States flag demanded prompt
and decisive enuuciation-the one from
the balcony of the American Minister y
residence, the other from the quarter
deck-shoulu both have been 10y South
Cnrolinians. Those the dnys aud those
| the deeds which thrilled the heart of an
| American citizen.
There are particulars connected with
the picture, admittedly master work
OF genius. which have never been gene
rally ventilated, and which really form
an Interesting part of State history, but
| which the lapse of time has nearly con-
signed to oblivion. The picture really
was not "a gift from the Stnte Of South Ca
rolina to General Il ndrew Jackson, nor
was 1t SO Intended, but was ordered for
presentation to the President of the
United States, il official capacity, and
was designed for the Executive Mansion.
The personal appropriation of that par
tlcular picture, under misconstruction Of
the design, doubtless, by Gen. Jackson,
| from among ull others similarly bestowed,
| on his retirement from the White House,
whilst high tribute of his appreciation
OF it's merits as a work of art aud copcep-
| ton OF genius, was not in accordance
with tue spirit or intention of the donors,
however uuimportunt that may be at
present. The inspiration of the picture
Was derived from that close intimacy
and exalted admiration entertained for
his particular friend, Mr.. Poinsett, by
my distinguished father, added to the
brillianoy of the statesmanlike action.
The picture was very large one, and
contained upwards of 5000 heads, pro-
minent among which, OF course, was a
perfect and inimitable likeness of Mr..
Poinsett, taken from life, as also the
likeness of the Hon. John Nj. Mason,
his Private Secretary, and faithful de-
liueations of tho street and it's surround.
ings. furnished by Mr.. Poinsett, for it's
perfection. The presentation, which
was conducted by the late Col. Lehre
nhA hoH' ocuJ' L . IepSOu, LOr anu ID
behalf of the State, to the President of
the United States, formed the subject of
correspondence, which. doubtless, has
been swept away from all archives; but
the above particulars received from the
lips OF one of those actors, who trans.
mitted it to me in the subject of con-
versation held but few months before
decease. THOMAS G. WHITE.
The Captain Of the Arapiles, the Spa
nish war steamer now undergoing re-
pairs ut the Brooklyn Navy Yard, has
received orders from the Home Govern
ment to gel ready for sea a. the ea.!ies.
possible moment, and proceed to Cuba.
He expects his vessel to be out of the
dry dock in twenty days. when nothing
further will remain to be done, except to
take on board her powder and arma-
ment. Her guns are Of the Armstrong
pattern, and much praised by the yard
officials. The executive officer of the
Arapiles believes that in addition to the
fleet now III tho West India squadron,
there nnul] no mt in tho CnJ,o,, xrnfo,o