Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-11-27

The Board of Commissioners-co
sisting of Governor James L. Kemper,
State Treasurer r. M. T. Hunter, and
Auditor William F. Taylor7to select a
model for the Lee Equestrian Statue
have held a meeting and adopted
the following address: -
The undersigned committee, appoint
ed by the Legislature to collect funds
for the erection of an equestrian statute
of Robert E. Lee in the Capitol Square
at Richmond, in pursuance of the au
thority vested in them by the statute
entitled "An act to incorporate the Lee
Monument Association, approved sJan-
uary 25th 1871 :" also, by an act entitled
IAN act to authorize the investment of
moneys belonging to the Lee Monument
Association IN State bonds" invited on
the 1st day of September, 1877, an exhi-
bitiOn of models at Richmond city, Va,
by artists from all the world, whojwere
DESTROYS to execute the work prescribed
for the monument to Robert E. Lee.
the advertisement was published in the
United States and in Europe, and was
made under the hope that some model
worthy of the subject and those who
projected it might presented of such ex-
cellence as to enlist most suffrages in
its favor, and that the work might be
commenced during this year by union
of funds in their hands and those Of the
ladies who held considerable sum of
money previously collected for the same
purpose, with fair assurance of the
ability to pay punctually such sums as
might be necessary to be furnished.
Finding that the first day of September,
the day first mentioned, was considered
by the artists as calling upon them for
models befor a sufficient time had been
given for their preparation, the DAY was
postponed until the first day of Novem-
Der instant, at which time many artists
with various models appeared. These
last were offered for the inspection of
the managers and various gentlemen
supposed to have more knowledge of art
than the commissioner themselves, who
were invited to examine these models
and give the commissioners the aid Of
their criticism and judgment.
Some of these models exhibited great
genius on the part of those who made
them. But as things turned out it be-
came unnecessary for the commission
ers to decide between. For after exami-
udtlOu anu ItllcCJlOu Uuo ldul0S Ill pos |
session of the other fund addressed a
letter to the commissioners declining to |
contribute their money to the execution |
of any of the models exhibited. The |
funds in the hands of the commission
ers were not sufficient to pay the cost of
executing the equestrian statue alone,
to say nothing Of compensation for the |
artist. Under these circumstances the |
have felt that it would
be imprudent to contract for the work,
and if another year may be necessary to
collect sufficient funds to justify con-
tract for the statue, it would seem to be
best to give the artists the same time for
the consideration and execution of their
models. A wide competition, too.
might be thus invited and monument
be secured more acceptable to the friends
and admirers OF the great exapler whose
mage we wish to hand pown to posteri.
~ to instruct tit may be with the
thoughts, feelings, and emotions which
nabitually governed his life.-
Under the circumstances we have
concluded to postpone for year the
time for making the contract, and of
his due notice will be given by public
advertisement or otherwise.
JAMES L. KEMPER,
R. M. T. HUNTER, Treasurer,
VIM. F. TAYLOR, Auditor,
Commissioners.