Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-03-26
THE STATUE OF OLD HICKORY.

AA6 oAA4OL VI OAO A4AORO0As
1t has been announced that Jack
sons statue would be unveiled at
Nashville on the 24th of April, when
the centennial of the state capital will
be duly celebrated. But there is one
little difficulty in the way which may
interfere with the programme and
cause the orator of the day, who
ever he is, to reconstruct his
speech. The statue is in
Washington yet and likely to remain
there unless money is raised to pay
for it. The unveiling cannot we'll
take place with much scenic effect
unless the statue is on the ground.
If the soul Of Andrew jackson could
be consulted it is like as not he would
Nobject to having the statue brought
here until the capitol is paid for.
There is sort Of incongruity about
Ibis business which it is hard to re-
concile and to show up in favorable
light to the world. However, the
centennial goes back in its lessons
further than the foundations Of the
capitol, and is we'll calculated to in
spire patriotic emotions, and to revive
an interest in the history Of the brave
pioneers who rescued the wilderness
from the dominion of the Indian and
the wild beast.
The history Of the Jackson statue,
according TO the Nashville Banner,
began some twenty years ago, when
Andrew j. Polk, in a generous way
ordered the duplicate of the New Or
leans,statue for Tennessee. Hewould
have paid for it had he lived, but be-
fore it was ready the war broke out,
and after the war he died. 1t then
lay in the hands of the sculptor until
forgotten. Two years .ago, however,
General Marcus j. Wright while en-.
gagged in arranging the Southern his |
tory in Washington came across Mr.. |
Mills, and found the statue. He got |
Mr.. Mills to abate his price from $30,-
600 to $4,000, aud then wrote to
Judge Lea to buy it. The Judge, who
is vice president OF the Historical So
ciety, brought the letter before the |
society, and they together made an
effort to get the legislature to buy it at
that price, which they considered
very reasonable. The society memo
rialized the legislature on the subject, |
and it then dropped. Then the sub
iect was again brought up both here
and 10 Washington this year, and Mr.. |
Mills agreed with Mr. Bullock to let |
it come for 5000. Thus it appears
that after all our dispute General
Marcus j. Wright first unearthed it |
lat $4,000, ana Mr. Bullock first an
bounced its $1,000 price.
" Again want of unity of action was
shown in regard to the transportation.
General Thruston saw Mr.. i. r.
Wilson, general agent of the Star |
Union line, and got him to write to
the authorities about transportation.
He did SO, and after several commu-
nications passed got a telegram they
would bring it free of cost to Louis
Vslle. Without any information about
this, we wrote to the president Of the
Erie road, through Representatives
House and Atkins, and after very
considerable amountof negotiation, he
wrote letter announcing his willing
ness to bring it free. Wilson worked
at one end of the line, we at the other.
While, however, we were congratu-
lating ourselves on Scott's generosity,
Mr.. Wilson had already received as
surances from his end that they would
bring it, and this, too, before we began
orr diplomacy. Theresult of all this,
the statue will be brought here, and
will be paid for, if some of our friends
will Contribute about $4,000 more. 1t
must be raised. Tennessee is compro-
missed to it. and unless the statue is
unveiled we are disgraced.
This is matter Ia which the whole
state is interested, or should be, yet
we have not heard of any considerable
contributions to the statue fund out
side of Nashville. The money will
probably be raised there, and when
the stern old warrior and statesman in
bronze is up there will be at least one
thing about tie capitol that is paid
for.