Evening journal., 1898-01-31
PORTRAIT
Fl. G. Conrad Settles a Ques-
tion Which Has Arisen.
IT IS WAsHINGToNs PICTURE
HIS KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL HIS
TORY ENABLED HIM TO TRACE
THE STATE HOUSE PORTRAIT
TO ITS ORIGIN.

~ II - OlNiNlN.
Henry C. Conrad is the authority for
the following history of the portrait Of
Washington, which graces the walls OF
the state capital.
The proceedings Of the State Senate
show that on Friday, January TO- 1900.
Governor Richard Bassett delivered an |
address to the General Assembly. and, |
in the opening of his address, made the |
following eloquent allusiOn to the death /
of General George Washington which /
had occurred a month previous: you |
have by the permission of Divine /
ProvidO nee, agreeably to the cOnsu- |
tuticnal day, assigned for the annual /
meeting of the Legislature assembled, |
ana it becomes my duty TO ny before |
you such subjects as appear to me de- |
mand your present attention. Before |
l enter upon this duty, distressing az |
tho thought may be, permit me 20 take |
notice Of the irreparable loss the !
United States have lately sustained;
yes, Washington, the friend OF man
kind. the greatly beloved George Wash I
ngton, late president, and commander
in-chief Of the armies Of the United I
States. is no mOrel He is dead! VIII
not The Legislature OF the State Of
Delaware with me drop q tear before
Heavens King expressive of the sense
Of the loss sustained and the affection
we had for the greatest character,
either the ancient or modern world
ever produced? Yes, methinks | now
see your hearts melting your eyes fill
ing, and hear your tongues declare we
will not only drop p tear with you, but
before we RISE by legislative testimOn-
ial, prove to the world how much we
love and admire the man who was not
only truly wise in council but great in
the field-glory to Cod We trust cur
loss is his infinite gain. He died as he
| lived. Washington lives forever; and
will he not continue to live in the heart
of every true American who has, OF
shall. read or hear his wise weighty.
humble affectionate and most solemn
/ address to the American people at the
time he withdrew from the presidency
/ of the United States2 Yes. he must:
he WILL Here let me stop-and awful
| silence best becomes me-abler pens
/ and far more enlarged minds having
failed in describing the worth OF that
/ excellent man. | have thought proper
| to recommend to the civil, as we'll as
| the military officers Of the state, upon
/ the melancholy occasion TO wear
mourning for three months. which
trust will meet your appreciation. and
also that of the citizens OF the state"
Upon the conclusion Of the governor e
address John Vining, a member Of the
Senate from Kent county, offered the
following resolutions, which. on his
motion, seconded by Isaac Grantham
a member from New Castle county
were unanimously adopted.
Resolved, That the Senate and
| House Of Representative OF the State
of Delaware, in General Assembly met
penetrated with grief and impressed
with the deepest sense of sorrow, IN
consequence Of the eventful and ever "a
be lamented death Of the late illustri-
Gus chief and friend of America, General
George Washington, deem it an indis-
pensable duty upon the melancholy oc.
casion, to add to the courage of the ma.
tion at large, and to the sympathy OF
the world, their grateful tribute Of con
dOlence and respect.
Resolved, That in commemoratior
Of the afhicting event an elegant anC
full portrait, large as the life, witt
suitable devices and suitable motto
! | UAAlAlAE lAAt lNoNAI nAnAANt OA NAAn AArA o.
heroes and greatest of men, be pro
duced at the expense of the state az
soon as it conveniently can be done.
RESOLVED, That his excellency, thu
governor of the state, be requested 3,
have Inc foregoing resolutions carrie,
+ | into effect; and that the portrait bi
placed where the Legislature shall di
rect"
The resolutions were sent the SAM
day to the House of Representative
I for concurrence, and a week later Caesa
! A. Rodney. a member of the HOus
from New Castle county, called up tn
I resolutions for action. The resolution
I being read it was moved by JacO
! ! Wolfe of Sussex county, seconded b.
| Samuel Paynter. of the same county
7 | that the resolutions now before tn
House be disagreed to, and the follow
4 ing be adopted, to wit
Whereas, The Legislature of thl
state think it proper that the memoir
: of our beloved friend, General GeOrg
Washington, be perpetuated to tn
latest pOsterity; that portrait of thi
great character be procured But a
the compelling of his enemies to con
, tribute would be inconsisten
u with the spirit of liberty an
y freedom, which always actuated tn
!, breast of that illustriOus hero and bes
= Of men; therefore
Resolved, That each member OF tn
Senate and House of Representative
: Of this state subscribe each a sum no
- exceeding $50 to accomplish the desira
bic effect above mentioned; or, If othe
. persons choose to contribute theret,
q their voluntary subscriptions viii
II received"
n On motion OF Mr.. Rodney these resc
n lutions were postponed and, after a
Intellectual attempt on the part of th
House to limit the sum that should b
expended to $780, the resolutions Of th
, Senate were concurred in. On Nj
!, Rodney's further motion, seconded
- William Warner, of Kent county, th
following additional resolution wa
adopted by the House:
> Resolved. That the members of tt
General Assembly will, during the COZ
tinuance of the present session. weS
black on the left arm rs a mark of col
as dolense and respect for the decease
l. hero. General Washington.
Ff,f4 1affnrs rr1o1trffnr rrrar- a