The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-11-04
JACOB COlLAMER's LIFE
Tribute Paid by congressman When
His Statue Was Presented to the
United States Feb. Is, 1881.

lnTOuBn Ine COurlSy VI IlOh iioi
ace w. Bailey, of Newbury, the
Journal is able to supplement this
article recently published on the
choice of Vermont state men for
Statuary Hall at Washington, by CIV
ing the text of the speeches delivered
in the House of Representatives on
Feb. IS, 1881, upon the occasion of
the presentation of the statue OF
Jacob Collamer which contain many
interesting facts concerning Yer
mont's distinguished Senator. The
text of the speeches follows.
Addresses in the House of Repre-
sentatives, Tuesday, February Is,
1881
Mr.. Tyler. Mr.. Speaker, l call up
for the cosideration of the House the
concurrent resolution from the Sen
ate accepting from the State of YER
mont the statue of the late Jacob Col
lamer.
In the Senate of the United State,
January 81, 1881.
Resolved by the Senate, (the HoHSe
of Representatives concurYing,) That
the thanks of tbs Congress be pre-
se7teG 10 the Governor, and through
him to the people of the State of Yer
mont, for the statue by Preston Pow
ers of Jacob Collamer, as an eminent
American statesman; that this work
of art is accepted and assigned a
place in the National Statuary Hall
set apart by Congress for the statues
of distinguished citizens from the sew
eral States; and that copy of this
resolution, signed by the President of
the Senate and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, oe trans
mitted to the Governor Of the State
of Vermont.
Attest: JOHN C. BURCH,
Secretary.
Address of Mr.. Tyler.
Mr.. Tyler. Mr.. Speaker, l highly
appreciate the courtesy of the hon
orable gentleman from Texas Mr..
Reagan] in temporarily laying aside
the river and harbor bill for the con-
sideration of this concurrent resoln-
ton, which, since, it's adoption on the
part of the Senate. has been unavoid-
ably delayed IN the House until this
time.
In July, 1864, Congress passed an
act setting apart the historic and
beautiful old Representatives Hall as
hall of statuary, and authorizing
the President to invite each and all
the States to furnish statues in mar
BILE or bronze, not exceeding two in
number from each State, of deceased
persons who had been citizens there
of and illustrious for their historic
renown, or for distinguished civic or
military services, such as each State
should determine to be worthy OF
this national concentration.
In pursuance thereof the Legisla-
ture of Vermont, in 1872, passed an
act directing the Governor to con-
tract, in behalf of the State, with Hi
raw Powers for statue of Jacob Col
lamer, and with Larkin G. Mead for
a statue of Ethan Allen the statues
when completed to be placed in the
National Statuary Hall.
In May, 1876, the statue of Ethar
Allen, conceived, modelled, and ex.
ecuted by Larkin G. Mead, himself Z
son of Vermont, and one of the Ma
TONS most gifted artists, was, by the
State, through its Governor, placed
in the Hall in commemoration of the
military history of the State and o.
it's most renowned military chieftain
Hiram Powers, who was native
of Woodstock, the home of jacob
Collamer, having died in June, 1873
in Italy, where he had resided during
the greater part of his life. the Leg
islature of my State subsequent.
conferred upon the Governor dis
erection to contract with some othe
person for the creation of the STATUE
of Mr.. Collamer, and the Governo
exercised that discretion wisely il
contracting therefor with Preston
Powers, son of the great artist
No higher commentator need b
bestowed on the rising sculptor thai
to say that he possesses much of hi
fathers genius, and that he has al
ready acquired degree of skill Il
the execution and finish of his works
which, with his devotion to his pro
fession, gives him promise of ran
with the best artists of the age. A
evidence of this, l need only refer t
his bust of Charles Sumner, PROBES
sor Agassiz, the poet Whittier, Gen
eral Grant, and others, and his idea
figure, Maud Muller. still remain
ing in his studio in Florence, Italy
and the statue which is nov present
ed.
Jacob Collamer was born in Tro!
New York, in January, 1891. When h
was a child he moved with his ia
theirs family to Burlington, Vernon
where he passed his early life an
where he graduated at the Universit
of Vermont at the age of ninetee
years He studied law with Jude