Part 92 (1/2)

[Footnote 118: The Latin proverb is BIS DAT QUI CITO DAT.]

[Footnote 119: See INTRODUCTION, page viii.]

EMANUEL LEUTZE, who designed the reverse of the medal to Cornelius Vanderbilt, was born in Gmunden, Wurttemberg, May 24, 1816. His parents emigrated to America while he was still a child, and settled in Fredericksburg, Virginia. In 1841 he went to Europe, and studied art at Dusseldorf under Professor Lessing. He returned to America in 1859, and took up his residence in Was.h.i.+ngton. Among his princ.i.p.al paintings, which are mostly historical, and relate to America, are: Columbus before the Council of Salamanca, Columbus in chains, Columbus before Queen Isabella, Was.h.i.+ngton crossing the Delaware, Was.h.i.+ngton at Monmouth, and Was.h.i.+ngton at Princeton. One of his last works is the fresco in the Capitol at Was.h.i.+ngton, ”Westward the star of empire takes its way.” He died in Was.h.i.+ngton, July 18, 1868.

CORNELIUS VANDERBILT was born on Staten Island, New York, May 27, (p. 407) 1794. He went to New York city early in life, and engaged in the s.h.i.+pping business, in which, by his energy and perseverance, he in time acquired wealth, and became owner of several lines of steamers, running from New York to places along the coast. In 1851 he established a line of steamers to California, and in 1855 another to Europe. In March, 1862, he presented to the United States Government the magnificent s.h.i.+p which bore his name, for which generous gift Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. He was made president of the New York and Harlem Railroad Company in May, 1863; of the Hudson River Railroad Company in June, 1865; and of the New York Central Railroad Company in December, 1867. In November, 1869, the two last were consolidated, with a joint capital of ninety millions of dollars. He died in the city of New York, January 4, 1877. Cornelius Vanderbilt was, at the time of his death, one of the richest men in the world. Among his charities was a gift of one million dollars to the ”Central University of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South,” in Nashville, Tennessee, which, in consequence of this munificence, was named, in honor of him, Vanderbilt University. He was known by the sobriquet of ”Commodore.”

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ORIGINAL DOc.u.mENTS.

_Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to Cornelius Vanderbilt._

_Whereas_, Cornelius Vanderbilt of New York, did, during the spring of 1862, make a free gift to his imperilled country of his new and staunch steams.h.i.+p ”Vanderbilt,” of five thousand tons burthen, built by him with the greatest care, of the best materials, at a cost of eight hundred thousand dollars, which steams.h.i.+p has ever since been actively employed in the service of the republic against the rebel devastations of her commerce; and

_Whereas_, The said Cornelius Vanderbilt has in no manner sought any requital of this magnificent gift, nor any official recognition thereof; therefore,

_Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress a.s.sembled_: That the thanks of Congress be presented to Cornelius Vanderbilt for this unique manifestation of a fervid and large-souled patriotism.

SECTION 2. _And be it further resolved_, That the President (p. 408) of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, which shall fitly embody an attestation of the nation's grat.i.tude for this gift; which medal shall be forwarded to Cornelius Vanderbilt, a copy of it being made and deposited for preservation in the library of Congress.

Approved January 28, 1864.

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_The Secretary of State to Cornelius Vanderbilt._

To Department of State, CORNELIUS VANDERBILT, Esq., Was.h.i.+ngton, April 17, 1866.

New York.

Sir: I have to inform you that the Congress of the United States, by a resolution of the 28th of January, 1864, an attested copy of which is herewith sent, offered you their thanks for your generous gift to the nation during the last war, of the steamer ”Vanderbilt,” and requested the President to cause a gold medal to be struck and forwarded to you, commemorative of that gift. It is now my pleasing duty to forward the medal to you accordingly.

I avail myself of the occasion to express a hope that it may prove acceptable, and also to congratulate you upon the proud consciousness, which you cannot fail to cherish, of having, by the act referred to, rendered your country a signal service at a critical period in its history.

I am, Sir, your very obedient servant, William H. SEWARD.

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_Cornelius Vanderbilt to the Secretary of State._

To the Honorable William H. SEWARD, New York, May 3rd, 1866.

Secretary of State, Was.h.i.+ngton, D. C.

Sir: Your communication of the 17th of April ult., informing me that the Congress of the United States had, by their resolution of the 28th of January, 1864, tendered to me their thanks for the gift of the steamer ”Vanderbilt,” and requested the President to cause a gold medal to be struck and forwarded to me in commemoration of the gift, has been placed in my hands.

I have also received the medal, together with an attested copy of the resolution in compliance with which you have caused it to be transmitted.