USA > New York > New York City > History of New York city from the discovery to the present day, V. 2 > Part 30
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One map of this character, which has been in the office but two years, has been badly damaged in this manner. Those inmates of the Register's office who have been there long enough to know, assert that the ceilings have not been whitewashed or in any way cleaned for over fifteen years. No visitor to the building would be disposed to question the statement, as the ceilings in most of the rooms are as black as though overlaid with soot. The stools, desks, and other articles of furniture, originally of a cheap description, have been in use for a long series of years, and are so worn and battered that a second-hand furniture dealer would hardly purchase them. Panes of glass are broken out of some of the windows, and the openings stopped with books. Nearly all the glass has been broken in the outer entrance door, and the loss repaired with pieces of board. The furnaces in the basement, by which the office is heated, are old and worn out, in consequence of which the clerks are frequently nearly stifled by coal-gas. One of the hot-air openings is immediately under a book-rack, and the volumes of manuscript above it are sometimes so hot that ^ a man can hardly bear his hand upon them. They are, of course, as dry as tinder and would readily take fire. Although the building is nominally fire- proof, the staircase leading to the second story is built of pitch pine. The main room on the second floor, besides useless book-niches before mentioned, contains a considerable quantity of boards and shavings which Mr. Garvey's workmen left behind them. Similar inflammable materials are scattered through the smaller rooms opening out of it, which are otherwise bare and empty. The sole contents of the new third story are more boards and shavings, two rusty old stoves, and some pieces of stove-pipe. The otherwise dirty floor is whitened in many places by the rain, as the costly new roof has leaked ever since its erection.
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APPENDIX X.
HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DESIGN.
BY T. ADDISON RICHARDS,
Corresponding Secretary of the National Academy of Design, and Professor of Art in the University of the City of New York.
THE National Academy of Design was instituted in the year 1826. It superseded the American Academy of Art, then the only society of the kind in the country, and with the organization and management of which the artists were dissatisfied.
The American Academy was a joint-stock association, composed chiefly of laymen, prominent citizens, connoisseurs, and patrons of art ; and, perhaps, necessarily so, in view of the small number and smaller influence of the body professional at that time. It was organized on the 3d of December, 1802, under the title of the New York Academy of Fine Arts, and was chartered February 12th, 1808, under the altered style of the American Academy of Art, when the original number of shareholders (five hundred) was changed to one thousand, and the value of shares (one hundred dollars) to twenty-five dollars. The first president was Robert R. Livingston, though that office was afterward filled by the distinguished artist, Colonel John Trumbull. Among its directors were De Witt Clinton, David Hosack, John R. Murray, and other prominent citizens. The society purchased a collection of casts and opened a school for the study of the Antique. It also prepared exhibitions at irregular and long intervals, and with varying success. On the whole, it was not fortunate, and had a somewhat struggling existence for about twenty-five years, when it was at length absorbed by the new National Academy of Design.
The general causes of the discontent of the artists with the old Academy were the slight consideration paid to them and their virtual exclusion from the management, they deeming themselves to be more competent than laymen to control an art association. The immediate reason for the defection of the pro- fessional body was the rudeness shown to them and to the art-students when
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they attempted to avail themselves of the very liberal privileges offered them of studying in the schools of the Academy during the pleasant hours of from six to eight in the morning only. and this without fire in the winter weather, and with doors opening sooner or later at the discretion and convenience of the jani- tor. Great offense chanced to be given to the young knights of the brush on a certain frosty morning, when they turned their indignant backs forever upon the grim old Alma Mater, and with Morse, afterward the illustrious inventor of the electric telegraph, at their head, they betook themselves to the rooms of the Historical Society in the old Alins-house building, City Hall Park, and formed a " Drawing Association " of their own. This happened on the 8th of November, 1825. Various yet fruitless efforts at reconciliation and reunion were made, when at length, on the 14th day of January, 1826, the "Drawing Association " resolved to set up permanently for itself, and after listening to a spirited address by their leader, Morse, they formed the National Academy of the Arts of Design, as the society was first named. The next day, January 15th, they met, and by ballot elected fifteen from their body who were to con- stitute the Academy, and by the 18th the " fifteen" had, as directed by the society, added ten others to their number. Of these original members, as we write, February, 1872, the only survivors are S. F. B. Morse, A. B. Durand, and T. S. Cummings.
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The discussion of the points at issue between the two societies was the great topic of the time, and was argued at great length and considerable feeling in the columns of the Evening Post, the chief champions being Col. Trumbull, of the old Academy, and Prof. Morse, the leader of the new. These papers may be found in extenso in Cummings's Historic Annals, published in 1865.
The first charter of the association was obtained from the Legislature of New York in 1828.
GALLERIES AND EXHIBITIONS.
'The school department being in operation, even before the formal organiza- tion of the new society, steps were at once taken toward the next means pro- posed for the promotion of the arts-the institution of the annual exhibitions, which have continued without interruption and with ever-increasing success to the present time, consisting now as then of original works by living artists, and never before exhibited by the Academy.
For the first exhibition, which took place in the spring of 1826, a small room was secured on the second story of a building at the south-west corner of Broad- way and Reade Street. The apartment was lighted in the evening by six ordi- nary gas-burners, and was the first instance on record of a public exhibition of pictures at night. The venture failed to pay expenses, and the members were assessed to make up the loss.
Not discouraged with the ill-success of this first attempt, the second exhibi- tion was duly prepared in the spring of 1827, but in new quarters, for the Acad- emy was then and long afterward very migratory. This time an appreciating public was invited to a larger and somewhat better display, spread upon the walls of an apartment on the third story of the Arcade Baths, in Chambers Street, between Broadway and Centre Street-a building which afterward became successively Palmo's Opera-house, Burton's Theater, and the United States Marshal's Office. The Academy leased these premises for three years at
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three hundred dollars per annum; and here were held also the third, fourth, and fifth exhibitions, in 1828, 1820, and 1830. The next ten exhibitions, from the sixth to the fifteenth inclusive (1831 to 1840), were held in very much more suitable rooms on the third floor of the Mercantile Library, in Clinton Hall, then at the corner of Nassau and Beekman Streets. These apartments were leased at an annual rent of five hundred dollars.
In 1840, at the expiration of the Clinton Hall lease, the Academy again removed, and this time went up-town, settling for another decade on the upper floor of what was then the Society Library building, at the corner of Broadway and Leonard Street. These galleries were larger and more commodious than any yet occupied by the society. The annual rent was increased to one thousand dollars. The exhibitions from the sixteenth to the twenty-fourth inclusive (1841 to 1849), were held here.
In 1850, the institution moved yet further up-town, and for the first time in its history, into its own house, having purchased the property formerly occupied by Brewer's stables in the rear of 663 Broadway, opposite Bond Street. Here a suite of six fine galleries was erected, having a total length of one hundred and sixty-four feet, and a breadth of fifty feet. The exhibitions of 1850 to 1854, twenty-fifth to twenty-ninth inclusive, took place here. After five years of occupancy the Academy thought fit to sell this property, for which it received about one hundred and twenty thousand dollars, affording a net gain on the investment of sixty-nine thousand dollars, and leaving, after the payment of all outstanding indebtedness, a balance in the treasury of nearly sixty thousand dollars. This accumulation of funds was the first step toward the erection of the palatial edifice afterward built by the Academy in Twenty- third Street.
On the sale of the Broadway property, while awaiting the building of a new home, it became necessary to find other accommodations, and temporary quarters were secured in the gallery over the entrance to what was then the Rev. Dr. Chapin's Church, at 548 Broadway. Here were given the thirtieth and thirty first annual exhibitions in 1855 and 1856.
For the thirty-second exhibition in 1857 the old rooms at 663 Broadway, remaining then unchanged, were rented by the society. In 1858, a suite of galleries was fitted up by the Academy on the upper floor of the building at the north-west corner of Tenth Street and Fourth Avenue. The thirty-third, thirty-fourth, thirty-fifth, and thirty-sixth exhibitions, 1858 to 1861 inclusive, were held at this place. The thirty-seventh, thirty-eigthth, and thirty-ninth exhibitions, 1862 to 1864 inclusive, took place in the galleries of the building 625 Broadway, then known as the Institute of Art or the Derby Gallery.
In the spring of 1865, the Academy took possession of a new edifice in Twenty. , third Street, corner of Fourth Avenue. where all the subsequent exhibitions, the thirty-ninth to the forty-sixth, 1865 to 1871 inclusive, have been held, with the addition of the series of Winter Exhibitions, commencing in 1867, and of the Summer Exhibitions, established in 1870. The annual collections of the American Society of Painters in Water Colors have been included in the Winter Exhibitions of the Academy.
The site of the present beautiful edifice of the Academy was purchased in the autumn of 1860, from Mr. William Niblo, at a cost of fifty thousand dollars. Plans by Mr. P. B. Wight were submitted in January, 1861. Ground was first
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broken on the 18th of April, 1863, and on the 21st day of October, in the same year, the corner-stone was laid with appropriate and imposing ceremonies.
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The entire cost of the property, including the land, has been about two hundred and thirty-seven thousand dollars. The building has a frontage of 80 feet on the north side of Twenty-third Street, and extends 98 feet 9 inches on the west side of Fourth Avenue. It is three stories high, beside the cellar. The lower or street floor is occupied by the janitor's rooms, and the school apartment. The central story, which is reached by a double flight of elegant marble steps, entering a hall eighteen feet in width, is occupied by the Parlors, `the Library, Council, and Lecture rooms, and other apartments. The upper floor is devoted entirely to the Exhibition rooms. In the center is a hall or corridor 34 by 40 feet. divided by a double arcade supported on columns of polished marble. The galleries, five in number and of varying dimensions, are all entered from this central vestibule, and all communicate with each other. The building is constructed of white and gray marble, tastefully contrasted, and richly sculptured. The architecture is that revived Gothic, now the dominant style in England, which combines the features of the different schools of the middle ages. It is familiarly spoken of as the Venetian Gothic; but the archi- tect says of it, if a name for the style be demanded, it can only be said that the name of no past style of architecture is altogether appropriate to it. As the revived Gothic goes on toward more perfect success, it will find a name for itself
ORGANIZATION AND CHARACTER.
The Academy is a private association devoted to the public service. It is, · as it ever has been, owned and controlled only by artists, no others being eligible, under the constitution, to membership, except in the complimentary .grades of Honorary Members or Fellows. Its means are devoted entirely to the cultivation of the Arts of Design in all such ways as may be deemed available. Like similar institutions, in other countries, its chief methods of labor have thus far consisted of permanent organization of the professional body for the union of its experience, power, and influence, both within itself and upon the community at large; in the foundation of schools for technical instruction in the various branches of Art study ; in the establishment of Exhi- bitions of Works of Art for the cultivation both of professional knowledge and the public taste; and of lectures upon Anatomy, Perspective, and other Art subjects.
MEMBERSHIP.
Membership in the Academy is both professional and lay, the former con- sisting of the Academicians. Associates, and Honorary Members, and the lat- ter of Honorary Members and Fellows.
ASSOCIATES,-The Associates are chosen on their merits by ballot at the annual meetings of the Academicians. They must be professional artists and exhibitors at the time of their election.
ACADEMICIANS .- Academicians are chosen from the body of Associates and from professional Honorary Members. They are the body corporate, and, in their election, distinguished professional ability and personal character are the only claims entertained.
FELLOWS .- Connoisseurs, amateurs, and all lovers of Art may become Fel-
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lows of the Academy on the payment of a subscription of one hundred dollars. Subscriptions of five hundred dollars constitute a Fellowship in Perpetuity, with power to transfer all the privileges of the grade, or to bequeath them for- ever. It is through the liberal subscriptions of the Fellowship Fuud that a large portion of the means to erect the present edifice of the Academy has been obtained.
HONORARY MEMBERS .- Honorary Membership is conferrred at the same time and in the same manner as in the election of Academicians and Associates upon distinguished artists and lovers of Art at home and abroad. No elections have been made into this body since the foundation of the grade of Fellows.
SCHOOLS.
The educational department of the Academy commenced with its earliest history, and has always been regarded as one of its most important fields of labor. Through nearly half a century, free schools have with rare interrup- tions been maintained. They embrace at present departments for the study of the Antique Sculpture, of the Living Model, of Pictorial Anatomy, and of Perspective, to which will be added, as may be required, classes in Modeling and in Painting. The schools being intended only for advanced students, all applicants for admission must be able to submit to the Council a shaded crayon drawing made from a cast of some portion of the human figure. The schools have been attended by hundreds of students, and they number among their graduates many of the most successful artists of the land. The late James A. Suydam, N. A., at his death, in 1865, bequeathed the munificent sum of fifty thousand dollars toward the maintenance of the Academy schools. Other and still larger endowments for this important work, are, however, greatly needed.
In these few pages we have been able to take only a cursory glance at the history of the Academy. The story of its struggles and fortunes, with sketches biographical and anecdotal of the many distinguished artists who are or have been among its members, might form the theme of a most interesting volume.
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APPENDIX XI.
POLITICAL CORRUPTION IN NEW YORK.
SPEECH OF HON. R. B. ROOSEVELT
Delivered at the Grand Mass Meeting in Cooper Union, on Monday Evening, September 4th, 1871.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: I do not know whether it is exactly possible for a man to be born a Democrat. but I claim to come as near it as any one can. The earliest recollection that I have of public questions, when my arms had attained little more than seven years' pith, was my upholding stanchly and unswervingly the great doctrines of Democracy. Since that time I have been a Democrat-for Democracy is like vaccination : when it once takes well, it lasts a lifetime. But as I did not believe disloyalty to mean Democracy during the war, I do not believe dishonesty to mean Democracy now. The very cor- ner-stone of our faith is pure, economical administration of government, and without that no code of principles can receive the hearty support of our party. Our party is a party of the people, and the people are always on the side of what is right and true. There may be, and there doubtless are, among both parties good, honorable men. Looking around me, I cannot doubt that both sides can lay equal credit in this particular. Rut those who love Democracy, those who have put their abiding faith in it and built up the hopes of the glory of their country on it, naturally look upon it as the representation of whatever is noblest and best.
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To us Democrats, therefore, comes the charge of corruption against our Fulers with a two-fold force, an especial horror. To hear that the chief officers of a Democratic city, who have been elected by an overwhelming majority of Democratic votes, some of whom have been chosen over and over again to vari- ous positions of trust, are venal and corrupt, is indeed almost incredible. And yet, what is the evidence ? The charges are direct, plain, and explicit ; misap- propriations of vast sums are alleged ; time, place, and circumstance are all stated through the daily press with the utmost exactness. Pretended pur-
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chases, which are in their very nature impossible, are proved to have been paid for. The building and furnishing of our New Court-house are made the pretext for the payment of bills which are not merely monstrous-they are manifestly fabulous. It is pretended that acres of plastering have been done, and miles of carpeting furnished. The entire City Hall Park could have been plastered and carpeted at less expense ; and no sane man can put faith in the pretense, if it were made, that the work charged for was really done. How- ever, I must do our rulers the credit of saying that they make no such pre- tense. They have never denied the payments, they have not even asserted that the money was earned, while they have, in every one of their lame defenses, impliedly admitted that the bills were extravagant, if not fraudulent. They have presumed to defy the public; they have tried to lay half the blame on the shoulders of Republicans, as if a burglar were to excuse himself by asserting that he was assisted by a fellow-burglar; and they have stated that the charges were brought by political enemies, and so not entitled to answer ; but nowhere has there been a straightforward, positive refutation-nowhere a denial even of any sort.
That they are guilty no man who has read the statements doubts for a mo- ment, and no one believes that any such sums were actually expended on the Court-house. Nevertheless, I have been informed that this building. instead of costing $3,000,000 or $5,000,000, as alleged, the latter being supposed to be the extreme limit, has actually cost over $12,000,000. To prove this I have been shown the figures purporting to have been taken from the Comptroller's books ; but I hope I was deceived, and that they were exaggerations. But of the facts distinctly alleged in the public press there can be no question ; it is admitted by default that millions on millions of the public money have been paid to a few obscure individuals, for which they never did nor could have per- formed equivalent labor ; while a little printing company of $25,000 capital has received $1,500,000 from the county alone in two years.
Nevertheless, shocking as are these accusations, they are but trifling in comparison with the real crimes of the accused. Money is, after all, a trivial affair; we are a wealthy nation, growing with immense rapidity, rolling up capital and adding to our resources daily ; we can endure limitless peculations in our officials, and still survive; but they have stolen from us something dearer and more sacred than our wealth-they have stolen our rights, our lib- erties, our very national institutions. Such wrongs as I have enumerated would never have been submitted to by the Democratic party had the individ- uals composing that party not first been deprived of the free expression of their will. These, our masters, have stolen our ballots, have falsifiel the will of the people, and pulled away the very key-stone of the arch of liberty.
What I am about to tell you I hardly expect you to believe ; yet I will give you every point of time and circumstance. I will furnish you with every detail and all the minutice of the mode of operations; and, large as is this meeting, were I to call my witnesses together, I could fill this building as full as it is now. I know whereof I speak ; and in exposing these shameless iniquities rather in defense of Democracy than in arraignment of it, I really extenuate and set down naught in malice. By a combination of certain Democratic and Republican office-holders in this city the votes of the people no longer express their will. They are falsified in three different ways, so that no matter how honest the
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mass of voters might be, the corrupt Ring would apparently be retained in . power. To effect this, three forces are brought into play. There is the use of repeaters at the polls, the manipulation of ballots as they are deposited, and the false counting of them in making up the canvass. Precisely how these schemes are managed I will explain to you.
Heretofore there has been a registry of all legal voters in this city. I can only speak of the past. I cannot tell what Tammany will do hereafter; and now that the registry law has been repealed we may be sure that matters will not be improved. There were three registers to supervise these lists, three inspectors to receive the votes, and three canvassers to count them. One of each of these boards was a Republican, and could stop all frauds if he pleased, but as the parties to be defeated were only those Democrats who were opposed to Tammany, he shut his eyes with resolute determination. To begin with, gangs of repeaters were organized, whose first duty was to have their names · recorded in as many districts as possible, usually from a dozen to fifty ; and it was curious with what childlike innocence the Republican register would receive the names of one hundred inen who assumed to reside at the private dwelling of some leading Tammany ward politician, or who pretended to camp out on some vacant lot. So the repeaters were enrolled ; and I have had lists of them offered to me for sale at so much a vote when Tammany did not need them.
On election day these men went to the polls in gangs with their captains, and marched from district to district like companies of soldiers. If one of them was challenged, the result depended upon the locality ; in a disreputable neighborhood, the challenger was knocked into the gutter and probably locked up by the police for disturbing the polls. In a district where this would not answer, the accused was taken before a police magistrate, who sat all day to hear just such cases, and who let him out on bail, the necessary bail being also on hand for the purpose, and the repeater was usually back at the polls and hard at work before the challenger, and no one ever heard of such a case being brought to trial afterward.
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In another way were these repeaters used. Many people, especially wealthy Republicans, do not vote. It is the duty of every man to vote ; this is one of the obligations he assumes in demanding liberty ; and rather than have the duty neglected, Tammany sees that it is performed. Toward the latter part of the day it will be found that certain persons who are registered have not voted, and it then belongs to the polling officers to copy such names on slips and pass them to the proper parties outside ; and it would horrify, if not amuse, some of our wealthy millionaires to see what ragged-clothed, bloated-faced and disreputable individuals represented them at the polls and performed for them a public duty which they had neglected. This is repeating. I have given you Dot a hurried sketch of it : the votes polled by it count up tens of thousands. But, successful as it was, it had its defects. The repeaters began to imagine they were their own masters; they thought they held the power, because they were the instruments of power. To use a political term, they undertook to set ,up shop for themselves. Still repeating, when kept in its place, is not disapproved by our Ring rulers.
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