Jefferson Davis to Montgomery Meigs

War Department,

Washington, Jan. 15, 1856.

Capt. M. C. Meigs, in charge of Capitol Extension, Washington City:

Sir: The second photograph of the statue with which it is proposed to crown the dome of the Capitol, impresses me most favorably. Its general grace and power, striking at first view, has grown on me as I studied its details. As to the cap, I can only say, without intending to press the objection formerly made, that it seems to me its history renders it inappropriate to a people who were born free and would not be enslaved.

The language of art, like all living tongues, is subject to change; thus the bundle of rods, if no longer employed to suggest the functions of the Roman Lictor, may lose the symbolic character derived therefrom, and be confined to the single signification drawn from its other source — the fable teaching the instructive lesson that in union there is strength. But the liberty cap has an established origin in its use, as the badge of the freed slave; and though it should have another emblematic meaning to-day, a recurrence to that origin may give to it in the future the same popular acceptation which it had in the past.

Why should not armed Liberty wear a helmet? Her conflict being over, her cause triumphant, as shown by the other emblems of the statue, the visor would be up so as to permit, as in the photograph, the display of a circle of stars, expressive of endless existence and of heavenly birth. With these remarks I leave the matter to the judgment of Mr. Crawford; and I need hardly say to you, who know my very high appreciation of him, that I certainly would not venture, on a question of art, to array my opinion against his.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Jefferson Davis,

Secretary of War.

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The Goddess of Freedom, The National Capitol, by George Cochrane Hazelton, 1897. (PDF)