At the east door of the Rotunda are the famous bronze doors designed by Randolph Rogers at Rome in 1858, and cast at Munich. The high reliefs illustrate leading events in the life of Columbus.
From near the Rotunda one can ascend to the dome and overlook the entire District of Columbia.
VI CONCERNING SOME OF THE ART AT THE CAPITOL
AMONG the interesting pictures in the Capitol is Frank B. Carpenter's picture, "The First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, September 22, 1862." Mr. Lincoln was accustomed to speak of the act which this picture represents as the central act of his administration. Historians have recorded it the leading event of the nineteenth century.
It changed the policy of the war, and was received by the army and the people as a necessary war measure. According to Mr. Carpenter, he takes the moment when Mr. Lincoln has just said: "Gentlemen, I now propose to issue this Emancipation Proclamation."
Montgomery Blair said: "If you do, Mr. President, we shall lose the fall elections." To this no one offered a reply. Mr. Seward, who sits in front of the table, said: "Mr. President, should we not wait for a more decisive victory, so that the rebels may know we are able to enforce the Proclamation?" Mr. Lincoln leaned forward and said, in a low voice: "I promised my God, if Lee were driven back from Maryland, to issue the Proclamation." Mr. Seward said: "Mr. President, I withdraw every objection." Chase, who stands back of the President in the picture, and who was not always in sympathy with Mr. Lincoln, laid his hand affectionately on Mr. Lincoln's shoulder, to show the President that in _this_ matter they were in perfect accord.
THE FIRST READING OF THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION ]
The Proclamation came just after the battle of Antietam, which was far from being a decisive victory. The Proclamation set forth that, unless rebellion ceased by January 1, 1863, the slaves at that time would be declared free. It was a case of "man's extremity is God's opportunity."
Another picture which well merits a full description (which we have not space to give) is W. H. Powell's spirited picture, "The Battle of Lake Erie, September 13, 1813." It represents Commodore Perry transferring his colors from the disabled flagship _Lawrence_ to the _Niagara_ in the midst of a fire from the enemy. Perry deserved all the glory he so richly won.