Chap. 86.—An ACT to provide a statue of Robert Edward Lee, to be ‘placed in the
National Statuary Hall, in the Capitol of the United States, at Washington,
District of Columbia.

Became a law, without the governor's signature, March 13, 1903.

Whereas, the congress of the United States did, by act approved July
second, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, provide as follows: “That a
marble floor, similar to that of the congressional library or the senate
vestibule, shall be constructed in the old hall of the house of representa-
tives, using such marble as may be now on hand and: not otherwise re-
quired, and that suitable structures and railings shall be therein erected
for the reception and erection of statuary, and the same shall be under the
supervision and direction of the commissioner of public buildings”; and
further, that “the president is hereby authorized to invite each and all the
States to provide and furnish statues in marble or bronze, not exceeding
two in number for each State, of deceased persons who have been citizens
thereof, and illustrious for their historic renown, or from distinguished
civic or military services, such as each State shall determine to be worthy
of this national commemoration; and when so furnished the same shall
be placed in the old hall of the house of representatives, in the capitol
of the United States, which is hereby set apart, or so much thereof as
may be necessary, as a national statuary hall, for the purposes herein
indicated’; as appears from the statutes at large of the thirty-eighth
congress, eighteen hundred and sixty-three and eighteen hundred “and
sixty-four, page three hundred and forty-seven; and,

Whereas, the president of the United States did, on the third day of
February, eighteen hundred and sixty-five, by F. W. Seward, acting
secretary of state, address a circular letter to the governors of the States
requesting through them that the several States would take the matter
under consideration ; and,

Whereas, the general assembly of Virginia is informed that the statue
of George Washington now fills one of the places in the national statuary
hall, and deems it meet to provide that the statue of another citizen of
Virginia “illustrious for historic renown,” and of “distinguished civic and
military services,” shall fill the other place which as yet remains vacant;
therefore, -

1. Be it enacted by the gencral assembly of Virginia, That the general
assembly of Virginia appreciates the above mentioned invitation of the
United States extended through the president, and accepts the same;
(second), that a statue of Robert Edward Lee be furnished by the State
of Virginia to be placed in the national statuary hall of the capitol of the
United States at Washington, District of Columbia.

2. That a joint committee of three senators and five delegates be ap-
pointed by the presiding officers of the senate and house of delegates to
consider and ascertain the appropriate kind of statue to be selected and
its cost; and the said committee be instructed to confer with Edward V.
Valentine, the artist of the recumbent statue of Robert Edward Lee at
Lexington, it being the preference of the general assembly that the work
shall be done bya Vi irginia artist.

3. The committee aforesaid shall act with as little delay as practicable,
and shall make report to the senate and house of delegates.

4. This act shall be in force from its passage.