The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-12-13
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
nun IV,,ssIUTNGTON MONUMENT,

s,n, sufficient for the completion of this mon
umeut viii meet liberal and patriouc ~
snonse. I, would be burning Disgrace "
Virginia to leave it in It's present uniin'sheu
state. and with its original design haii eAe'u'eu.
Every visitor from abroad rs wen as e'o',
citizen Of the Commonwealth "'"iu 'os"
sr.h hpm;l;at;nr event a. an evidence Oh
the decline of Virginia taste, pa'r''''S'''' "''
apureciation Of the mighty oeSu'
w.. that the common reply to all such
.n,s 20 that the best monument To "aSh-
-. = ,het which is built to him IN the love
and gratitude Of our own hearts o""ouo''"'
p, tho absence of these affections couio heN'
a. mo a,ouod for by the most magnificent Plle
,xh;cb genius could conceive or human hahas
,n,s.rnc, Yet when these exist, they VIII
manifest themselves naturally ana ih'a'hp'y
Inv outward and visible sign We DO
not act in regard to other things upon the
,,,;,o;,,e that our internal emotions are suf
fcient without any external acknowiedg-
ment In religion, men are NOT content with
thu inward devotion which inspires their
xo,,s and which, unlike our feelings for our
follow men, is open to tho eye of The omnis-
eiept. who needs no external acts tx INFORM
him os its character. Nevertheless, thoy re
foice 10 manifest the inward principle by
visible signs, and in beautiful temples, holy
sscraments and impressive rites, they give ut
ferance TO the religious sentiment which per
ysdes their souls. Nor do we act towards
our departed friends in private life upon the
idea that they have sufficient monument in
the love which we inNardly bear them. For
frcinthe minds of Christian men is sentiment
which even Turks would dsdain. Over eve
~ grave, there is monument, sometimes
costly, sometimes plain and simple, but in all
eases the natural, spontaneous dictate of
affection and love. In the agonies Of bereave-
ront, the wounded heart will not rest till it
has erected memorial over the place where
it's happiness has gone down, and carved i'll
the hard granite the mourntul story of its
loss
Away, then, with the idle pretence that
Washington has monument sufficient in our
hearts They are not sufficient monument
These monuments of flesh do not last long
The blast OF an hour may level them with the
earth The worm may be feeding on them
ere another day has passed. monument to
Washington must be one which will endure
for ages, which viii not only declare that he
was great, but that Virginia was capable Of
apprecistiug his greatness and, which, from
generation to generation, will proclaim 4 les
son of virtue and patriotism 10 mankind
Wehave no magnetic means OF communities
ting our love of Washington from generation
to generation. Oral tradition is too uncer-
tain and IisbIe to corruption. Eventhe written
historic page is not often in the hands Of the
multitude. But the monument speaks to the
eye of the unlettered as well as the sage, and
appeals st once to the universal understand
ing and the national heart. Not only will it
help to perpe.uase the memory OF Washing
ten, but i. will prove constant source of in
SEPARATION to great and noble deeds Who can
estimate the influence which will be thus ex-
srted, what hearts VIII throb with generous
ambition TO be great, valiant and selfsacri-
fcing; and how, amid the decline OF public
virtue, it win stand and rebuke with solemn
majesty the corruption of the times.
Already, alas, it is becoming too necessary
for such purpose. Already. we talk of the
pure days of the Republic as OF days whose
san has gone down, never more TO rise. Al
ready, Washington, in his expansive and dis
interested patriotism, in the dignity and gran
deur of his political and personal character,
in the sublime integrity Of a soul unstained
and incorrupible, seems fabulous being, al
mos: demi- god, TO men little accustomed 10
aught in public life but the sham and coan-
terieit of p2blic virtue.
Virginia ewes at least this debt to him who
has made her name immortal by his oHn.-
1he mother of such son, who could neglect
to make to his memory the poor Offering of E.
monument would proclaim herself to the
world an unnatural mother, and show that it
was not from her blood that he inherited the
virtues Of his character. Let us hope that
the monument VIII soon be completed, with
washington, the chief figure, and clustering
around INN, like stars around central sun.
tbs mighty figures Of Virginia's revolutions
~ glery.
RICHMOND AND YORK RIVER RAILROAD.
very respectable and very enthusiast
Sc meeting was held at Metropolitan Hall
last night onthe subject Of this Road. The
MAYOR OF the city presided, and Mossrs. j. A
CoWARDIS and WIN. p. MusFoKD acted M
Secretaries. Resolutions proposed bv nr
HoRAcE l.. KENT were unanimously adopt.
sd-setting forth the importance Of the Read
and the obligations Of Richmond to aid init,
construction. Mr. Il. G. Mou1.!s and On
HARyIE, and Mr ToNsTALL addressed ,ho
meeting. A resolution appointing f.ftv dele.
gates To the Convention 10 be held 81 KIN.
and Queen Courthouse, cnthe 24th Of Janps,
ry was adopted, and the Chairman tool,
time to appoint them.
EY7 Our neighbOr ofthe Bulletin has been
asking US some questions relative to the
straight shoot Railroad from this place to
Charlottesville. We did not see them when
the paper first appeared. 81 we have to say
is that we are for tbs Road heart and hand
and will be glad to vote for any scheme that
L W. IA MOI .,o,o,A 1.,e.