The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-08

Its deserted streets, and ruin has tie al It's once
comfortable dwellings, until naught rcni ns but their
rubbish 70 mark the spot where the form dabe rival Of
Richmond for metropolitan honors anre ood need not
dwell the stirring Incidents which were here enacted
soon after Virginia had begun est 10 buckle her
arnor for that conflict with the parent country which
eyennaed IN ndepenaeSs -, 49, oru nss's, onStcn
which thence issued against mn rule and arbitrary sway
the high resolves against tyranny and oppressionthe
PRONUNCIATION Virginia independence in advance OF the
cbrate BY the States through the adoption
the first constitution Of civil government pro-
mugated and after day when "he battle had been
fought and won the assembling here of that great con
yenon which had to determine the future Of America
the adoption rejection of that constitution under which
has been so tar our happiness TO live These things
matter OF history and mperishabe In tho text books
the schools they written and every boy isfamar
with them. Great incidents give immortality to places.
Time passes by on rapid wings generation succeeds gene
ration and cities and empires crumble into dust! and yet
the places where great deeds have been enacted live in
the memories and after the lapse of centuries the pill
grim from distant lands visits them consecrated spots
and their dust regarded sacred from proclamation
And what spectaces could have been more august than
those to which have alluded The first led the way to
tie Acknowledgement Of contnent-the last gave the
assent OF Virginia after severe contest hcre were giants
those days. between its advocates and opponents TO
government and bond OF union for the States, which
undistbed in the harmony OF its motions by sinister in
fuences might like the planetary system revolve forever
in its proper orbit giving light and heat and prosperity,
and happiness TO countless millions Nor need dwell
on incidents Of stll later day, occurring during the
second Presidency of the United States, when party
spirit ran mountains high, and mingled with its
waters the bitterness Of personal enmty. The French
quake had shaken the foundations Of political systems
which had withstood the storms Of centuries The stir
ring strains of the "Marsellase resounded throughout
France, and were e-echocd from America. deep sym
PATTY felt for the country that had aided America in
her struggle for independence The gallant conduct Of
Iaay cite, of Rochambeau, of De Grasse and Vilomine
and other gallant Frenchmen who had assisted fathers
i'll the day of their trials written on the hearts
of the people in letters of fire. France was now battling
against all Europe combined, and but natural that
she should have possessed the sympathes OF this country
Virginia gave sympahisers with unrestraned enthu
sasm, and place furnished stronger evidences OF fra
termination Of feeling than did the city Of Richmond The
President who supposed to be nimca to France
assailed by the press and all public assemblies we'll
private circles, with bitterness Of nvective rarely if
surpassed In moment OF weakness Congress gave
way the adoption Of the Sedton law and the press
far being restrained seemed rather TO increase IN its
bitterness. The government resolved upon prosecutions
against the violent. Judge Cooper put on trial
for libel in Philadelphia and Mr.. Lyon elsewhere. Nor
did Richmond go unscathed Calender, who edited The
Prospect Before Us, in style Of abuse surpassed,
and with whom, personally, no one really sympathsed,
thrown into Jail The law OF libel, said,
made to be potent than the letter OF the constitution
which guaranteed the freedom OF speech and of the press
and the fires Of popular Indignation blazed brightly and
hrcely cannot here forego relating an anecdote which
received from the lips OF Governor Mahlon Dckerson OF
New Jersey a illustrative of the violence Of the times
stephen Thompson Mason, then Senator from the state
Of Virginia, repaired to Philadelphia, attended by the
enthusiastic Uckerson, then young man. to attend
the trial OF Judge Cooper. They took their seats
on the right and lett hand Cooper the and when
the jury returned their verdict OF twenty -four hours
prisonment and fine of 81 600 they each rising the
court shook hands most cordially with the prisoner The
next morning Fenno, who published the administration
paper, out with article Of the following tenor
1.-The republican party is always committing some act OF
excessbut what occurred in court on yesterday surpass
ed anything that has yet occurred. Upon the convc
ton OF Cooper, Stephen Thompson Mason Senator from
Virginia, shook hands with the cuprit IN the very face OF
justcen Judge Chase, somewhat remarkable for the
tundy Of his person and ord complexion, presided
the trial The following morning Dckerson prepared and
published IN Dreams paper-the Aurora-the following
reply 10 Mr.. Fenno's article
Mr. Fenno eyermore committing great Of all
terda is the greatest lie states that stephen Thompson Mason
senator from virginia shook hands with the cnipri in tie
the face Of justice.
The unsuccessful rebellion in Ireland which had con.
signed Emme and many Of his comparots the scaold
had caused fly the United States order escape
the dungeon and the halter many of those who had
borne part the troubles Of the times, and many u
mately found their way to this city. These with
calculating boldncss joined IN the outcry against the ad
minstraton They fervid in their advocacy Of the
French The tri-color blended into cockade
and openly in the and displayed in pubic
professions. The advocates OF the administration
ed on their part the black cockade and thus engen
dered bitter feeling Of hostility between men, which
went nigh 10 destroy all social intercourse. But the
refugees from Ir,aand became objects OF govern.
mental vengeance The Alien Law had been sscd under
the apprehension Of French tnvasion--an army
5000 men created With view to upset IL, and a
order given 10 ali foreigners from congut
the seaboard lest they should play the part Of spies
and hold improper Intercourse with the expected enemy
an enemy that never came, and who already had il.
hands full with the combinations that existed against
among the crowned heads Of Europe Mcrewethcr Jone
edited the anti administration paper called the ErGmGy
and while be did fall under tie prrmunre OF the Sc
diiion law be coopcracd boldly and manuglly with the
opponents Of the Alien and Scdton laws and maintained
the tricoor against the black cockade The General As
semby soon after met, and sgnased It's by tn
passage Of the celebrated resolutions, which tina
day have been adopted the standard OF political faith
BY controlling party In the state pass these
incidents hurredy. AT the time Of their occurrence
was a child; and they come to me borne on the
stream OF tradition. In giving memories Of Richmond,
could not pass them over IN seuee hasten to speak Of
Richmond as | lrst knew il, and Of some Of IT.
prominent men as found them when, at the age Of IS
Joined ms vcuerate father who was at the time Governor
Of Virginia The population OF the city did not exceed 0c0
1875. The surface which the city stood was unamcd
and broken. Almost inaccessible heights and deep "a
vines every where prevailed. The capitol square
ned indgesfa que mCes and was but rudey, at all,
closed The ascen, to the building painfully iabo
rious The beautiful valleys were then unsightly
gueys which threatened unless soon arrested 10 extend
themselves the street. north, so as 10 require
bridge span H. tree had sprung up IN the grounds
obtained but scanty subsistence from the sterile earth
Soil, there little or none. The street west o the
square was impossible for much Of the way, except
by footpath. The Governors house, at that
time called the Palace, was building that
neither asprcd 70 architectural taste in s construction
nor consulted the comfort Of its occupants ts Interior
arrangements wooden enclosure separated i from the
Commons II some years after removed, TO make way
for the present edfCe which, suppose, would be re.
garded as little short Of high treason call by is former
name although fright royal men" have occupied Il for
many years past The brick row, now known as the Main
street which terminated al the street below the
American, and had IN origin the market place,
the chief pride Of the city The streets were improved.
and sad the fate OF the unuCky wight who, otherwise
than on horseback undertook pass through the lower
part OF the city Nor for many years after that the
hand a abofers busy 70 work the Improvement
Of the city. nr. John Adams whose name should
be held grateful remembrance by the people OF Rich
mond, during his Nayoraty graduated the streets,
lated the ascenis TO s beautiful hills and In many other
particulars embelisbed and adorned the city. lie
gentleman Of refined taste OF much crudion and highly
cultivated manners. Al the time OF which have been
speaking there but three churches the citythc
Baptist, Methodist and Episcopal church Church Hi.
The EpiscoTalians and Presbyterans bad minister each
Parson Buc hanan and Parson Blair. ! knew two
better men They preached alternate Sundays al the
Capitol and al the old church the hin Tho
grcrations attended on their mnistratons. No difference
IN the forms Of service permitted 10 interrupt this per
feet harmony. They taught the same sublime doctrines
and too intent the execution 81 their holy mission
% DISPUTE about external forms aud ceremonies.
Their lives we're untedly devoted 10 the high and mpor
taut task Of making good citizens and good Chris
tsns Nor did they deem Necessary In order ~ accom-
plsh these ends W make upon those innocent amuse
menis which serve a respite from labor and
toll Buchanans spring is identified with the