Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-11-09

off. at the foot of the falls OF the Rappahan-
mock. and cOurtcd the trade OF all the country
watcrcd by that river. \ more extensive coun-
try calls for a town ut the falls OF the James.
and the Err.Sccing proprietor resolved to open
this spot for settlement. His advertisement is
to he found in the Williamsburg Gazette of
that day. \. town Of some pretensions speedi-
" arose, and its increase in population soon
placed it alongside of older towns, while its
greater ccntrality caused, at an carly day, the
General Court. which was then 4 court of al
most unlimited jurisdiction, to be transferred
to it from Williamsburg, and along with 1t
came much of the high, forensic talent which.
at that ,lav and long afterwards, gave cclc-
brity to the bar of Virginia. Tradition tells,
that the great hotel, where the learned Judges.
LAWYERS and clients assembled, was 4 wooden
building which still stand opposite the Union.
which, for years past. has been appropriated to
greatly different purposes. 1t was ut an after
day, when the aspiring city had clambcred up
the steep and then difficult ascent Of its
mons raj,itoiiDvm. that the City Hotel had to
surrender its claim of being considered the
hottL par CrceiIenre. to the Columbian and
. Swan. which even now. ] believe, maintain a
fair rivalry with the more palatial buildings OF
the Central. Exchange and Ballard House.
American. ST. Charles and Union. Richmond
soon aspircd to Metropolitan honors, and the
increase of the population. along with the
more vulnerable position of Williamsburg to in
vuSion by sea. soon caused It to be selected As
the seat Of Government for the State OF Nir-
ginia. 1t found, however. in Hanover town on
the Pamunky. Il formidable competitor; a single
vote decided the majority in favor of Richmond.
How striking the contrast which now exists
between the two. Here has sprung up an
important mart of Commerce, with its numerous
warehouses, its flour mills, the largest pro-
badly known in the world, its crowded and
laily extending streets. its beautiful private
residences, and its public establishments
adjoining its lofty hills; the whistle OF the
steam engine, and the ringing OF bells, an.
nouncing the arrival and departure OF cars and
boats; its basin crowded with canal boats.
which come loaded with the productions OF the
soil and of the mines; vessels loaded at ITS
wharycs for distant cities of the Union; the
useful barge, conducted to its PirruS, by tow
boats propelled by steam, with tobacco and
flour, and other important articles. to be trans
ported To far distant countries by the noble
ships. which there wait the arrival OF their
cargoc>; its importing houses yearly increasing,
and competing with the large Northern cities
in %>upplic> for the interior; institutions OF pub
lie utility continually arising, among the
nohlc<t of which, is this, the Mechanics lnsti'
tutc. over which it is, gentlemen, your high
privilege To prcsidc-inauguratcd but Il few
years ago, it has already won a position cnti-
tling it To the greatest consideration. Under It's
influence the mechanic arts are developing re-
suits Of which an older city might well be
proud. Schools and Colleges. under admirable
preccptor> Astounding in every direction. Thu
periodical and political press, the sensitive
pulse of public feeling and opinion, numcrouSly!
and ably conductcd-thcsc with many others,
denote the prosperity of Richmond, and he.
speak for it a future full Of expansion and
wealth. Hanover town, on the contrary, II
gives me pain TO ray, has shared the fate 0
numerous other towns and villages, consequent
upon the culture of the cereals in place o
tobacco. Its former existence, once 80 full o
: promise. has passed away; no hum Of industry
is heard along its deserted streets, and
ruin has riotcd among its once comfortable
dwellings, until nought remains but theii
rubbish To mark the spot where the formidable
rival of Richmond for metropolitan honor once
stood.
need not dwell on the stirring incident:
. WHICH Ntlc iSlt SIltNlN'l SUM- NV HShh'
had begun in earnest to buckle on her armour
for that conflict with the parent country which
cyentuatcd in independence. The old Episcopal
church wherein the General Assembly held ii.
councils, the cdicts which thence issued against
mi>rulc and arbitrary sway, the high resolves
against tyranny and oppression, the promul
cation of Virginia independence in advance o.
the celebrated declaration by the States. through
the adoption of the first written Constitution %
civil government ever promulgated, ami at All
after day when 1.-The battle had been fought and
won the assembling here Of that great con
~vcntion which had to determine the future 0
America. in the adoption or rejection of that
Constitution, under which it has been, so far,
our happiness to live; these things are mat
tiers of history and are imperishahlc. In the
text books of the schools. they are written,
and every boy is familiar with them. Great
incidents give Immortality To places. Time
passes by on rapid wing, generation succeeds
generation, and cities and empires crumblc in
to dust. and yet the places where great deeds
have been enacted, live in the memories; and
after the lapse of centuries, the pilgrim from
distant lands, visits them as conSecrated spots,
and their dust is regarded as sacred from pro-
G%anation. And what Spcctaclcs could have been
more august than those to which | have alluded:
The first led the way to the di>iranchisemcn
of Il continent. The last gave the assent o
Virginia, after a severe contest there wcrl
giants in those days. between its advocates and
opponents. to 4 government and bond OF Inior
for the States, which. undiSturbcd in the har
mony Of its motions by sinister influences,
might. Ike the planetary system. rcvolve forever
in its proper orbit, giving light, and heat, and
prosperity and happiness TO countless millions
Nor need | dwell on incidents of 4 still later
day. occurring during the second presidency
Of the United States, when party spirit rar
mountains high and mingled with its waters
the bitterness Of personal cnmity. The French
revolution had broken out, and, like i trcmcn'
dorls earthquake, had shaken the foundations oil
political systems which had withstood the
storms of centuries; the stirring strains Of the
MarScllaiSc rcSoundcd throughout France and
were rc-cchocd from America. y deep sym.
pathv was felt for the country that had aided
America in her struggle for independence. The
gallant conduct of La Faycttc, Of Rochalnbcau.
of De GrasSc and Eilomincl. and other gallan:
Frcnchlncn who had a>>i-'rl our fathers in tho
day of their severe trials. was written on the
hearts of the people in letters Of fire. Franco
was now battling again>tall Europe combined,
and it was but natural that She should have
possessed the sympathics of this country
Virginia gave those SylnpathicS with unre'
strained enthusiasm, and no place furnished
stronger evidences Of determination Of feeling
than did the city ofRichmond. The President
who was supposed to be inimical to France was
assaulted BY the Press, and in all public assem-.
blics as we'll as in private circles, with a bitter.
ness ofinvectivc rarely ever surpassed. lnamo-
ment of weakness Congress gave way to the
adoption ofthc Scdition law, and the press, so far
from being constrained, seemed rather to III
crease in its bitterness. The Government re-
solved upon prosecutions against the most VIC
lent. Judge Cooper was put on trial for libel in
Philadelphia, and Mr.. Lyon elsewhere. Nor did
Richmond 20 Observation-Disclosures who edited
the prospect before us" in a style of abuse