Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-11-05

time fully present the which INDUCE us 10 eop.i
CT 'h measure one OF real and pressing importance. and
because the matter. 30 far know has not been
brought for~ ard by any other press in the STATE
Asa question of architectural pride think the OF
Dominion should not be satisfied With the crazy old build
ing which surmount- The central hii of the metropolis.
The poverty of it, decoration ani the general sabb
ness OF its exterior must strike the only the more
unfAycraby Qua near approach because OF The imposing
eject u has from considerable distance. Whoever Viz
is Richmond for the first time ASCEND. the sum
nit on which the Capitol .tand expecting TO be- mtc,
scd with the beauty Of Parheuon aud the icnehan
ncnt as the dlapijaed eorncc, the bald counr. III.
nloudcfng stucco and the great ,ortco i,hout tep
meet the eye. l. complimentary 10 c t.,t, and ,,b
lie spirit Of Virginia TIE building has not even the a;r
oi antiquity tO temper this Gye.ug Of d-appoiu I'm, nj
with respect IL l. aiways in decay vet aIr a. affecting
to he siuar; and sort OF cheap neiy In ati,rs i, tic
characteristic Of it, outsile appearance. Except tue Lii
brary room. there il h,ud,on,. or comfortable
apartment In the whole structure Altogether the C,p
to is unworthy OF virsni aud .lonld be replaced .y
something IN better keeping Nth the imprcvei taste in
architecture which belongs the ar,. and ulor. .I,ntd
To the wants OF the public service
Herein We find stronger reason Cor erecting , new
edifce. IL l. notorious all WHO have treou.,cJ ,l
ia oi ue House OF DELEGATES, aud the Seaate Chamber
during the fittings of the General Assembly, tL,t both
these rooms Ill suited possible 10 the purposes
Tor which they set apart The seais are croWdd to-
gether at the expense OF all convenience OF ocomo,on
and the ventSetion j. necesarly very defective Ac
commoda'on for the public there i noae that deservcs
to be called SUCH the visitors TO the oycrc,od and
contracted galleries eau testify And for the Commit
can 1T nj one time la the Capitol and even tle.e reuair
to apartments already occupied and but poory proy.d
with the conyeniences Indispensable the proper trans
action of business. Now that the sessions of tho Ieris
ature biennial aud circumscrbed in dUraton evSrv
facility should be offered for the promp; and satisfactory
discharge OF the duties Of the Legislator and IL will be
ound very poor economy in the end to sh, him up in
an III eonrived and uncomfortable building ia which h
cannot work TO his satisfaction aud from which he i but
TOO glad TO escape when the hour of adjournment he
arrived.
But The nf -a;si
ons, and more permanent st.ucrc /, forced upon us
with greatest power when We consider for n momen,
he priceless contents OF The present Capitol which /. Ia.
n'e 10 be aid III ashes a any time and especially so
during the sessions OF the Legislature when cou.t,u,
res are kept there. The arvhercs OF the Colonial and
STATE Governments, embracing Of incdted cor.
re-pondencc and indgesicd Ms OF ine,timahe yaua go
the historian would he inevitably swept away in the
event OF fire, aud amount of money no expenditure
o' labor, could possibly replace them. In addition Ia
these there i the matchcsS of a.hngon y Hon
don oil greater worth than pure and il~ls. clrv,o.
lite ot the sam" size would be, which belongs. indeed 10
virginia, hut which ~ scarcely l>S the l,rou.r,y o all
mankind to whom, We are, in measure, r-poa.blr fos
its safe keeping Should the Capitol be DESTROYED il
would De simply impoSsibiliy preserve is MAG.
nifcent master piece, aud greater loss To the world
would he sustained than IL half doz-n OF ie hall. .:
sculpture In the Vatican demolished h their ts
ble gods and muses. Well shall deserve the c.nst
aud derision OF our sister States w. lose the historical
materials and the glorious statue which our State Cap-
oi contains, through niggarliuess which prevents n.
from eectug for their custody al, i,npsrsh,l. .,r,,
ture, which shall he ornament TO our seat of
government aud Sritab0 place Vi meeting or our l.
gi.lsve bodies.
We have not referred to the valuable and Increasing
Library OF the state nov numbering nearly gn nO0 vol.
uHts, a demanding safer place OF depo-it nor haze
we adduced the examples oi other States of r Urion
IN building magnificent CapitJls AZ immense cu lay OF
money, because our remarks have ALREADY been suf
ciently extended, but do hesitate 20 say ha, ~
point has been fully made out aud sincerely hore to
see IN the farewell message OF retiring Governor
recommendation TO the General Assembly 10 make pro-
vision this winter for u new State House