The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-09-17
The City of Richmond.

In his late blatant speech in New York, Sec
rotary Stanton spoke of the city of Richmond
as ~ miserable place, not worth twenty
pound shot; but that, IA the model and type
of the Southern rebellion, it must be con-
quered"
We could scarcely expecta Yankee Secretary
Of War to cay less Of a city of not forty thou,
sand inhabitants, not one hundred and iiftv
miles from the Yankee capital, which the en-
tire Yankee nation have been deyoting their
whole energies for one year and half to cap
ture, and are now farther off from their oh
ject than ever. We can afford to view with
supreme indifference the Nominations of Secre-
tary Stanton. If Scott, with his swarminy
legions, at Manassas, could not disturb the
compOsure of Richmond; if Mcclellan, with
his numerous army and heavy artillery, four
miles from Richmond, could not displace one
stone in our streets, we can permit Yankee
Secretary Of War to lire off his gas twenty
ponder at the safe distance of New York,
without proposing to capitulate. Ii Richmond
II not worth twenty pound shot, the Yankees
have spent great many millions, and fired off
thousands Of cannon, compared with which a
twenty FOUNDER IL apop-gun, to capture that
worthless object. When he describes it, how
ever, IA the Ntype and model of the Southern re
bellion," he manages TO stumble upon some
truth aud sense, and we give him credit ic-
cordingly. We are aware that its value in
Yankee eyes consists in its being the Southern
capital, though, even If it should fall, dis
astrous a. the blow might be, it would not ai.
feet the vitality Of the Southern cause. II Is
not only a. the capital that Richmond il the
t'type and model of the Sou, hern rebellion
1t is in the indomitable spirit of the people, the
chivalric and intrepid souls Of the descendants
of revolutionary sires, that Richmond nobly
represents the Southern Confederacy; but.
were the capital to fall, it would only he the fall
Of 30 much bricks and mortar, and tue spirit
that It represents would still animate ii coun.
try as large rs Europe, and defy the efforts Of
the North at suIjugation till the end Of time
Here still stands the time honored ediiice in
which Patrick Henry declared, in the old
Revolution, Give me liberty or give Inc
DEATH" and though Richmond according to
Secretary Stanton's standard of the value of
cities, was not worth then musket shot,
tho soul that brcathed in Henry's words
and gave the first Revolution an irresistible
Impetus, has not grown weaker with the
growing strength of the city, and will yet
prove too powerful for the vulgar tyrant at
Washington, who is aping George the Third
In all but the decencies of civilization.
Tried by different measure than nnnlbers
and material wealth, Richmond is city
whose streets Secretary Stanton might con-
slider himself honored in assisting to clean, at
the head Of the only kindred spirits Of his who
have been permitted to appear here in public
tho chain-gang. It does not become us to
boast Of the valor and sacrifices with which it
has illustrated this glorious war, nor the quiet
and patient heroism with which It has stood
calmly erect amidst the thunder Of battle
Ct its gates. But if high moral qualities, If
inieiigenee and refinement, If generosity and
couisge ennoble people, then Richmond
need aread no comparison with the hives Of
assseriag humanity, those hinge !. sores upon
inc oody polite. = which Secretary Stanton cx.
uits IN ~ great cities.