Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-11-24
cTATUE OF LIBERTY.

Yankee newspapers announce that all pre-
variations arc completed for erecting on the
summit of the dome Of the capitol, at Wash
ington { just opposite the old Capitol prison
the colossal statue of-what? or of whom =
Of Megera. of BeIlona? Of Erinnys! OF
Cotytto? No, statue Of Liberty! 1t is
'the very fend's arch>mock."
just after the " election in Maryland
where dill citizens, not protesting themselves
slaves Of Lincoln, were kept Ivy force from the
polls. this statue lifted so high aloft and WISH
bic from great part of that " Poland oil
America" must surely be great comfort to
the coun.rymen of Carroll Of Carrollt"n.-
Statues Of distinguished persons are usually
set up after they arc dead; and according
to this usage, nothing can be more proper
than solemn apotheosis Of sLibcrty deceased
1t is also right and appropriate that the mon
umental image should surmount that eSecra-
BILE building where American Liberty was
done to death. That Few capitol, with its
vast and costly corridors and marble colon
nal les, and wilderness of gliding and iFese"'
far outShining the State houses of all the sevc-
raj States-those real seats of ell authority
and on which the&reasure of the country had
been layished for many years, with thc'settled
design Of creating great central interest,"
which would help to fix and arciyhtthe union'
has long seemed to US fit type and emblem
of the Federal Government itself. The fede'
raj Government, like its house, was at first
modest, unpretending structure, tit Tor Its
lawful business, ard aspiring to nothing
higher or grander. Liberty was then living
inmate of the House, not q dead image on the
top Of the roof But by degrees, when the
thought Of consolidated empire for purposes
of sectional dominion took possession OF the
Yankee mind, the Federal agency sought to
override The States, its masters and owncsS,
even as it's House aspired to cast into the
shade the buildings where the sovereign
legislatures OF the States hels thoi, scat. lit
was observed Of old tina: the Acropolis OF
Athens was never crowned with its gorgeous
buildings till the days of Pericles, when Athc'
Man liberty was falling into decadence.-
Humber lodgings always suffice fos that god
dess in her prime, and in vigorous aud healthy
activity Haud alter, when the Congress OF
tho United States bcthought itself OF becom
ing 40 imperial government, and OF rearing
itself q mighty temple of marble and gold Il
dwell in, Liberty was already sick unto death
The United States, which had crst glCwct
with healthy circulation through every
limb, began 70 be afflicted with Il determine
rion of blood to the head. The treasure. Of the
land set in to, powerful'a stream TO Washing
ton; the extremites grew languid, the heat
apoplectic; congestion set in, and delirum
and dreadful death in paroxysms of rarint
madness.
The mighty scheme of empire went towrecl
in its infancy, Just as some Yankee towns
commenced upon grand scale, begin to go II
ruin before they arc half built. So will it b
with that prodigious new Capitol. Its mon
strous wings are yet unfinished, and still
want their miraculous peristyles Of. marbl
columns. The building will never be finished
long ere that day it will be blown up by tn
Confederates the marble Liberty will tumble
down as low in the dust rs now lies the ono
living Liberty Of the Constitution and IN
giant ruins will remain monument OF tn
insanity and impiety Of a'nation which com
mitted suicide before it was full grown, an'
burned It's own house over its head in lit
aclirium temens.
Meantime, tho new Yankee Liberty
with her back to the South, stands grinnint
over Maryland for q time. Thank God, w
have no part nor lot in sue! Liberty as that
Our Liberty is still alive, and not in monu
mental stone.