The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-02-26

News from Richmond.
An event took place in Richmond, on the
LIST of July last, from which the sentiments
of some of the Southern people may be in
ferred. For several days previous, General
Dix had been threatening the city by way of
the Peninsula; and as General Lee had his
entire army with him in Maryland and Penn
sylvania, leaving JEFF Davis and his capital
entirely unprotected, the greatest excitement
prevailed. Business was entirely suspended
and the citizens were ordered by the authori-
ties to form themselves into companies and
regiments to brighten the invaders off, and,
if necessary, resist, as far as possible, their
advance on the city. Children, not over if-
teen years of age, and aged men, in their
second childhood, invalids, cripples, lawyers,
doctors, and divines, were alike forced into
these organizations. Every day they were
drilled, and in the evening allowed to return
to their homes. A signal was fxed upon,
and they were ordered, upon hearing 1T
sounded, to rush Immediately to the Capitol
Park, and get ready for action.
In this park, net far from the State House.
stands an elegant marble statue Of Henry
Clay, in the majestic attitude he was wont to
assume in addressing the United States Sem
ate or other public assemblies, One hand is
extended, as if in the act of emphatic ges-
ture. AT considerable height above the
statue, to protect it from inclement weather,
is a broad and neat canopy, supported by
several pillars, while around it, on line with
the pillars, is a light, iron railing to prevent
children and others from meddling with the
image.
At daybreak, on the morning of the LIST OF
July, the Yankees were reported at Tunstall s
Station, only few miles below the city, and
the signal was sounded Not only the citizen
militia, but nearly the whole populace rushed
to the rendezvous, in the park, to learn what
was to be done. There stood Henry Clay,
with placard about a yard square suspend
ed to his extended hand, with the words in
bold red letters, 81 will never consent to 8
dissolution of the Union, never, necer
NEvERw
But this was not all, for on the South sid'
of the canopy hung large and well-executet
} painting on canvas, representing the seal
the State of Virginia. The prominent fea
lures of this seal, as many of your readers
are aware, are man lying flat upon hi
back, while another, with liberty cap OF
his head, and sword in one hand and {
| dc
foot upon his neck. Just beneath the pic
ture, as in the seal, in bold letters, was thu
famous motto of the State, Sic senlper tyran
ms, which I may interpret for the few WHIT
do not understand it: $50 be it ever to ty
rants" No spectator failed to discern in thu
, fallen figure portrait of the tyrant JEFF Da
Wis, and none could fail to recognize in tn
: gigantic form and unhandsome face standin
c over him Abraham Lincoln, President of tn
u United States
e The sensation and excitement produced b
b this display have not sufficient power
g language to describe. A few cursed and d
C nounced the authors of the traitorous deco
Il some put on gloomy and woeful expression
V OF cOuntenance; more, hirdiu " utter WIN
b they felt, yainly endeayored to suppress
: Joyous smile, and with their elbows huncht
: their friends with evident satisfaction q
n appeared to regard the exhibition az an a
It curry of the fast dissolution Of the Confeder
It cy; but none seemed inclined to pull it dow
e and there it hung for nearly an hour in Il
face of the gaping crowd. The officers of Il
W new militia, novices in the art of war, app
e. rently forgot to form their companies, al
ne their awkward squads manifested eyerythir
o. but an eagerness to grid on the armor, al
10 be marching along"
IN At length Benjamin Franklin Beall, Lor
DO Franklin Bean as he is commonly Gale
a. formerly editor of The SPIRIT of Jefferson,
Is weekly journal published in Charleston
of Va, the place of John Browns martyrdoi
e. but since the rebellion associate editor of t
is Richmond Dispatch, and at the time of IL
" occurrence commissioner elect of Pub
be Works for the State, appeared upon the seer
be and with the assistance of two others p
IL ceeded to remove the " seditious and INSULT
no spectacle" As he was pulling the place
Die from Henry Clay, an Irishman in the cro'
er shouted out; "Ah, be jabers, the spirit of OF
as Harry's about yet" "Yis," cried anoth
with stentorian voice, land so is the spirit