The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1870-05-06
THE CAPITOL BUILDING.
Its History and It's NyeaIs.ess.

The following interest sting sketch of
the Capitol building at Richmond, from
the New York Post. is by Mr.. John II.
Thompson, now connected with that
paper:
The appalling disaster which has
shrouded Richmond in gloom, and sent
a thrill of pain throughout the country
lends vivid momentary interest to all
than is connected with the occurrence
and the scene.
The Stale House or, as it is called the
Capitol OF Virglnir, is fn old building,
standing ON the highest point OF ground
in the city, in the centre OF a park OF
thirteen acres, known as ;he Capt. oil
Square. The grounds were some years
Ego laid Jrt with taste by hoffman, OF
Phi ladelphIa and adorned with some
of the best statliary in America. The
great monument to Washington. de-
sigued by Crawford. surrounded by
his colossal equestrian statue Of the
Pater Patri8. and fianked by the mere
ic statues OF Patrick Henry, Marshall.
Jefferson, and ether Virginia WORTHLESS
occupies position but a snort dis
lance from the Capitol building. and in
anothe part OF the grounds there is a
chise, of Hart, erected by the women of
Virg MIA.
The Capitol was built immediately at
the close of the Revolution. The model
chosen for it was the well-known Mai
son Carree at Nismes, a miniature pat
tern of which was sent over from
France by Mr. j ttferson, but the ar
chitect made many deyiatlo.is from the
model, whereby tile effect Of the build
ing was greatly impaired. 1t was al
ways an ugly, i1convenient and i'll ar
ranged structure, though iron. a dis
lance it Uas an imposing appearance,
and even looks like 3 Pantheon.
Its historical associations are of the
most interesting kind. In the base
ment story, where the Chancery Court
was held in the old time. Henry Clay
begun liie as deputy clerk under
Chancellor Wythe, the George Wythe
of the Declaration OF lndeper dance.
In its halls set the memorable Consti-
tutional Convention OF 1929 30, which
numbered among its members John
Randolph. John MARSHALL, James Mad
ison, James Monroe, and many other
men scarcely less ilustrious. Twenty
three years before the trial of Aaron
Burr for treason had been conducted
there. From the southern portico of
the building it was that Daniel Web
steer delivered, in October, 1910. stand
ing beneath an October sun, the po-
ltical speech which has been thought
one of the ii ;ess popular expositisns of
the Constitution.
In the war of the rebellion. upon the
removal OF the Confederate govern
ment from Montgomery to Richmond,
it became necessary to fit up apart
ments in the building for the accam-
notation OF the Confederate Congress
and great changes were made in con-
sequence in its interior arrangements.
Tic building, which was originally
strong, was hereby greatly weakt ned
by the removal of supports and CIR
ders. The court room which has Just
given way, entaiiing so fearful a loss OF
human lille was made bv throwing two
apartments into oae and was occupied
by the Confederate Senate throughout
the war. The floor had SWAY ed much
from the tribe level, and settled from
the sides towards the centre, to such an
extent that an examination was order
ed into its security, and it vas not UNI
til report WAS made by master car
pentsrs that it was safe, that the SEN
ate consented to occupy the chamber.
Had the examination been more thor
0ugh the alarming insecurity OF The
floor would have been detected and
this recent heartrending disaster have
hcen avoided. The Superinte ndrnt of
Public Buildings in charge of the Capt
tol at that time, died but few days "a
90.