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

The following interesting sketch of
the Capitol building at Richmond, from
the New York Post. is by Mr.. John Il.
Thompson, now connected with that
paper:
The appalling disaster which has
shrouded Richmond in gloom, and sent
thrill of pain throughout the country
lends vivid momentary interest to all
than is connected with the occurrence
and The scene.
The State House or, as it is called the
Capitol OF Virglnir, is IN old building,
standing on the highest point oil ground
III the city, in the centre OF a park OF
thirteen acres, known as :he Capitol
Square. The grounds We're some years
2 go laid tnt with taste by hoffman, OF
Philadelphia. and adorned with some
of the best stattiary in America. The
great monument to Washington. de-
signed by Crawford. surmounted by
his colossal equestrian statue of the
Pater Patri8. and fiauked by the mere
ic statues OF Patrick Henry, Marshall.
Jefferson, and ether Virginia WORTHLESS
occupies position but snort dis-
lance from the Capitol building. aud in
another part OF tile grounds there is a
marble statue of Henry c lay from the
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
chiteet made many deviatloas from the
model, whereby tile effect OF the build
ing was greatly impaired. 1t was al
ways an ugly, i1eonvenient and ill ar
ranged structure, though from a dis
tance it Eas an imposing appearance,
and even looks like 4 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 lite as a deputy clerk under
Chancellor Wythe, the George Wythe
OF the Declaration of Indeper dancc.
In its halls set She memorable Consti-
tntional Convention OF 1929 30, which
numbered among its members. John
Randolph, John MARSHALL. James Mad
ison, James Monroe, and many other
men scarcely less illustrious. Twenty
three years before the trial of Aaron
Burr for treason had been conducted
there. From the sout hern portico OF
the building it was that Daniel Web
ster delivered, in October, 1910. stand
ing beneath an October sun, the po-
litical speech which has been thought
one of the ii ;es5 popular expositisns of
! the Constitution.
In tho war of the rebellion. upon the
| removal OF the Confederate govern
ment from Montgomery to Richmond,
| it became necessary to fit up apart
meuts in the building for the acct m
notation OF the Confederate Congress
and great changes were made in con-
sequence in its interior arrangements.
Tue building, which was originally
strong, was hereby greatly wsakt ned
by the removal of supports and Cir
ders. The court room which has Just
given way, entaiing so fearful a loss OF
human lite was made by throwing two
apartments into one and was occupied
BY the Confederate Senate throughout
the war. The floor had swate ed much
from the tribe level, and settled from
the sides towards the centre, to such All
extent that an examination was order
ed into its security, and it vas not ln-
til a 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
ough the alarming insecurity OF rhe
floor would have been detected and
this r.cenl heartrending disaster have
been avoided. The Superintendent of
Public Buildings in charge of the Capt
toll at that time, died but few days a.
go.