Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-05-17
Description of the Richmond Capitol
Building-Its History and Its
Weakness-The Confederate
Congress.

| From the New York Evening Post April IS
The appalling disaster which has
shrouded Richmond in gloom and
sent thrill of pain throughout the
country lends vivid momentary
interest to all that is connected with
the concurrence and the scene.
The State-House, or as it is called,
the Capitol of Virginia, is an old
building, standing on the highest
point Of ground in the city, in the
center Of park of thirteen acres,
known as the Capitol Square. The
grounds were some years ago laid
out with taste by hoffman, of Phil
adelphia, and arc adorned with some
of the best statuary in America. The
great monument to Washington, de-
signed by Crawford, surmounted by
his colossal equestrian statue of the
Pater Patyi9, and fianked by heroic
statues of Patrick Henry, Marshall,
Jefferaon, and other Virginia worth
les, occupies position but short
distance from the CAPITOL building,
and in another part of the grounds
there is a marble statue of Henry
Clay, from the chsel of Hart, erect
ed by the women Of Virginia.
The Capitol was built Immediately
at the close of the Revolution. The
model chosen for it was the well
known Maison Carree, at Nismes, q
miniature pattern of which was sent
over from France by Mr.. Jefferson,
but the architect made many devia-
tions from the model, whereby the
effect of the building was greatly i'm
paired. 1t was always an ugly, in
convenient and i'll arranged structure
though from distance it has an inn
posing appearance, and even looks
like Parthehon.
It's historical associations are of
the most interesting kind. In the
basement story, where the Chancery
Court was held in the old time, Hen
ry Clay began life as a deputy clerk
under Chancellor Wythe, tho George
Wythe of the Declaration of indie
pendencc. In it's halls sat the men,
orable Constitutional Convention of
1829-'30. which numbered among it's
members, John Randolph, John
Marshall, James Madison, James
Monroe, and many other men scarce
iy less illustrious. Twenty three
years before, the trial Aron Burr for
treason had been conducted there
From tho southern portico of The
building it was that Daniel Webster
delivered, in October, 1910, "stand-
ing beneath an October sum-" the
political speech which has been
thought one Of his finest popular ex-
positions Of tho Constitution.
La the war of the rebellion, upon
the removal of the Confederate gov
eminent from Montgomery to Rich
mond, it became necessary to fit up
apartments in the building for the
accommodation of the Confederate
Congress, and great changes were
made in consequence in its interior
arrangements. The building, which
was originally strong, was thereby
greatly weakened by the supports
and girders. The courtroom which
has just given way, entailing so fear
full loss of human life, was made by
throwing two apartments into one,
and was occupied by the Confederate
Senate throughout the war. The
floor had swayed much from the true
level, and settled from the sides to-
ward the center, to such an extent
that an examination was ordered in
to it's security, and it was not until a
report was made by master carpen-
tiers that it was safe, that the Senate
consented to occupy the chamber
Had the examination been more
thorough the alarming insecurity of
the floor would have been detected
and this recent heartrending disaster
would have been avoided. Tie Su-
perintendent of Public Buildings in
charge of the Capitol at that time,
died but q few days ago.
Directly beneath the court room
was the hall Of the Virginia House
Of Delegates, and in the rotunda adj
jacent thereto is the marble statue
of Washington by Houdon. Had
the court room given way one hour
later the hall and rotunda would
have been yet more terrible.