The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-05-23
"a, TUESDAY MORNING, MAY %. 1871.

. - Il - L
monies an unmeaning mockery? Is this al
idle pageant--a mere matter Of cbiid's pla,
to which the men Of Richmond and Man
chester have consecrated one day amid th,
pressing cxactions Of these times? Nay
verify, there is meaning in this movement
and no Titus among you need refuse The
repose Of the night in repining over the
loss Of the day. We are here to signaliZe
the Inauguration Of an enterprise which
proposes to meet felt necessity of these
two peoples, from the consummation o.
which we may date new era in theil
united history. We are here to proclaim
the bans of matrimony between the north
side and the south side--an indissoluble
union in which heart goes with hand.
| We are not here to break old bonds, but
to create new. Yea, verify, to restore the
old, the memory whereof even now lives
in tradition. The very spot whereon we
stand-the very track we propose to Dur.
| sue--is that the fathers trod. There are
tottering footsteps to-day upon these streets
| that ere while in the spring of youth sped
gaily day by day from shore to shore along
| this very path, and grandsires and grand
| mothers on either shore have this very
| morning been reviving to listening child
hood hallowed memories of the far.away
past, when in first experience Of travel the
journey from Richmond to Manchester was
safely accomplished over Trent's bridge.
We have heard how the windows of
heaven opened and the floods came which
swept it in their fury s'from turret to
foundation-stone - but the truth of history
| rests upon evidence not of sight, hllt
OF narrative, for not relic nor yestige-
q landmark nor water-mark, remains.
But though not upon this very spot, there
| are such, and not far distant, to perpetuate
the continuous story Of the union and as
sociation ofthese two peoples; and blistered
be the tongue that would suggest their
removal, and palsied be the hand that
would essay the unholy work.
Heard melodies are sweet,
But those unheard are swceter: ~
and it were a venial offence to break the
violin OF Paganini, compared to the re-
moval Of one ancient landmark. If the
necessities Of growing population and an
expanding community demand new ave-
nues OF ommunicatioIl-wider and more
! accessible and treer in the facilities they
oilcr-need recognition OF such necessity
| ne adjudSed want of grateful reverence
Tor the honored dead whose energy and
| foresight was adequate to the necessities of
so long past! Nay, verify. No unholy
hand III all this assemblage would mar in
| stone or plank the symmetry and beauty
| and grandeur Of that noble structure,
| which spans not merely the river, but a
century OF the history Of this people. De-
spite its fair proportions and it's modern
seeming, it has grand old glory OF its own,
fragrant with memories and associations.
this people will never willingly let die.
There IS inspiration in the story Of its no.
hle battles with surSng flood and wrap
ping flame. Looking back upon its cheauered
history from the standpoint OF achieved
result, what Virginia heart sweils not with
| pride as it catches above the roar of the
cOEguering element mid food and flame in
| the very hour Of disaster, apparently over.
whelming the stout voice Of an uncon.
quered will protesting brave resolve, and
| with its defiant Rcsurgam going down only
! to spring up with AntGan vitality in re.
uewed yigor aud sturdlcr strength. Brave
old type of the unconGucrable will of the
! fathers. long may it stand TO illustrate q
virtue and enforce ali example which, emu
htcd and initiated, blazes before the son:
| the pathway Of honor and success.
| Men OF Virginia, despite the waste O
| war, thanks to Il kind Providence, We have
yet Il goodIy heritage, which shall blossom
rs the rose and ripsn rs the vine, and thi,
| gathering pOrtends-docS it not ?-the earn
est, honest effort of high-hcaltcd men, st
| far as in them lies, to hasten the fruition
1t means Il solemn protest OH the part 0
this people that the holy memories of The
| past shall inci,e to That brave energy in IL,
| present. which promises us reward in thC
f! future that the latter day OF this Common
| wealth shall he more glorious than the for
| mer. 1t means, If the earnest, unbendiu!
| Will and concentrated energy and effort 0
these two peoples can construin fortune
that just here, with open heart, W,
are to welcome the tide of emigration
| from the North and the South, from
| the Old World and the New; tina
these waters shall be spanned by bus,
street-a great highway, as free in its bene
| factiOns as the air and the SUI Of heaven
chat warehouses and factories shall lint
these shores, and these receding plateaus
Ion either shore, be vocal with tht
| num of growing population; tha
| Wonder harbor shall whiten with thou
| sand sails, and The air grow murky with the
smoke Of hundred steamers that thes,
| laughing waters shall leap no longer in idle
play and spcndtLrift prodlsality, but, max
| ing music with a thousand spindles, shal
leave behind cre they escape towards ocear
Il deDoSit OF wealth more abundant thar
the L gyptiau Mic. 1t means that just here
/
| he advancing tides OF ocean, shall be tht
| commercial and manufacturing as well 81
| he political metropolis OF Virginia, stretch
my out with iron arms to the West anc
the South to garner the generous con
| tribulions of an eXhaustleSs soil, adapting
them here by educated industry and enter
prise to the exact necessities OF man, anC
beneath the tluttering pennonS Of every
commercial nation speeding them through
t1e gates OF our own classic james to every
| port Ill home and abroad.
| We have right TO make merry and be
| glad with these high antlcipationS. WHO
suall say that they may not be realized ever
| in our own day, and that eyes which be
| held through binding tears the holocaust 0
that fatal April morning, may not gazt
upon the glory? There is hope, high hope, il
| Tie not distant future. Is it not enough tina
the clouds which have so long obscuret The
heavens now rift themselves sufficiently tt
let in elimpses Of the glory Of L meridial
sun for the bounding heart to leap in
stinctiyely to meet the smiles of cloudles
sky! The gates of the morning are neye
abruptly uplitted at once. But when over th'
| black darkness OF the waning night feebl
harbinger Of coming day struggles ab0v'
the horizon, it needs no eager eye Il
foresee the immediate future, and the wear,
watcher waits not long
| It'll morning high and higher shines
20 pure ahd per!ecs day.
Men of Virginia our night is far spent
The day cometh. There is light arount
the horizon. Rouse ye, then, from tn
slumbers Of the night, aud wake for th
| duties of the day. There is work to do ant
| to be done while the day lasts, but stou
hearts and honest nerves can do 1t, AM
gret will be the reward of success. Onl
be true to the name ye bear and the lineag
We hoast. Look not mourntully upon th