The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-29
lFor the Dispatch. ]


lFor the Dspatch.l
W7cstmorcEana as She Will be ta 1865.
On the northeast side OF the Rappahan-
mock, and opposite Fredericksburg, the
!" tired-up engine' was trembling under
steam. aud waiting The signal to dart away
along the highlands, known as the Northern
Neck OF Virginia, for the Chesapeake bay.
Two gentlemen rapidly drove to the station,
and barely had lime to enter the cars before
the train started on its daily trip to the
great Wicomico.
Our travellers LETT the cars near the head
waters OF MattoX creek, Il narrow strip oil
land dividing the RaDpahannock and Poto-
mac rivers, and in full view OF both. From
this point the scene was grand and i'm
posing.
"What a change! One hundred years
ago left this my native county to seek q
home in the Southwest, fleeing from a
country ruined by the civil wars OF that
period, which made sad havoc among slave
owners. Our family were largely interest
ed in that species Of property"
Thus spake a middle-aged looking man
TO his companion. They were father and
son. ....
"What change" the elder repeated.
virgin growth, and before them lay rich
and magnificent lowlands and hills literally
covered with orchards, vineyards, and the
cereals of the laboring people. Here and
there grove of oaks and evergreens, from
which peeped stately mansions, were seen.
The fields were dotted with neat cottages,
which added charm to the beautiful land
Scape, and Fever tired the eye. On the dis
tapt hills in Essex broWScd countless fl0cks
Of sheep, and nearer the lowing OF cattle,
moving homeward, satisfied our pilgrims
they were in q land flowing with milk and
honey.
The position our travellers occupied COM
manded an extensive view, as we stated, OF
rivers and country. On the right lay the
calm and turbid waters OF the Rappahan.
mock, ruf1led occasionally by the rapid
movements Of steamers going and returning
from Fredericksburg, large manufacturing
town. On the left the distant shores OF Mary
land loomed up in = focgy atmosphere, while
between rolled the blue and angry waves
Of the Potomac, bearing on its bosom innu-
merable sails and steamers, pressing ON to-
wards the overgrown capital, with its 3,0o0,-
900 of inhabitants. The country they over
looked was closely interviewer, too, with
the great events of the past, noted 200 years
before for raising great men in field and
Cabinet, for elegant manners and un-
bounded hospitality, and was still the Mecca
resorted to by lovers Of the old order OF
things.
A SHORT HISTORY.
A change from free democracy to mon
archv had become absolutely necessary to
protect the people against the people. One
hupdre ana fifty million OF inhabitants,
with their varied and conflicting interests,
REQUIRED stronger government than de-
mocracv could handle benetcialy to all.
The West could no longer furnish room for
The restless and turbulentto waste their pas
sons in the boundless prairie. States were
only appendages to the Capitol at Washing
ton to carry out the edicts OF the soverelgn.
Senators held their position for life. The
people really were only represented in the
lower house, the delegates being elected
ut long intervals. Thoughtful and inteiii-
gent men became satisfied the fewer the
elections the better for all orders OF society.
The negro, like the Indian, had entirely
disappeared from the country. AS his
room was needed the Saxon had pushed
him into the Gulf or Atlantic; and to save
that dark remnant OF civilization forced
upon the South one hundred years before,
it became absolutely Necessary to the Afrl-
cans existence that he should migrate to
the land OF his forefathers, where he had
established form OF government similar
in name to the United States, and where ne
was extending his conquest among the wlld
natives by religion and the sword.
On foot our travellers iourneyed to Visit
once more the scenes OF the elders youth,
and point out to his son the memorable
places famous, and still the resort OF the an
nf hn
pillars OF marble erected by wealthy cod
Mortality who spent manyiyears OF LABOR
and love in the undertaking. He had fin
ished bis mission, and was living in ease
and retirement at Stratford, then his pro-
pertv.
Astonishing discoveries bad been made
in the arts and sciences, but the most aston
ishins OF all was in medical jurisprudence.
By a combination Of the animal, mineral,
and vegetable Kingdoms mans average life
had run up to 125 years, and many at that
age enjoyed the full yigor Of manhood. The
father had reached the age Of 120, and
showed no signs OF fatigue in bis Journey
to the birthplace OF Monroe. "Old Nor
talty" had mapped out the prominent
points to aid the searcher in the local his
tory OF the State.
Nothing about Monroe's birthplace re-
called the past but the everlasting outlines
OF hills and water. There stood the mar.
BILE shaft supposed to be in the centre OF the
old homestead. A little further on was
Moaroe's creek, the shores OF which had
been often pressed by the feet OF the gaY
youth with his dog, gan, and fsing-rod us
companions. Gambolling in the day-dreams
OF youth hours few rapidly, and was only
reused from these pleasant reveries by the
thunder Of cannon and a call to arms.
Labor had made a great change here.
DYKES and network OF bitches bad re-
claimed every foot OF marsh to the waters
edge, making a plantation noted for chills
and feyers rs healthy as the forest, and
yielding large crops to the tl!lers OF the
soil. The past was indeed behind onr tra-
yellers. The father might well exclaim,
What change! Villages bad sprung up
at every crossroads, railroads struck every
available point, and the teeming population
were ever pressing onward and upward.
From here our travellers struck across
the country to the birthplace of Washing
ton. The old chimney and the fig-tree we're
still there. Nothing on the spot had been
added. but Old Mortality's pillar. A stone
wall and iron railing enclosed an acre OF
land around the place, in ono corner OF
which Was the guards house, whose duty
ii was 10 protect the few relics from the
hard OF the spoiler and TO keep the grounds
In neat order. On Tho banks Of Pope's
creek quite d village OF hotels had sprung
5lln. The channel had been deepened.
rc cg n,ts % IfhfT fY, hmm fred F1rdS on