The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-10

THE LATE CONFEDERATE CAPITAL-ThE
: FEW MONUMENTS OF THE wAR-TH r
pLoueHsHARE LEVELS THE C0yFEDE-
RATE BATTLEMENTs-THE REPUDiATIoS
scoURGE-vIRGINIA, MALONE, AND GAR
FIELD.
Editorial Correspondence OF the Philadelphia
Times.l
RICHMOND, December 6.-The world
moves, as Senator Brown recently advised
the Georgia Legislature, aud IL moves 10 the
South az we'll as elsewhere. 1t moves more
slowly amidst the desoistion the war left ms
the heritage OF the South, as capital, labor,
and enterprise had 10 be created or learned
anew, but when the iron.horse sweeps
over the Long bridge at the rate OF a
mile q minute, ard hurries down the
Potomac and across the Virginia plains
TO Richmond In three and hall hours
from Washington, there is progress In the
South. For years after the war II was q
tedious DAYS journey from the national to
the Virginia capital, but now 1t Is merely a
pleasant excursion from one CITY to the
other and back between breakfast and DIM
ner. And Virginia Is moving, sluggisbly
IL Is true, but moving nevertheless, and 10
the right direction. Her homes are more
heartsome and thrifty in their outward
looks; her fields give the assurance oil
greater plenty, and the gradual revival OF
hopeful energy will eventually oblleraie
the blight OF the bondman and the ter
rible lhroes OF his dellverance. Fredc-
ricksburg looks brighter than L nave
seen II at any time during the last biteen
years, and but for the dotted bill hard by,
III "A h..fo MT
came to North and South when Burnside
and Lee belcbed forth their deadly tbunders
at each other. there would be nothing about
the ancient village 10 denote The shock of
battle that made it almost one vast cbarnei-
house. The flag that waves high over the
mingled dust OF the blue and The gray ieiis
the stranger OF victor and vdDquisbed; but
the fierce enemies who frOwDed upon each
other behind their respective warriors, ana
the warriors themselves who met in the
most sangulnary strife, are now so inter.
mingled in the social aud business circles OF
TO-DAY that The war is remembered only as a
horrible dream.
THE LATE CONFEDERATE CAPITAL.
Az YOU approach Richmond the evil
denees OF Improvement multiply, and there
are few monuments 10 testify tOthe fearful
strpo gle OF four years that had the posses
sion of this city for its objective point.
There is nothing 10 remind The traveller
that more than an hundred thousand men
fell in the struggle for Richmond. the
signs OF peace Only are visible IN The appa-
rently comfortable community that sur
rounds the city and in the busy marts OF
trade exhibited in the narrow and sinUous
streets which climb Ing broken bills. One
D. ramd monument OF unhewn and
mortarless stone on an emiDence 10
the northern suburb, is the general
tribute OF the survivors OF the Lost
Cause to their dead, and the statue OF
Jackson. Gift from sympathiZing English
men, tells The whole story OF Confederate
hproism that is told in the poetry OF the
sculptor's chlsel. Libby Prison has just
changed owners at the auctlon-block. and Is
now laden with the fruits OF eaceful in
lustry instead Of housing mass OF sick
aud starving prisoners. and Belle l,le ~
longer answers the babbllng Of the waters
IF thP james with the bOarse murmurS OF
men. The plougbsbare has level
ed he network OF battlements which envi-
roned the dual capital, aud he rushing corn
md the waving wheat gladden. The beart
" here the senlIneI pui sued his steady beat
md the shote guns awaited the signal of
ieafb. The venerable Stae-hou>e hat stands
IN the pinnacle OF The CITY. sur ound' by
beautiful shades and exquisite monuments
VI the fathers OF the republic, has brayed
he storms Of nearly century. II was
modelled b, Jefferson after Roman temple
har pleased his curious eye when abroad,
nd it was erected before Washington vas
President, and when The eloquence of Henry
vas beard in the House Of Delegatesf 1t |
5 rusted from foundation 10 dome, and |
very feature OF ii tells the story OF neg |
pcted age; bur what history i inter-
woven with its blistered pillars and scanned
valsY Founded by those most Illus
rious in the annals Of free government;
he oldest capital OF the Uuion; The centre
( the omnipotent power OF ihe Old Do
linion for full generation; The cradle In
,hich the boosted Mother OF Presidents
cared her family of ruler {; the temple Of
confederate authority for four long years
I sacrifice and waste; next the forum
there the enfrauchised slave made laws for
Is discounted master, and now the tri-
mphaut Repudlationst runs rlOl in its
ais and scourges the dismembered Com
with pubic shame.
THE REPUTATION sCoURGE.
The great >cOurge Of Virginia to-day rs
Re reputation frenzy that has possessed
er poverty icken people under the in
piration of cunning ambition. Unlike the
Their States which cast their fortunes with
be Confederacy. Virginia has had 10 deb
asst upon her by The thievine adyenturer.
he carpet-baggrr has neyp.' yeXed ber peo-
lie by climbing into her places OF high au
lority. Since reconstruction her govern
tent has been uniformly the creation OF her
wn citizens, and Der EX' cutiyes have
Maintained the traditional integrity
I olG.tme Virginia Governors. Her
ebt was AL contracted before toe
'ar and is in no degree the Invention OF the
ranger. In the days Of Vugini - power
nd pride she built great arteries OF trade
y i5nd and water, and but for the gnawiDg
10th OF serviIe labor she woull have more
han riyalled PENNSYLVANIA 10 material pro.
ress ard wealth, as >De did ia the mastery
her craftsmanship. But In an evil day
le COnfederscy reached out iis arms. .a b.
red the Old Dominion il lis fatal embrace,
nd thus dated her decline and fall Her
'rriiOry was parted and Wet Virginia
'as greeted as the deformed birIh Of
vii war. The State became one vast
attle-field, and the horrors OF bloody ;
aternal strife were concentrated upon
or people. Her lands were land waste,
err slave labor welcomed 10 freedom,
err wealth destroyed, and the shadow
the avenging angel fell upon every
And when peace came ner i'm
ediaie resources were well nigh destroyed, !
overly was The rule even where fortune 8
I'd plenty bad smiled, and debt had been !
eepless 10 its accumulation. Tue rich $
ines and forests and natural highways OF |
'est Virginia had been taken from her. |
I'd her nearly fifty millions of debt aud i
Ispended interes' confronted her. To her O
edit let it be said tpat even 10 those Il