The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-09

An APPLICATION PROM THE LADIES OF The
LEB-MoYuMENT COMMITTEE FOR A SITE FOR
THE PROPOSED MoSUMBHT-TExT oP The
PETITION, &C.
The Council on Thursday night referred
10 select committee, Of which Mr.. Charles
+. TAYLOR Is chairman, the petition Of the
secretary OF the Ladies' Lee-MonumeDt
Committee for a site for the proposed mon
umeut. The following Is the letter Of The
secretary to Mr.. Taylor. and the full text OF
the petition:
KEswTcK DEP0T,
ALBEMARLE CO., Va, June 30, 1881. J
Mr.. Charles r. Taylor, Richmond, Vd.:
Dear Mr.. Taylor,-Euclosed send you
the petition for a site for the Lee fnonu.
ment, which | have not had time to send
sooner, and which is far from what 1t should
be. ] eDtrust 10 TO you TO do what you think
best as regards IL, feeling sure that II could
not be In better hands, nor with one who
sympathizes more than you do with US IN
our efforts to honor our great hero. 1t Is
all important to secure q site, as no artist
will like to make a model or design for the
monument without first knowing the char
acter Of the site.
Thanking you for your courtesy, | am
yours respectfully, SARAH n. RANDOLPH.
PETITION FROM THE LADIES' LEE MONUMENT
COMMITTEE TO TUE RICHMOND CITY C0UN-
Gil.
Your Honors,-We ask leave to petition
for lot on which TO erect the Lee monu-
ment. The combined funds OF our commit
tee and OF the Association OF which the
Governor is the head are now sufficient to
begin the monument, the sum total being
nearly $4,000. OF the amount collected by
our committee a large part-indeed the
larger portion-was drawn from States
south OF Virginia. Georgia alone gave
nearly double the sum collected in Virginia.
From Richmond our contributions have
been very small, but this, we thought, was
as it should be, for the city, in the magnit-
cent defence OF her by the great captain,
being more intimately associated with his
brilliant achievements than any other place,
would come forward, we knew, and make
her contribution in what we now ask for
namely, suitable site for the monument.
Years ago such a aite was offered us on
CANDLES Hill, but recent buildings have
DESTROYED or detracted from the beauty OF
the position there.
One or two OF the open squares in the
western part OF the city have also been sug-
gested, but apart from the fact that they
offer no special beauty OF position, there Is
the greater objection in the fact that the
honor intended to be paid to the memory OF
our great hero would be lessened should
the monument be placed in the outskirts in
stead Of in the heart Of the city.
As classic and beautiful spot the Capitol
Square would certainly be the most appro-
PIRATE place; and did the Square extend to
Nam street there could not be found in
America q more beautiful situation for a
statue than in front OF the southern portico
OF the Capitol. AS it Is, however, The
Square is too small not to seem overloaded
should second equestrian statue be placed
there, particularly when outside OF the
Square it could be seen from no part OF the
city but from Bank street.
The objections to all these sites being
deemed insuperable, another was to be
sought; and it has been found in the lot
belonging to the estate Of the late Mrs. John
Allan, which lot is at the corner OF Main and
Fifth streets, and is now for sale. With all
the buildings swept away, and commanding
as it does q beautiful view down the river,
IL would add greatly TO the beauty OF the
CITY to have in it q small public square.
There, where the two streams OF social
and business life mingle for a moment in
the heart OF the city and then wend on their
different ways, would be the appropriate
place for the great soldier-perpetuated in
bronze-to stand for all ages looking over
and beyond the city be defended so well,
down those lines once held by armies whose
achievements, guided by his skill, are i'm
mortaliZed in history.
Washington's statue IN the Capitol Square
represents the great Virgnian who guided
successfully the first American Revolution.
II you will give us the spot on which to
place il, little farther on will stand the
statue OF Lee as that OF the great Virginia
captain whose skill and valor on the field
was only surpassed by that calm, dignified
courage and bearing in defeat which made
the vanquished the peer Of the victor. Few
capitals could show monuments to two
such men, teaching as they do 10 the youth
growing up under their sacred shadow that
truth, justice, and courage will be honored
alike in the hero who dies under the shadow
OF adversely as well as in him who sank to
rest on the loitiest height to which earthly
prosperity and grateful country could lift
him.
Feeling confident you will think it is due
to General Lees memory for the city to
contribute suitable site for the monument.
and that none could be more appropriate
than the one we now ask for, we beg that
you will seriously consider our request and
pray you to grant it.
SARAH n. RANDOLPH,
for the Ladies' Lee Monument Committee.
June 30, 1881.