The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-20

revolution. that birthright Of the unborn
nation. Give me Liberty or give me Death"
Here took shape those State papers al
ready referred 10, the Virginia Bill Of Righ
and the first written Contribution the world
ever saw.
Here George Washington lived and moved,
and his headquarters still stands. Here
jefferson. the Lees, Nelson. Ben Harrison
the Tylers. Madison. Monroe, Pres dents, and
fathers of Presidents spent their time, and
pondered their problems Of state-and many
others of the giants lived and loved and
stroye. Here Tarleton the Raider, swept
everything before him, till young Lafayette
crossed his Path.
Here Jobn Marshall, the IT at Chief Justice.
lived. His house yet stands, an object OF
yeneration TO every man whose soul Is higher
than beasts. Some day 1t will belong to
the CITY. unless some sharper shall trade on
the indifference Of the South, to its highest
memory. and turn it into second rate tene-
ments.
Here was brought Aaron Burr after being
indicted by q grand jury OF which John
Randolph was foreman, 70 be tired before
Judge Marshall, with VIM. Writ, Luther
Martin. John Wickhsm and John Hay OF
counsel.
Here the great Daileys Of old times framed
the edicts which made and unmade Presi-
dents and Cabinets.
Here General Winfield Scott, the Com
mapder in-Chief Of two wars hyed and
married.
Here Lafayette came as young SOLDIER
with sword drawn for liberty and heart fired
with dreams of the Cid. and here all old man
who had seen and had tempered as be might
the horrors of the most appalling revolution
which shocked liberty with her own
name he returned to receive the applause and
affection of people be had done so much
TO save.
Here lived Edgar A. Poe, Americas
greatest literary Genius. The house which
was his home has so fay survived, noble.
old pile. fit for poets home 1toverlooks
the reaches of the James for miles and is the
envy of every speculator.
Here when Civil War with half drawn
sword glowered on the land, when common
weaItbs stood face to face ready to spring,
took place the momentous, but unsuccess-
full effort of yirgini', the Mother Of States
and statesmen. to avert the ca'amity, and
here at last she adopted the ordinance OF
secession, and flung herself across the path
of war.
Here was est blished the Government OF
that child Of war, the Confederate States OF
America.
Here the leaders of the Confederacy had
their homss. and Jefferson DAVIS house,
General Robert f. Lees, Judah p. Benja-
minis. James A Siddons andDther Southern
leaders houses are objects Of interest TO the
Northern visitor if of inditience 10 the resi-
dent.
Throughout the four years Of the Civil
War. Richmond was the point Of attack the
prime object of endeayor of the Federal
armies.
II was the heart of Virginia, and Virginia
was the heart of the Confederate army, after
the army was dispatched against 1t, General
after General flung himself desperately
upon II. Hundreds of thousands of men and
hundreds of millions of money were lost IN
the endeayor to capture the Confederate Cap
jtal. defended as il was by gallant army
and devoted people. For two years it was
practically a beleaguered city.
In three different campaigns the guns OF
the enemy could be heard from her hill
tops.
Almost within walk Of the city are the bat
tie fields Of two of the bloodiest campaigns
Of modern warfare, and within easy ride OF
those of two more.
Thus stands Richmond full Of memories. the
Mecca of the historian, every road associated
with events whose recall must kindle the i'm
agination, every spot fragrant with recollec-
tions which must elevate the mind.
As regards its commercial importance, Rich
mond's position is no less remarkable Its
motto sic itur ad astra is not unfounded. The
unexplored country, which when Colonel
Byrd, with prophetic soul, laid out this city
beside the rapids of the James. stretched be
yond the mountains through an unknown
wilderness, across trackless forests 10 the
French posse ssions, then twenty times as dis
tant as France itself is now, have since that
day been opened up. His dream has been
realized. His widest Imagination far more
than verified.
Even the French possessions have been Sc
cured and made tributary TO the queeniy city
he founded. Mines richer than Goleonda's
have been discovered. Plains which are the
granaries Of the world have been found and
cultivated. The cattle upon thousand hills
are there in countless. myraids. For
es,s TO make the nayies OF the
world grow there. and with il all space and
time have been practically annihlated, and the
coal mines Of the Aleghanies, and the grain
Nelds Of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys are
nearer Richmond to-day than Colonel Byrd's
plantation was when he laid of tie city.
The foremost navigator and geoTapher OF
this century was Commodore Maufy. Until
he threw q his lot with his own people Of Viz
ginia he was man whom the United States de
lighted 10 honor. He discovered the laws OF
the winds and the tides; he laid down charts Of
the ocean, and mapped out its currents. The