The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-21

of the Union.
One cannot walk the streets or take tarn
about the enyirons without stumbling Ger
recollections.
Here. as has been said. the first settlers
stopped. here Nat Bacon, the Rebel sprang TO
horse and rode hence clamoring to James
town with revolution and liberty armed for
individual rights at his back.
Here came the representative branch OF
the Colonial Government in the time when
revolution again broodtd over the land, and
when men were gravely weighing their
liberties against their heads and lands.
Here met the great convention whose
members here devised this Government and
formulated ordinances which till then IN
known, have since become inalienable heri-
tage Of mankind.
Here. in old st. JOINS Church, still stand
ing amid the trees and graves on Church
Hill thrilled forth that watchword Of the
revolution, that birthright Of the unborn
nation, Give me Liberty OF give me Death"
Here took shape those State papers al
ready referred to, the Virginia Bill OF Righ
and the first written Constitution 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 line and
Wondered 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 ms path.
Here John Marshall, thegrsat hiefJustice'
lived. His house yet stands, an object OF
yeneration TO every man whose soul is higher
than a beasts. Some day 1t Will belong to
the city. unless some sharper shall trade on
the indifference Of the South, t. its highest
memory and turn it into second rate tene-
ments
Here was brought Aaron Burr after being
indicted by a grand jury Of which John
Randolph was foreman. 10 be tried before
Judge Marshall, with Vim. Writ, Luther
Martin. John Wicsham and John Hay of
counsel.
Here the great Daileys Of old times framed
the edicts which made and unmade Pfesi-
dents and Cabinets.
Here General Winfield Scott the Com
nander.in-Chief Of two wars lived and
married.
Here Lafayette came as young soldier
with sword drawn for Liberty and heart fired
with dreams Of the Cid. and herean old man
who had seen and had tempered as he might
the horrors Of the most appalling revolution
which shocked liberty with her own
name he returned 10 receive thespplause and
affection Of q people be had done so much
TO save.
Here lived Edsar A. Poe Americas
greatest literary Genius The house which
was his home has so far survived a noble
old pile tit for a poets home ltoYerlooks
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
weaths stood face 10 face ready to spring
took place the moment0us, but unsuccess-
full effort of Virgini', the Mother of States
and statesmen. 70 avert the calamity, and
here al last she adopted the ordinance OF
secession, and flung herself across the path
of war.
Here was est ,blish the Government OF
that child Of war, the Confederate states OF
America
He,e the leaders Of the Confederacy had
their homes. and Jefferson DAVIS house,
General Robert T. Lees, Judah p Benja-
Minis. James 4. Siddon's and other Southern
leaders houses are objects of interest TO the
Northern visitor if of indiilence to the resi-
dent
Throughout the fonr years Of the Civil
War. Richmond was the point of attack, the
prime object Of erdeayor of the Federal
armies.
II was the heart Of Virginia and Virginia
was the heart Of the Confederate army, after
the amy was dispatched against 1t, General
after General flung himself desperately
upon it. Hundreds Of thousands of men and
hundreds Of millions Of money were lost IN
the endeavor to capture the Confederate Cap
ital. defended as it was by gallant army
and devoted people. For two years it was
practically abeleaguered 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
sgination. every spot fragrant with recoilec-
tons which must elevate the mind.
As regards It's commercial importance, hicn
mond's position is no less remarkable us
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 trackiess forests 10 the
French possessions, then twenty times as dis
tant as France itself is now. have since that