The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-11

,eadv referred TO. the Virginia Bill Of RICH
and the first written Constitution the word
ever saw.
Here George Washington lived and moved
and his headquarters still stands. Here
fsFers n the Lees. Nelson. Ben Harrison,
the Tvlers. Madison. Monroe, Pres dents, and
fathers Of Presidents spent their time, and
wondered their problems of state-and many
others Of the giants lived and loved and
stroye. Here Tarleon. the Raider swept
everything before him, till young Lafayette
GRO sed his rath.
Here John Marshall, tnegr at Chief Justice.
lived. His house yet stands, an object OF
yeueration 20 every man whose soul Is higher
than n beasts. Some day It will belong 70
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 aaer being
indicted by a grand jury OF which John
Randolph was foreman, TO be tried before
Judge Marshall, with VIM. Wirt, Luther
Martin. John Wickham 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
mander- n-Chief Of two wars lived and
married.
Here LAFAYETTE came as young soldier
with sword drawn for liberty and heart hired
with dreams of the Cid and here an 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 to receive theapplause and
affection Of people he had done so much
to save.
Here lived Edgar A. Poe. Americas
greatest literary Genius, The house which
was ais home has so far survived, noble
old pile, fit for a poets home ltoyerlooks
the reaches of the James for miles and is the
envy Of every Spectator.
Here when Civil War with half drawn
sword glowered on the land, when common
wealths stood face 10 face ready to spring,
took Mace the momentous, but unsuccess-
f,l 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 pain
of war.
Here was est blishcd the Government OF
that child of war. the Confederate States OF
America.
Here the leaders Of the Confederacy bad
their homes, and Jefferson DAVIS house
General Robert f. Lees, Judah 7. Benja-
MINIS. James A Siddons and other Southern
leaders houses are objects Of interest to the
Northern visitor if of indihenee TO 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.
1t was the heart Of Virginia, and Virginia
was the heart Of the Confed rate army after
the amy was dispatched against 1t, General
after General flung himself desperately
mon Il. Hundreds ofthousands Of men and
hundreds Of millions Of money were lost IN
the endeavor to capture the Confederate Cap
ital. defended as il was by gallant army
and devoted people. For two years 1t was
practically beleaguered city.
I ions the 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 recollee-
tons which must elevate the mind.
As regards lis commercial importance, Rich
mond's position is no less remarkable It's
motto sic itur al astra is not unfOundeh The
uneYulored country, which when Colonel
BYRD. with prophetic soul. laid out this city
beside the rapids of the James, stretched De
yond the mountains through an unknown
wilderness. across trackless forests to 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 20 the quecniy city
he founded. Mines richer than Golconda's
have been discovered. Plains which are the
granaries Of the world have been found aud
cultivated. The cattle upon thousand hills
are there in countless myraids. For
ests 10 make the nayies OF the
world grow there, and with IL all space and
time have been practical y annihllated, and the
coal mines of the Alleghanies. and the grain
fields Of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys are
nearer Richmond to-day than Colonel Byrd's
plantation was when he laid of the city.
The foremost navigator and geOgrapher OF
this century was Commodore Maury. Until
he threw 10 his lot with his own people of Vir-
einia he was a 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
sea was to him as familiar as the forest to the
woodsman. He explored the main, and laie
ont its surface in highways. All civilized
countries Wed 20 do him reverence. and the