The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-19

revolution. that brhright of the unborn
nation. Give me Liberty or give me Death. y
Here took shape those State papers al
ready referred 10, 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
Jeffers,n. the Lees, Nelson. Ben Harrison,
the Tv]ers. 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
s,-ove. Here Tarleton, the Raider swept
everything before him, till young Lafayette
cros sed his path.
Here John Marshall, thegr at Chief Justice,
lived. His house yet stands, an object OF
veneration TO every man whose soul is higher
than beasts. Some day it 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 a grand jury Of which John
Randolph WAS foreman, 10 be tired before
Judee Marshall, with VIM. Wirt, Luther
Martin. John Wics ham 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- Chief Of two wars lived and
married.
Here Lafayette came as young soldier
with sword drawn for liberty and heart tired
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 heapplause and
affection of people he had done so much
10 save.
Here lived Edgar A. Poe, Americas
greatest literary Genius. The house which
was his home has 50 far survived, noble
old pile, fit for poets home Hovcriooks
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
vealtbs stood face 10 face ready 70 spring,
took place the momentous, but unsuccess-
full effort of Virginia 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 sblishtd the Government Of
that child Of war, the Confederate States Of
America.
Here the leaders Of the Confederacy had
their homes. and Jefferson Davis house,
General Robert f. Lees, Judah p. Benja-
Minis. James A. Siddon's and other Southern
leaders houses are objects Of interest To the
Northern visitor if Of indifIence 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 Confed rate army, after
the amy was dispatched against It, General
after General flung himself desperately
upon il. 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 a devoted people. For two years it was
practically 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
agnation, every spot fragrant with recollec-
tious which must elevate the mind.
As regards It's commercial importance, Rich
mond's position is no less remarkable Its
motto sic itur ad astra is not unfounded. The
UNEMPLOYED country, which when Colonel
Byrd, Win prophetic SOUL mlu Jul thi9 Ni'5
beside the rapids of the James, stretched be
yond the mountains through an unknown
wilderness, across trackless forests 70 the
French poss, ssions, then twenty times AZ dis
,ant 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 queculy city
he founded. Mines richer than Golcondas
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
eets TO make the Davies OF the
world grow there, and with it all space and
time have been practical y annihilated, 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 ia his lot with his own people ofVir-
GINA 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