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

Hill thrilled forth that watchword OF the
revolution, that birhright Of the unborn
nation, Give me Liberty or 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
LETTERS n, the Lees Nelson. Ben Harrison,
the Tylers. Madison. Monroe, Pres dents, snd
fathers Of Presidents spent their time, and
rendered their problems Of state-and many
others Of the giants lived and loved and
strove. Here Tarleton, the Raider, swept
everything before him. till Young Lafayette
GRO sed his Path.
Here J John Marshall, thegr al Chief Justice
lived. His house yet stands, All object Of
yeneration 10 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, 10 IT'S highest
memory and turn il into second rate tene-
ments.
Here was brought Aaron Burr aAer being
indicted By a grand jury Of which John
Randolph was foreman, 10 be tired before
Judge Marshall, with VIM. Writ, Luther
Martin, John Wick 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
manderin-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 here an 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 applause and
affection Of a people he had done so much
TO save.
Here lived Edgar 4. Poe. Americas
greatest literary Genius The house which
was bis home has so far survived, noble
old pile, fit for a poets home. ltoverlooks
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
weaths stood face TO face ready to spnng
took place the momenious, but unsuccess-
full effort of Virgini', the Mother Of States
| ,. tho amltV and
here at last she adopted the ordinance OF
secess. on, and flung herself across the path
Of war.
Here was est blishtd 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 ?. Benia-
minis. James A siddon and other Southern
leaders houses are objects Of interest to the
Northern visitor If Of indi1ence 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 it, General
after General flung himself desperately
upon IT, Hundreds Of thousands OF men and
hundreds of millions Of money " re lost in
the endeavor to capture the Confederate Cap
ital. defended as it was by gallant army
and devoted people. For two years 1t 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 bloodlest campaigns
Of modern warfare, ard within easy ride Of
those Of two more.
Thus stands Richmond fun Of memories. the
Mecca of the historian. every road associated
with events whose recall must kindle the in
agination, every spot fragrant with IecoIiec-
tons which must elevate the mind.
AS regards lis commercial importance, Rich
monlS position il no less remarkable It's
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 possf ssiOns then twenty times as dis
tant az 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 aud made tributary TO the queenly city
ne founded. Mines richer than Golconda's
have been discovered. Plains which are the
granaries Of the world have been found and
cultivated. The cattle upon n thousand hills
are there In countless myraids. For
ests to make the rayies OF the
world grow there, and with il all space and
time have been practically annihilated, and the
coal mines of the Alleghanies, aud the grain
fields Of the Ohio aud 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
be threw in his lot with his own people Of Viz
ginia he Was a man whom the United States de
lightedto honor. He discovered the laws Of
the winds and the tides; he laid down charts Of
the ocean, and mapped out It's currents. The
e.o ,-os a. him &c fam liar ae tho forest "a the