The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-15

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 lime, 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
Gro. sed his rath.
Here John Marshall, toe ST at Chief Justice,
lived. His house yet stands, an 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, to its highest
memory and turn it into second rate tene-
ments.
Here was brought Aaron Burr after being
indicted by grand jury Of which John
Randolph was foreman, to 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
mander.in-Chief Of two wars lived and
married.
Here Lafayette came as a 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 he might
the horrors Of the most appalling revolution
which shocked liberty with her own
name he returned 10 receive theapplause and
affection Of people he had done 50 much
to save
Here lived Edgar A. Poe, Americas
greatest literary Genius. The house which
was his home has so far survived, noble
old pile, fit for 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 TO face ready TO spring,
took place the momentous, but unsuccess-
full effort Of Virgni', the Mother of States
and statesmen, 10 avert the ca'amiiy, and
here at last she adopted the ordinance OF
secession and flung herself across the path
of war
Here was es, ablishtd 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 T. Benja-
minis. James Siddon' and other Southern
leaders houses are objects of interest TO the
Northern visitor if of indifisnce 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. a
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 it. Hundreds of thousands Of men and
hundreds Of millions of money wore 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 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 kndle the im-
agitation. every spot fragrant with recollec-
tiOns which must elevate the mind.
As regards its commercial importance, Rich
mond's position is no less remarkable It's
motto sic itur al astra is not unfounded. The
UNEMPLOYED 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 to the
French poss, 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 queenly city
he 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 thousand hills
are there in countless myrsids. For
ests 20 make the naNies Of the
world grow there. and with it all space and
time have been practically annihilated. and the
coal mines Of the Alleghanics, 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 Nir-
ginia he was a man whom the United states de
/ lighted 20 honor. lie discovered the laws OF
the winds and the tides; he laid down charts Of
the ocean. and mapped out It's currents. The
sea was 10 him ~ familiar as the forest to the
woodsman. ne explored the main, and laid
out its surface 10 highways. All civilized