The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-16

historical region, OF the most historical Stat
of the Union.
One cannot walk the streets or take turn
about the environs without stumbling o lei
recollectons."
Here, as has been said, the first settlers
stopped, here Fat Bacon, the Rebel, sprang to
horse and rode hence clamoring to James
town with revolution and liberty armed foI
individual rights at his back.
Here came the representative branch OF
the Colonial Government in the time when
revolution again brooded 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 herr
tage Of mankind.
Here. in old st. Johns 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 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 bis headquarters still stands. Here
LETTERS n, the Lees, Nelson. Ben Harrison,
the Tylers. Madison. Monroe, Pres dents, end
fathers Of Presidents spent their iime and
pondered their problems Of state-and many
others Of the giants lived and loved and
strove. Here Tareton, the Raider, swept
everything before him, till young Lafayette
Gro sed bis Eaih.
John Marshall, theg al ChiefJusiice
lived. lis house yet stands, an object Of
veneration 20 every man whose soul is higher
than beasts Some day 1t VIII belong 70
the city. unless some sharper shall trade Oh
the Indifference Of ,hc South, t. it, highest
memory and turn it into second rate tene-
ments
Here was brought aaron Burr amer being
indicted by q grand jury Of hich JOAN
Randolph was foreman, 10 be tried before
Judge Nashall with Vim. Writ, Luther
Martin. John Wics ham and John Hay Of
counsel
Here the gre Da.leys Of old times framed
the edicts which made and unmaie Piesl-
dents AMI Cabinets.
Here General Winfield Scott. the Com
mandcrin-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 tn 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 a people he had done so much
10 save.
Here lived Ed-ar A. Poe Americas
,rea est literary Genius The house which
was his home has so far survived, a noble
I'D pile. fit for poets home Itoyerlooks
he reaches Of the James for miles and is the
.nvy Of every speculator.
Here when Civil War with half drawn
word glowered on the land, when common
gealths stood face to face ready to spring,
ook place the momentous, but unsuccess-
ul effort Of Virgini', the Mother Of States
md statesmen. to avert TIE ca amity and
lere at last she adopted the ordinance Of
ecess.on, and flung herself across the path
# war.
Here was est blish d the Government OF
hat child of war, the Confederate States Of
America.
Here the leaders of the Confederacy had
heir hom's, and Jefferson DAYS house.
ieneral Robert f. Lees. Judah p. Benja-
nin's. Jemes A. SiddonS and other Southern
saders' houses are object Of interest to the
;orthern visitor if Of indihence to the RES
ent
Throughout the four years Of the Civil q
Var. Richmond was the point OF attack, the
rime object of eldeayor OF the Federal
rmies.
It was the heart Of Virginia and Virginia 4
'as the heart of the Confed rate army, after
be army was dispatched against At, General
fer General flung himself desperately
pom II. Hundreds Of thousands Of men and
undreds Of millions Of money " re lost IN !
ne endeavor 20 capture the Confederate Cap !
al. defended as il was by gallant army !
nd a devoted people. For two years Il was
radically beleaguered city.
In three different campaigns the guns OF
lie enemy could be heard from her bill
,ps {
Almost within walS Of the city are the bat Z
e fields Of two of the bloodiest campaigns
modern warfare. and within easy ride OF /,
lose Of two more. 7
Thus stands Richmond full of memories, the >
ecca Of the historian. every road associated
18th events whose recall must kindie the i'm (
rnation. every spot fragrant with recollec- 4
ons which must elevate the mind.
As regards its commercial importance, Rich /,
ond's position is no less remarkable Its :
otto sic itur al astra is not unfOunded. The .
nexplored country, which when Colonel |,
yrd. wi b prophetic soul, laid out this city
,side the rapids of the James stretched be G
md the mountains through an unknown "
ilderness, across trsckless forests - the \
rench poss ssions, then twenty times as dis r
mt as France itself is now. have since that A
" been opened up. His dream has been