The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-21

HISTORICAL region, or the most historical state
of the Union.
One cannot walk the streets or take q turn
about the environs without stumbling DER
recolleotions"
Here, as has been said, the first settlers
stopped, here Nat Bacon, the Rebel, sprang to
horse and rode hence clam oring to James
town with revolution and liberty armed for
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 un-
/ known, have since become inalienable beri
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 b.rthright Of the unborn
nation, Give me Liberty or giyeme Death ~
Here took shape those State papers al
ready referred to, the Virginia Bill OF RICH g
and the frs, 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 Tylcrs, Madison. Monroe, Pres dents and
fathers of Presidents spent their time, and
pondered their problems of state-and many
others Of the giants lived and loved and
stroyc. Here Tareton, the Raider, swept
everything before him, till young Lafayette
crossed his path.
Here John Marshall, tncgr a, ChiefJustice,
lived. His house yet stands, an object OF
yencraton to every man whose soul is higher
than a beasts. Some day 1t viii belong 70
the city. unless some sharper shat ,rade on
the indifference Of the South g. is highest
memory and turn j. into second rate tcne-
ments.
Here was brought Aaron Burr after being
indicted by q grand Jury Of which John
Randolph was foreman, to be tried before
Judge Marshall, with VIM. Writ, Luther
Martin. John Wickham and John Hay Of
counsel
Here the great Daileys Of old times framed
the edicts which made and unmadc presi-
dents and Cabinets
Here General Winfield Scott, The Com
mander in-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 he might
the horrors Of the most appalling revolution
which shocked liberty with her own
name he returned to receive the applause and
affection of people he had done SO much
to save.
Here lived Edyar A. Poe Americas
grea. est literary Genius. The house which
was his 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 I
sword glowered on the land, when common /.
wealths stood face to face ready to spring /.
took place the momentous, but unsuccoSs- /
full effort of Virgini', the Mother of States
and statesmen. 10 avert the ca amity, and /
here at last she adopted the ordinance OF
secess on. and flung herself across the path /.
of war.
Here was est,blshd the Government Of /
that child of war, the Confederate States OF
America.
Here the leaders Of the Confederacy had
their hom's, and Jefferson DAYS house, .
General Robert T. Lees, Judah 7. BenJa- |
minis. James \ Siddon' and other Southern .
leaders houses are objects Of interest to the /
Northern visitor Il OF inditfence to the resi- /
dent,
Throughout the four years of the Civil
War, Richmond was the point of attack, the !
prime object of epdeayor Of the Federal
armies.
Ii was the heart of Virginia, and virginia
was the heart Of the Confed rate army, after !
the army was dispatched against IT. General
after General flung himself desperately
upon it, Hundreds OF thousands OF men and
hundreds of millions of money wfre lost in
the endeavor to capture the Confederate Cap
ital, defended as il was by gallant army
and devoted people. For two years i; 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 boodiest campaigns
of modern warfare. and 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 kindie the i'm
agination. every spot fragrant with recollec-
tons which must elevate the mind.
As regards its 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, wi h prophetic soul, laid ont this city
beside the rapids OF the James, stretched be-
~ aips through "a unknown