The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-17


revolution, that birthright OF the unborn
nation, Give me Liberty or give me Death"
Here took shape those State papers al
ready referred 70, 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 Tvlers. Madison. Monroe, Pres dents, and
fathers of Presidents spent their lime, and
rendered their problems Of siate-and many
others of the giants lived and loved and
drove. Here Tarleton, the Raider, swept
everything before him. I'LL young Lafayette
crossed his path.
Here John Marshall, tnegr at Chief Justice,
lived. His house yet stands, an object Of
yeneration 10 every man whose soul is higher
than beasts. Some day II 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 Bur after being
indicted by grand jury OF which John
Randolph was foreman, to be tried before
I,dge Marshall. With Vim. Wir, Luther
Martin. John wickham 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
mapder.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 to receive the applause and
affection Of a people he had done so 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 a poets home toverlooks
the reaches of the james for miles and IS the
envy of every speculator.
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-
ful effort of Virgni', the Mother Of States
and statesmen. to avert the Calamity, and
here at last she adopted the ordinance of
secess on. and flung herself across the path
of war.
Here was established 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 T. Lees, Judah p. Benja-
minis. james 4. Siddon's and other Southern
leaders houses are objects Of interest to the
Northern visitor if of indifience 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 Confederate army, after
the army was dispatched against 1t, General
after General flung himself desperately
upon t.. Hundreds Of thousands Of men and
hundreds of millions Of money we're lost in
the endeayor TO capture the Confederate Cap
ital. defended as il was by gallant army
and devoted people. For two years it was
practically beleaguered city.
In three different campaigns the guns of
the enemy could be heard from her bill
tops
Almost within walk Of the city are the bat
tle feds 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 kndie the IN
arination. every spot fragrant with recoilec-
tons which must elevate the mind.
As regards its commercial importance, Rich !
mond's position is no less remarkable It's
motto sic itur I'D 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 70 the
French posss ssions, then twenty times AS dis
tapt 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 possesslons have been sc
cured and made tributary to the queeuly city
he founded. Mines richer than Goieonda's
have been discovered. Plains which are the
Rranarios OF the world have been found and
cultivated. The cattle upon a thousand bills
are there In countless myrsids. For
ests 70 make the nsvies OF the
world grow there and with Il 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 be laid of tie city.
The foremost navigator and geogfapher Of
this century was Commodore Manry. Until
he threw a his lot with bis own people Of Nir-
ginia he was q man whom the United states de
lighted 20 honor. He discovered the laws Of
the winds and the tides; he laid down charts OF
the ocean, and mapped out its currents. The
sea was 10 him as familiar as the forest 10 the
{ go. H.. .xpf,r.d no main and laid