The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-28

historical region. of the most historical State
of the Union.
One cannot walk the streets or take turn
about the environs without stumbling DER
recollections.n
Here. as has been said. the first settlers
stopped, here Nat Bacon, the Rebel. sprang to
horse and rode hence clamoring 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 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 his headquarters still stands. Here
jefferson. the Lees, Nelson. Ben Harrison.
the Tylers, Madison, Monroe, Pres dents, snd
fathers of Presidents spent their time, and
Wondered 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
crossed his path.
Here John Marshall, thegr at ChiefJustice.
lived. His house yet stands an object Of
veneration 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 .he South, 70 its highest
memory and turn il 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
Judge Ma.shall, with VIM. Writ. Luther
Martin. John Wicsh and John Hay of
counsel.
Here the great Daileys Of old times framed
the edicts which made and unmade Pres-
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 bld man
who had seen and had tempered as lac might
the horrors of the most appalling revolution
which shocked liberty with her own
name he returned TO receive theapplause and
affection Of a people he had done 50 much
to save.
Here lived Edsar a. Poe Americas
greatest literary Genius. The house which
was his home has so far survived, noble
old pile, tit for poets home ltoyerlooks
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 Virgini'. the Mother of States
and statesmen. 10 avert the ca amity' and
here at last she adopted the ordinance of
secess.o 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 had
their homes. and Jefferson DAVIS house,
General Robert E. Lees, Judah p. Benja-
Minis. James A 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 endeavor of the Federal
armies.
II was the heart Of Virginia and Virginia
was the heart Of the Confederate army after
the amy was dispatched against 1t, General
after General flung himself desperately
upon it. Hundreds Of thousands Of men and
hundreds Of millions Of money ware lost IN
the endeayor to capture the Confederate Cap
ital. defended as il was by gallant army
and devoted people. For two years 1t was
practically a 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 kindle the i'm
agination, 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 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 TO the
French ossessious. then twenty times as dis
tant As France itself is now. have since that