The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-02

One cannot walk the streets or take a turn
about the environs without stumbling DER
recollections."
Here as has been said, the first settlers
stopped, here Nat Bacon, the Rebel. sprang 20
horse and rode hence clamoring 70 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 rayely 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 I'M
known, have since become inaliensble heri
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 given Death"
Here took shape those State papers al
ready referred to, the Virginia Bill Of Righ S
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 time, and
pondered 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 path.
Here John Marshall, hegr'at ChiefJustice,
lived. His house yet stands, an object Of
generation 20 every man whose soul is higher
than beasts. Some day IT will belong to
the city. unless some sharper shah trade on
the Indifference Of the South, to its highest
memory and turn it into second Fate iene-
ments.
Here was brought Aaron Burr after being
indicted by a grand jury Of which John
Randolph was foreman, 10 be tried before
Judge Marshall with VIM. Writ, Luther
Martin, John wicsham 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 CD. and herea old man
who had seen and had tempered as be might
the horrors Of the most appalling revolution |
which shocked liberty with her own |
name he returned to receive thea applause and |
affection of a people he had done so mach |
TO save.
Here Lived Edsar 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 gloNered on the land, when common
wealths stood face to face ready TO spring,
took place the momentous, but unsuccess-
full effort Of Virgini., the Mother Of States
and statesmen. to avert the ca.amity and
here al last she adopted the ordinance Of
secession, 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 T. Lees, judah p. Benja-
minis, James A Siddon's and other Southern
leaders houses are objects Of interest 10 the
Northern visitor if Of indiflence 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
It was the heart of Virginia, and Virginia
was the heart Of the Confederate 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 were lost in
the endeayor to capture the Confederate Cap
i,al, defended as il was by gallant army
and a devoted people. For two years it 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 kindle the i'm
agination, every spot fragrant with recoliec-
tons which must elevate the mind.
As regards its commercial importance, Rich
mond's position is no less remarkable It's
motto sic itur 2d 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 trackiess forests TO the /
French possessions, then twenty times as dis
tant a. France itself is now, have since that /
day been opened up. His dream has been
realized. His widest Imagination far more /
49,.