The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-03

One cannot walk the streets or take turn
about the envrons Without stumbling Ter
recollections."
Here as has been said. the first settlers
stopped, here Nat Bacon, the Rebel. sprang to
horse and rode hence clsmoring 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 grayely 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 inalienable 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 gveme Death.
Here took shape those State papers al
ready referred to, the Virginia Bill Of Righs
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, Presidents, and
/ fathers of Presidents spent their time, and
pondered 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
eros sed his path.
Here John Marshall, thegreat ChiefJustice,
lived. His house yet stands. an object of
yeneration to every man whose soul is higher
than beasts. Some day 1t will belong to
the CITY. nnless some sharper shall trade on
the indifference of the South, 10 its highest
memory and turn it into second rate tene-
menis
Here was brought Aaron Burr after being
indicted by a grand jury Of which John
Randolph was foreman, TO be tried before
Judge MARSHALL. with VIM. Writ, Luther
Martin. John Wics ham 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 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 thea applause and
affection of people he had done so much
to save.
Here lived Edrar A. Poe Americas
greatest literary Genius. The house which
was his home has so far survived, a noble
old pile, lit for poets home ltoverlooks
the reaches Of the James for miles and is the
envy of every Spectator.
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. to avert the Calamity, and
here at last she adopted the ordinance Of
secession, and flung herself across the path
Of war.
Here was est ,blishsd the Government Of
that child of war, the Confederate States of
America.
Here the leaders Of the Confederacy had
heir homes, and Jefferson Davis house,
General Robert +. Lees, Judah 2. Benja-
minis. James \ Siddon's and other Southern
leaders houses are objects Of interest TO the
Northern visitor if of indiffence TO the resi-
lent.
Throughout the -four years of the Civil !
War, Richmond was the point Of attack, the
prime object of endeayor Of the Federal 4
armies.
II was the heart Of Virginia, and Virginia
was the heart of the Confederate army, after ]
he army was dispatched against it, General
lfter General flung himself desperately
lpon it, Hundreds of thousands of men and :
hundreds Of millions of money were lost in |
he endeayor TO capture the Confederate Cap !
tai, defended as it was by gallant army Y
md devoted people. For two years it was
beleaguered city.
In three different campaigns the guns Of
he enemy could be heard from her hill
ops.
Almost within walk Of the city are the bat :,
le fields OF two Of the bloOdiest campaigns
f modern warfare. and within easy ride of y
hose Of two more. n
Thus stands Richmond full of memories, the ;,
iecca Of the historian. every road associated
nth events whose recall must kindle the i'm .,
gination. every spot fragrant with recollec- .,
ions which must elevate the mind.
As regards its commercial importance, Rich g..
nond's position is no less remarkable Its :
lotto sic itur ad astra is not unfounded. The =
nexplored country, which when Colonel n
Iyrd, with prophetic soul, laid out this city
esde the rapids of the James, stretched be- ~
ond the mountains through an unknown :,
ilderneSs. across trackless forests TO the A.
rench posse ssions then twenty times as dis n
ant as France itself is now, have since that /,
az been opened up. Ills dream has been
sahzed His widest imagination far more I,
nan verified. %