The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-08

HUI Thrilled loIth th"s
revolution. that birthright Of the unborn
nation. "Giye me Liberty or give me Death'
Here took shape Those State papers al
ready referred to, the Virginia Bill Of Rien
and The first written Constitution the world
ever saw.
Here George Washington lived and moved,
and his headquarters still stands Here
Iosers>n the Lees. Nelson. Ben Harrison,
the Tylers, Madison, Monroe, Pres dents tnd
fathers Of Presidents spent Their lme, ana
rendered 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
Gro sed his ath.
Here John Marshall, thegr al Chief Justice
lived. His house yet stands, an object OF
veneration to every man whose soul is higher
than beasts. Some day IT 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 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 Wick 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. 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 10 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 poets home ltoVeriooks
the reaches of the James for miles and is the
envy Of every Spectator.
Here when Civil War with half drawn
sword glowercd 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 at last she adopted the ordinance Of
secess' on, and flung herself across the path
Of war.
Here was est blish'd the Government Of
that child Of war, the Confederate states Of
America.
He-e the leaders of the CoVfejeracy had
their homes. and jefferson Davis house.
General Robert f. Lees, Judah !. Benja-
Minis. James \ siddon's and other Southern
leaders houses are objects Of interest 70 the
Northern visitor if Of indiilence to the resi-
dent
Throughout the four years If the Civil
War Richmond was the point Of attack, the
prime object of erdeayor Of the Federal
armies.
Il was the heart fVirgnia,-an 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 were lost in
the endeavor 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 hill
tops.
Almost within walk of the city are the bat
tie fields of twoo 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
ngination, every spot fragrant with recoliec-
lions which must elevate the mind.
as regards its commercial importance, Rich
mond's position is no less remarkable It's
motto sic itur sd 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 10 the
French possf ssioBs, then twenty times as dis
tant as France itself is now. have since that
day been opened up. His dream has been
realized. His widest imagination Ear more
than verified.
Even the French possessions have been Sc
cured and made tributary to the queenly city
he founded. Mines richer than Golconda's
have been discovered. Plains which are the
granaries Of the world have been found and
cultivated. The cattle upon a Thousand hills
are there in countless myTaids For
ests to make the navies Of the
world grow there and with il all space and
time have been practical , annihila;ed, and the
coal mines of the Aieghanies. aud the grain
fields Of the O1io and Mississippi valleys are
nearer Richmond to-day than Colonel Byrls
plantation was when he laid OF O C city.
The foremost navigator and geogIapher Of
this century was Commodore Maury. Until
be threw in his lot with bis own people Of Viz
ginia he was man whom the United States de
lighted 10 honor lie discovered the laws q
the winds ana the tides; ne laid down charts OF
the ocean, and mapped out its currents. The
sea was 10 him as familiar as the forest 10 the
woodsman. He explored the main, and laid