The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-26

historical region. of the most historical State
Of the Union.
One cannot walk the streets or take a turn
about the enyirons without stumbling DER
recollectons."
! 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 I'm
known have since become insienable heri-
tage Of mankind.
Here in old 81. Johns Church, still stand
/ ing amid the trees and graves on Church
Hill thrilled forth that watchword of the
revolution, that brthright 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 RICH
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 end
fathers Of Presidents spent their time, and
Wondered their problems Of state-and many
others Of the giants lived and loved and
stroye. Here Tarleton, the Raider, swept
everything before him, til young Lafayette
crossed his path
Here John Marshall, the great Chief Justice,
lived. His house yet stands. an object OF
veneration to every man whose sonl is higher
than a beasts. Some day It will belong 10
the city. unless some sharper shall trade on
the indifference Of the South, 70 its highest
memory and turn il 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 tired before
Judge MARSHALL with Wm. 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
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 andhad tempered as he might
the horrors Of the most appalling revolution
which shocked liberty with her own
name he returned 20 eceivethea applause and
affection Of a people he had done so much
10 save.
Here lived Ed,ar A. Poe Americas
greatest literary Genius. The house which
was his home has so far survived. noble
old pile. fit for poets home ltoSerlooks
the reaches of the james for miles and is the
envy Of every Spectator.
Here when Civil War with half drawn
sword elowered on the land when common
wealths stood face to face ready to spring,
took place the momenious, 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
secession, 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.
Here the leaders Of the Confederacy had
their homes, and Jefferson DAVIS house,
General Robert Z. Lees, Judah =. Benja-
Minis. James A. Sddon'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 IT, Hundreds Of thousands of men and
hundreds Of millions Of money were lost in
the endeayor to capture the Confederate Cap
ital defended as it was 10y gallant army
and a devoted people. For two years 1t 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
III fields Of two Of the bioodiest campaigns
of modern warfare. and within easy ride oil
those Of two more.
Thus stands Richmond full Of memories the
Mecca OF the historian, every road associated
with events whose recall must kindie the in
agination. every spot fragrant with recollec-
tons which must elevate the mind.
As regards it, commercial importance, Rich
mond's position is no less remarkable It's
motto sic itur ad astra is not untounded. The
unexplored country. which when Colonel
Byrd. with prophetic soul, laid out this city
beside the rapids OF the James, stretched be
vond the mountains through an unknown
wilderness. across trackless forests 70 the
French posse ssiobs, then twenty times as dis
49,. .. t...n.o s.ooff IL uoU have since that