The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-05

Of the Union.
one cannot walk the streets or take turn
ohon, tho environs without stumbling Ger
recolections'
Here as has been said, the first settlers
stoned. here Nat Bacon the Rebel sprang to
horse and rode hence camoring to james
town with revolution and liberty armed ioT
individual rights AZ bis back
We're came the representative branch 81
the Colonial Government IN the time when
revolution again brooded over the land ana
when men were nayely weighing iheir
rbertia, against their heads ami lands.
Here met the great convention whose
members here devised this Government and
formulated ordinances which til then un'
known. have snce become inaAenabie hen-
tage Of mankind.
Here in old St. Johns Church. still stand
ing amid the trees and graves on Church
HIN 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 20, the Virginia Bill of Righ
and the first written Constitution the world
ever saw.
Here George Washington lived and moved
and bis 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 bis path.
Here John Marshall thegr at ChiefJustice,
lived. His house yet stands, an object OF
veneration to every man whose soul is higher
than beasts Some day It VIII belong 10
the CITY. unless some sharper shall trade OBJ
the indifference Of the South, to its highest
memory and turn it into second rate tene-
ments.
Here was brought Aaron Barr after being
indicted by a grand jury Of vhich John
Randolph was foreman, 70 be tried before
Judge Narshail, with Wm. Writ, Luther
Martin. John Wictham and John Hay Of
counsel.
Here the great Daileys Of cd times framed
the ediots 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 rs 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 ofthe most appalling revolution
which shocked liberty with her own
name he returned to receive theapplausea
affection Of people he had done so much
/ 20 save.
Here lived Ed-ar A. Poe Americas
grea est literary Genius. The house which
was his home has so far survived, noble
old pile, fit for a poets home Itoyerlooks
the reaches Of the James for miles and is the
envy Of every speculaios.
Here when Civil War with half drawn
sword elowered on the land, when common
weaiths stood face 70 face ready 10 spring
took place the momentous, but unsuccess-
ful effort Of Virgin the Mother Of States
and statesmen. 10 avert the ca amity, and
here at last she adopted the ordinance OF
aecsss. 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
Here the leaders Of the Confederacy bad
their homes. and jefferson DAVIS house,
General Robert f. Lees, Judah 2. Benia-
minis James A siddon's and other Southern
leaders houses are objects Of interest to the
Northern visitor if Of indihence TO the resi-
dent
Throughout the four years Of the Civil
War. Richmond was the point ofattack, the
prime object Of endeayor Of the Federal
armies.
II 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 Il. Hundreds Of thousands Of men and
hundreds # millions Of money were lost in
the endesgor to capture the Confederate Cap
ital. defended as it was by gallant army
and a devoted people. For two years il 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 bioodiest campaigns
of modern warfare, aud 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 kndle the i'm
agnation, every spot fragrant with recollec-
tons which must elevate the mind.
As regards its commercial importance, Rich
mond's position is no less remarkable liz
motto sic itur cd astra is not unfounded. The
UNEMPLOYED country, which when Colonel
Byrd. with prophetic soul, laid out this city
T beside the rapids of the James. stretched be
yend the mountains through an unknown
wilderness, across trackless forests 70 the
French poss. ssions. 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 far more
than verified.