The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-29

of the Union.
y One cannot walk the streets or take tur
IS about the environs without stumbling OF
recollections."
n Here. as has been said, the first settler
J.; stopped, here Nat Bacon, the Rebel. sprang b
S horse and rode hence clam ring to james
y town with revolution and liberty armed 70
r individual rights at his back.
e Here came the representative branch o
the Colonial Government in the time wher
9 revolution again brooded over the land. anc
I when men were gravely weighing Their
e 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 give me Death"
Here took shape those State papers al
ready referred to, the Virginia Bill Of RICH $
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, end
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
crossed his path.
Here John Marshall, thegrfa' Chief Justice
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. unless some sharper shall trade on
the indifference Of the South, % It's highest
memory and turn it into second rate tene-
ments.
Here was brought Aaron Burr after being
indicted by 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-Chef 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 toreceiye the applause and
affection Of people he had done so much
to save.
Here lived Ed,ar A. Poe Americas
grea est literary Genius. The house which
was bis home has 50 far survived, noble
ID pile, fl, for a 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 glowered on the land. when common
yealths stood face to face ready to SIR ~,
ook place the momentous, but unsuc' ess-
III effort Of Virgini', the Mother Of States
md statesmen, TO avert the ca.amity, and
iere at last she adopted the ordinance Of !
ecess' on, and flung herself across the path
# war.
Here was est blish,d the Government Of
hat child of war, the Confederate States of
America.
Here the leaders of the Confederacy had
heir homes. and Jefferson DAVIS house
General Robert f. Lees Judah F. Benja-
nin's. James A Siddons and other Southern
,aders' houses are objects of interest to the
,orthern visitor if Of indifIence to the resi- a
ent
Throughout the four years Of the Civil j
Var, Richmond was the point Of attack. the
rime object of endeayor Of the Federal A
rmies.
It was the heart of Virginia and Virginia II
as the heart of the Confederate army, after 7,
ne army was dispatched against 1t, General
fer General flung himself desperately
pom it. Hundreds OF thousands of men and r.
undreds Of millions 81 money were lost III D
re endeavor to capture the Confederate Cap Il
al, defended as it vas by gallant army W
nd a devoted people. For two years it was H.
ractically beleaguered city.
In three different campaigns the guns Of
ie enemy could be heard from her hill
ps. ch
Almost within walk Of the city are the bat VI
e fields of two OF the blcOdiest campaigns u,
modern warfare, and within easy ride OF
lose of two more. -
Thus stands Richmond fun of memories. the -
eeca OF the historian, every road associated 10
it'll events whose recall must kindle the i'm
,ination. every spot fragrant with recoliec- -
Dns which must elevate the mind. ~
As regards its commercial importance, Rich
ond's position is no less remarkable Its -
otto sic itur ad astra is not unfounded. The -
1explored country. which when Colonel 81
yrd. with prophetic soul, laid out this city .,
side the rapids of the James, stretched be- ~
md the mountains through an unknown y"
ilderness. across trackiess forests 10 the ~.