The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-17

]
Of the Union.
One cannot walk the streets or take turn
about the environs without stumbling DER
recollections."
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 un'
, 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 OF 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, snd
fathers Of Presidents spent their lime, and
Wondered 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 Iath.
Here John Marshall, .hegr al efJustice
lived. His house yet stands, an object Of
yeneration to every man whose SOULS higher
than beasts. Some day 1t will belong t.
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 vas brought Aaron Burr after being
indicted by a grand jury Of which John
Randolph was foreman, 10 be tried before
Judge Ma shall with Wm. Win, Luther
Martin. John Wics ham and John Hay Of
counsel.
Here the great Daileys Of old times framed
the eiicts 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 young soldier
with sword drawn for liberty and heart fred
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 receiyeth applause and
affection Of a 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, noble
old pile. fit for poets home ltoyerlooks
the reaches of the James for miles and is the
envy of every specuiator'
Here when Civil War with half drawn
sword glowered on the land, when common
wealths stood face 70 face ready to spring
took place the momentous, but unsuccess-
ful effort of Virgini', the Mother Of States
and statesmen. 80 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 biish.d the Government OF
that child Of war, the Confederate States OF
America.
Here the leaders Of the Confederacy had
their homrs, and Jefferson DAVIS house
General Robert E. Lees, Judah ?. Benja-
minis. James A Siddons and other Southern
leaders houses are objects Of interest to the
Northern visitor if Of indiflence to The resi-
/ dent
Throughout the four years Of the Civil
War. Richmond wag the point Of attack the
prime object Of endeayor Of the Federal
armies
It was the heart Of Virginia. and Virginia
was tie 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 Of millions OF money were lost ID
the endeayor to capture the Confederate Cap
ital, defended as it 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 the bioodiest 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
aginatlon, every spot fragrant with recollec-
tons which must elevate the mind.
As regsrds It's commercial importance, Rich
mond's position is no less remarkable Its
motto sic itur al sstra Is not uDfounded. The
uuexplored country. which when Colonel
Byrd. with prophetic soul. laid out this city
beside the rapids OF the James. stretched be
yond the mountains through en- unknown
wilderness, across trackless forests to the
French posse ssions, then twenty times as dis
TINT as France tself Is now, have since that
day been opened up. His dream has been
realized. His widest imagination far more
] than verified