The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-15

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One cannot walk the streets or take turn
about the enyirons without stumbling Ger
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 bis 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 inGlienable 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 Righ
and the first written Constitution the world
ever saw.
Here George Washington lived and moved,
and his headquarters still stands. Here
letters n. the Lees. Nelson. Ben Harrison,
the Tylers. Madison. Monroe Pres dents, and
fathers Of Presidents spent their 'ime 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 gath.
Here John Marshall, tnegr al Chiefjustioe
lived His house set stands, an object Of
yeneradon 20 every man whose soul is higher
than beasts. Some day It viii belong 70
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. 70 be tried before
judge ya-shall. with VIM. Writ, Luther
Martin. John VIC. ham and John Hay OF
counsel.
Here the great Daileys Of old times framed
the edicts which made and unmade Pres
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 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 t1receiyet the applause and
affection Of a people he had done so much
to save.
Here lived Edyar A. Poe Americas
greatest literary Genius The house which
was his home has so far survived, a noble
old pile, fit for pets home ltoyerlooks
the reaches Of the James for miles and is the
envy of every speculator.
Here. when Civil War with half drawn
sword glowered on the land, when common
wealths stood face 10 face ready to spring
took place the momentous, but unsuccess-
full effort Of Yirgini the Mother Of states
and statesmen. 10 avert the ca amity, and
here at last she adopted the ordinance OF
secess' on. ard flung herself across the path
Of war.
Here was est blish the Government of
that child of war, the Confederate states OF
America.
Here the leaders Of the Confederacy had
their hom's, and Jefferson DAVIS house
General Robert +. Lees Judah ?. Benja-
minis. James \ siddon sandoth Southern
leaders houses are object Of interest 70 the
Northern visitor if Of indiilence to the resi-
dent
Throughout the four years Of the Civil
War. Richmond was the point Of attack the
prime object Of eudeayor Of the Federal
armies.
It was the heart of Virginia and 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 " re lost in
the endeavor to capture the Confederate Cap
tal. defended as it was by gallant army
and a devoted people. For two years 1t 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 teoof 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
aginaton, every spot fragrant with recolec-
tons which must elevate the mind.
As regards it, commercial Importance, Rich
moud's position Is no less remarkable Its
motto sic itur al astra is not unfounded. The
unexplored country, which when Colonel
Ryrd. with prophetic SOUL laid out this city
beside the rapids of the James stretched be
,omd the mountains through an unknown
wilderness. across tackless forests 90 the
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