The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-23
THE CAPITOL BUILDING.
CONTINUATION OF lTslNTEREsT-
ING HISTORY.

6rst Capitol erected at Williamsburg was
built in part by private subscription, Oy
kyies upon imported liquors, servants ana
negro slaves, and by special appropria-
tons from the Colonial Treasury. Inc
authority for this statement is TO be iound
in the several and successive legal enact
ments included between the years 1860 ana
i-4s. The estate House, built at James
town about the year 1859, had been destroy
I'd by fire. and the Capitol authorized to DC
luilt at Williamsburg. had been occupied
by the House OF Burecsses In 1904, although
rot then quite completed. Notwithstand-
ing the authority Just referred 10, II has been
said that the first Capitol at Williamsburg
was erected at the private expense OF queen
Anne herself, but under the direction Oh Tue
Governor. The Queen died I'm l'l0, leaving
her public treasury as nearly exhausted as
II had been for the most part OF her reign
Under the circumstances II is not 10 be sup
posed she would have applied her private
funds 10 such purpose. Had THIS been
The case, some public notice OF sucn Oene-
Iicence on her part would nave been re-
corded 10 transmit TO posterty so worthy
AN act. About the time the new Ihpitoi
was i'm course of construction house Tor
the Governor was also building. 10 Is POSI-
lively known that the latter was pald iof
by. the same ,lcyies. made for the building
ui the Capitol. This is proved by COM
,,iaint made 10 the Governor by Mr.: Henry
cary. .oyerseer for the building of the Gov
ernor's bouse.v that the workmen refused
10 do a certain work because "arrears que
them" had not been paid. but that they
would under certain conditions. wait upon
the General Assembly for their pay. where
upon the Council ordered Mr. benjamin
Harrison. the "COuntrys treasurer,
ssont of the money in his hands, arising Dl
the late impOsitions.' This was accord
jngly done, and Mr.. Cary gave his receipt
for the sum needed. The impositions IT.
ferred TO were those arising from the TAX
on imported liquors, servants ana negro
slaves, which had been levied for building
the Capitol also. $500,
Some idea may be formed of how the Col
onial Government moved about during the
long intervals OF time between the destruc-
ton of one Capitol and the building oil an
other. when we find Lord Howard Baron
Efingham, Governor in 1854, holding court
at "Rosegill," in what is now MiddieseA
county. Whether this historic place was AT
that time the property OF his L0rdship uocs
not appear; but for many generations IL
was the seat of the Wormleys Of virginia.
II is now time TO see how our peripateilc
Colonial Government found at last
local habitatiOn. In October, Las
two wears after the destruction OF the Cap
itol said 20 have been built by queen
Anne, the House Of Burgesses passed an act
authorizing the treasurer 10 borrow three
thousand pounds for the purpose OF erecting
new one The sum thus borrowed was 10
be ultimately paid out Of receipts from the
same levies on liquors, servants ana negro
slaves, heretofore collected for the cons;ruc'
ton of the late Capitol. On the same day
the House Of Burgesses expressed In the FOL
....l.1 fha
ing a place for their meeting: Whereas
His Majesty's royal Capitol in the city OF
Williamsburg had been unhapplly burnt
down, and Ii IL necessary that the same d.
rebuilt with all possible expedition Tor the
convenient sitting and holding OF general
assemblies and general courts Oh thl'
COLONY: BE IL enacted, &c. Under this act
John Blair and William Nelson, Esqs,
Philip Ludwell, Carter Burwell, Edward
Dicgs, Peyton Randolph, Beverly Within
and Benjamin Waller, gentlemen,
were appointed directors to take
the necessary steps for carrying out the pro
visions of this act, which, among Other
things, required that the new ediilce was u
be built upon the old foundations, thereby
fixing its future site. These directors were
also empowered to call upon the Governor
for and 20 account 10 him for all funds used
for the purpose indicated.
We have seen in another place how
strong an opposition was raised against the
rebuilding Of the Capitol at WILLIAMSBURG
by the delegates from the western part Of
the Colony, and from that known as the
Piedmont, and have noticed the reasons
given for il. In this action may be found
the germs of tina! antag0nism between the
East and the West which ultimately grew L
such proportions as 20 threaten at one time
the integrity OF the Commonwealth itself. II
is true other questions OfpOlicy added 10 tins
antagonsm at later date. We have ais
seen how the popular voice had been sti
fed by the arstOcratic branch of the Gov
eminent, notwithstanding the fact that q
large majority of the Burgesses by an &C
tual vote had decided against retaining the
seat of Government at Williamsburg. The
act now passed settled this question for al
time by proyisO 10 the effect, that moth
ing herein contained shall be construed
deemed, or taken 90 establish. or fix the sea
of Government in the city of Williamsburg
bat that the said Capitol shall only be ant
remain as a building for holding Genera
Assemblies and general Courts until sucl
time az il shall be thought by any future
Assembly convenient and necessary, ana iol
general benefit of this Colony to caus'
building for the purposes aforesaid to be
erected on some other place more cOnNe
nient 20 the inhabitants of this colony, ano
cOmmOdiOus for trade and navigation, &c.
No sooner had this disturbing question
arose as to the plan OF the new accommo
datiOns for the Government. Some thought
II would he wise 10 put up separate build
ings for the Executive, Legislative, and ia
dietary departments, so that when the sea-
of the Government should be removed th'
vacated buildings might Afterwards become
useful toIthe municipal authorities OF IN,
town. But this question was also decided
by an order from the directors that the three
branches Of the Government should De un
der one roof
The second Capitol built at WILLIAMSBURG
must have been finished within very few
years after II was begun. IL was certainly
occupied by the House of Burgesses IN l,J2
and probably before that date. II did moi
compare in dignity and style with its i'll.
fated predecessor. From the few drawings
left IL appears 10 have been plain, unpre'
tending brick structure of two stories
adorned in front by double portico and
pediment roof. Within its substantial walls
were accommodations for the House OF Bur
gesses, the General Court and the Govern
Or's office, and few smaller apartments.
With all this, il II were now standing II
would have history not only dear TO the
Virginia patriot. but worthy to he regarded
shrine at which every lover of human lib
erty might do homage.
Ii was within its walls that began
the initiatory measures which brought on
the war for American independence. Here
1t was that was first heard the prophetic
voice of Henry against the unjust aud I'M
warranted system Of taxation about to he
imposed upon her colonies by the British
Government. II was in the hail of this
house that the famous scene occurred when
that intrepid advocate Of human rights
startled his hearers by his fierce sugges-
lions of resistance 10 tyranny,
and II was here that he finally
compelled the passage Of those cele-
brated resolutions against the stamp
act,1which formulated the purposes Of a
wise and patient but determined people.
Among the attendants upon the proceedings
Of the House of Burgesses at this time was
Mr.. Jefferson, then student at William
and Mary College. He was only seven
years younger than the imprisoned orator
10 whose speeches he delighted to listen
with such rapt attention that he was after