The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-16
THE CAPITOL BUILDING.
HISTORY OF ITS COLONIAL PRE-
DECESSORS.

]
DECESSORS.
Migratory Lawmakers in nte"Hevoiu~
tionary TImes-Jamestown, Williams
burg-Its Removal Resulting From Ma
turaI and Artificial Causes.
Certain inquiries made of late in regard
TO the State Capitol and the alterations
made in its construction since it was first
built have attracted public attention to
this venerable structure. Assuming that
the interest thus manifested argues desire
to know something Of its history, we pro
pose devoting little consideration not only
to the present building, but in limited
way to those which have preceded it.
Before ever a building for government
uses was erected in the Colony OF Virginia
the Assembly and courts met at such
places in jamestown as could be hired for
| the purpose. Sometimes they met ut private
| houses, then at tayerns, and even at ale
houses i'm the town, at which it was after
wards complained that the laws Of the
country were made. and from which the
mandates OF the courts 10 the disgrace OF
the country had to be issued. This con-
diti0n Of things at the seat OF government
| continued as late rs the year 1868. sir VIII
liam Berkeley then being Governor.
Strange, indeed, that under the rule Of
man so given 10 display and the practice OF
the seyerest court etiquette. such state OF
things could so long have existed. James
town had not been officially declared the
capital of the colony and made by law the
residence OF the Governor until more than
thirty wears after the settlement. All this
time, therefore, the successive rulers OF the
province had been at liberty to assemble
where they pleased in the performance OF
their official duties, and 1t was for more
than twenty years after the passage OF this
act that any steps were taken to build
"State House." except that in m act pro-
yiding revenues for carrying on the govern
ment levy of ''2lb' per poll had been I'M
posed TO raise funds for the erection OF gov
eminent building AT the same time James
| town was made the seat Of government.
Al last in the year 1860. sir William Berke-
| lev was requested by the House OF Bur
gesses ITO take in his care this laudaDle
aud necessary enterprise. The question
| then arose as TO how the funds were To be
raised. BY calculation Of what 1t
mad cost the Government to rent places
| for public uses all the years past II
was decided that il would be better 10 try "A
plan OF voluntary subscription than TO at
Tempt general levy on the people.
| Accordingly the plan WAS adopted.
| The Governor and members OF the
| House Of Burgesses were the FIRST TO put
| their names down for considerable sums Of
money and. quantities oft0bacco" The eX-
| ample Of those in high places was followed
| Oy others. still all the funds needed were
| not raised, and we lind more than three
| years after, committee OF the Burgesses
| still comforting with the Governor upon
| this all-importaDt subject. OF course the
money was eventually raised, ard the
| state House. was finally erected at James
| town. No description OF this building seems
1 to be in existence, nor the exact date
of its completion. IL is we'll known
| that most OF the houses at the colonial capt.
tai were at the beginning made of wood,
| and on this account the destruction Of the
| place by fire was so easily accomplished.
| The probabilities are that the iiTst state
| House." as it was then called, was con-
| structed OF this more perishabe material.
lt was certainly destroyed by lire al the
| time the town was evacuated by Bacon,
alter his last and successful attack upon
| Sir William Berkeley's forces in 1876.
No effort was made 10 rebuild govern
ment house at the ancient capital. But al
| ter the death Of Bacon, and whenprder hat
been restored in the Colony. an order was
made TO erect new estate House. at "Iin
| daps Point as being 1.-The most convenient
place for the accommodation OF the country
in general TO meet at" The location here
alluded To is now known as Gloucester
Point, a spot which 10 modern eyes would
appear of all others the most inappropriate,
as a seat Of government. This order. how
ever. was never carried out. After the de
struction Of jamestown the seat OF govern
ment was removed 10 ''fhe Middle Pianta
TONS" afterward called Williamsburg, be
cause Of its salubrity Of climate, beautiful
situation and freedom from mosquitoes"
Steps were then taken TO erect "A new
building for the Burgesses and courts, bu
nothing of practical nature came Of tni
until the year 1903, when an act prev ious !
passed was revived, providing for ersctiDl
the necessary public buildings. Under II
requirements money was appropriated, AM
lot OF land four hundred and seyenty-fiy
feet square secured for the purpose.
In the same act Of Assembly II was spe
cially ordered that "the new building
should forever be called and known by tn
, name OF the Capitol" The first act passe
! in 1899 had provided for the erection OF
Estate House, at jamestown. This nam
, was probably introduced by the Dutch sci
tiers az New Amsterdam, now New lorh
they doubtless brought II from the countr
where their chief public building had a
WAYS been called "rhe state House." An
II is a noticeable coincidence that the state
north OF Mason and Dixons' line have Il
|; the most part adopted the same name Il
: their official buildings: whereas in ii
,, South the word capitol seems to have bee
! preferred. The difference IN the TWO case
!, though not important is significant, and
: certain degree characteristic Of the w
= peoples who founded the original Englis
!. settlements in America. The word Sta
: House suggests the practical; smacks
business and detail in the administration
affairs, for which our Northern neigh0o
are so noted. The latter partakes OF q
aesthetic and the classic; suggests 10 o.
v minds certain dignity and majesty
: state, instinct with the pomp and ceremor
h OF power. This IL derives nom its Roma
5 antitype, the Jovian Temple, on the Cap
d toline Hill, its tutelary seat among the n
e tons.
=. cur cavalier OF the early seventeenth ce
: fury seems, after all, unwilling 10 have pr
? ferred this significant coguomen. and a
n descendants OF all degrees In the Sou
a have ever since approved his taste.
A. The new Capitol AT Williamsburg wi
IL built OF brick In the most substantial ma
A. ner as was the case with all the best hous
" OF that time. IL was about eighty feet
III length and thirty feet wide; was two siorl
high, having above hip-roof, whose m