Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-09-24
A VIRGINIAN'S DIARY
PASSAGES FROM THE MEMOIRS OF
DAVID HOLMES CONRAD.
Washington In Rnndoiph's Day-Fuiton n
asa Chaperon-siindsa and Muscle In
Hichmond-Clav and Others.
New York Times.l

improvement of his grandchildren and
written in simple style for their eve, occur
notes Of men and scenes of the past cslcu-
lated to interest much wider circle Of
readers. David Holmes Conrad, the Viz
ginian in question. was by blood con-
nection or personal and professional inter-
course thrown into intimate relations with
many of the leading men of Virginia and
the South at large. lie was born at VIM
chester. Va. IN the first month OF the hrst
year OF this century, 1900. aud closed q
usoful life IN 1872.
ads lasting memories usually begin
with his teens, or little earlier. In 1911
Mr.. Conrad's eye was gla1dened by the
first sight OF tidewater. ships loading and
unloading, coming INTO port and depart
ing This was at Alexandra, then about
as pOpulous q town a. is new rival
across the river. Another sense was
permanently impressed by tropical deii-
caclrs llttle known III the upper
country" guaya Jelly. preserved lines, -
DC. = Besides, | saw the Hornet
sloOp-of-war gong ont with dispatches for
III" English Government (tor TINS was but
three or four months before the declara-
tion OF war. but more than oil, saw the
Federal city. rs 1t WAS called then. Ny
horses over from Washington to give me n
week or ten days visit during his STAY
there. Ii WAS in the winter OF 1872. and /
remember the events OF my sOlOurn there
better than | do things that happened a
few weeks ago.
My uncle was bachelor OF extensive
acquaintance in Washington, for he hal
been a member of Congress from the kock-
lngham and Shenandoah district III II
s.nia for some years previous. At the time
referred 70 he was tho Territorial Cover
| nor al Mississippi. He continued II tnat
station until the war was ended. lie be
came tn TT Governor of the admit ed
state. II was active IN giving all To Zen
crli jackson in his Indian wars, especially
IN the defense Of New Orleans, and spent
large sums ont Of his private means over
and above his salary. Subsequently,. IN
l5!3 q. he became senator from Mlssis'lp-
p. He bearded 1T Mrs. COylc's. on Capltol
Hill. NJ the time OF my visit.
Washington was then truly city OF
villages. There was no continuous street
even along Pennsylvania aycnuc-only a
group Of houses around the Capitol.
There were tne United states Offices and
some few dwellings around the Pr. sident' ;
house. and a settlement about the navy
yard: and this was the city of Washing
ton, with wide spaces between the settle
ueuts. The Capitol consisted of two
Wugs-tLe halls or the Senate and the
House OF Representatives connected by q
loug wooden passage across the site OF the
centre building elevated on tImbefs or
rough pillars. 1t was in this condition
when il was burned by the British troops
two years later.
LNrENING TO TIE DEBATES.
NV uncle W. rarely at his lodgings ex-
every day. So he was rather bothered with
MS Young ViO's -. who WAS not invited out.
Hence he requested a tall, quiet. dlgullied
gentleman among the boardcrs To take
/ charge ~ mo during the dag aud let mo
/ sleep ~ lis room Ut night. THIS my new
friend oJiigInsly did. Iwant with him to
| the Capitol and sat with him IN the gale
RES OF the House and Senate. | heard the
| Dictates. Mr.. John Randolph was then III
| the prime of his oratOrical reputation. He,
| "a "a member Of the small t'rOnt Glu0
party. voted and spoke against the Admin
| istTatiOn and the war measures. rcmem-
| her debate which came up on his prOpO-
sitlon that the Marine Corps stationed q,
! the nayy-yard should wOrk on tn" Poto-
mac canal. He gravely advocated the
n.asur. On the score OF economy. insisting
! that the marines were 4 set OF drOncS whC
I did no service. and might save the GOV
eminent the wages OF Ike amount Oi
/ labOrefs.
Inns fred NJ old Governor Wright, o
! MARYLAND. Revolutionary officer, WI,
va. greatly scaudaiized AZ such PROPOSE
/ ton. aud denounced II - Indignantly e. L
/ be- three times called 10 order by the
/ Speaker, Henry Clay. Eand0lph's keen
sa,lrical spirit was IL high play. HIS SIN
! luiar appearance. AIrh-tOned voice, ant
! distinct uttcrauce / then saw and hear'
for tie iI5t time. have seen hlm otter
since. and once spent two days and night
/ WIth him in a country tavern IN LOudoui
county. tie Wa certainly the most remurh
able man / ever met. Inc charm ~ his
private conversation was magical. Ills pc
cuiiaI voice. sweet a. a tluie and an OCTAVE
| higher than other men voices, his long
waudllke fingers spare form. pallld face
the skin upon 1t not Nrllklod. but CORFU
! gated mo compartments, Ike bed
oul.t dark. large. clear eye. his state
| " hu' 4uict carriage, made him beion'
EXPIRE "a the most striking person hay,
ever met. In debate ho WAS as muci
feared by his opponents ~ q rattlesnake
/ lll- retort WAS - quick as lightning ana a
| trle To It's marx.
We'll. | saw the uayy-vard and it, store
OK material, heard the church service al,
"A sermon IL the Capitol-tnerc being,
believe, no church building in tho city
| SAW among the congregation Mrs. Madison
III black velvet and Nine. patterson
Bonaparte together, and during all this 4
IN. delightful visit was kindly chaperone,
bv nv friend OF the boarding house. H
| struck me Is one Of tho most amiabie gen
| tlrmen / ever saw, and was ~ KIND 10 IN
~ q father. He wac tall, genteel-IoOkln.
man, with dark. curly hair. long yisage
deep-tOued voice. aud silent manners.
! Ia B. al "a "a he
he va, out bv the lady bOarders. They a.
seemed to Ike HIM. but to pity HIM fO
| giving ND his time and talents 70 vision
| arv scheme Of making boats 10 run upOl
| rivers with boiling water. Tho subject o
their compassion was Robert fulton!"
TIE CONVENTION II RICHMOND.
In 1923 Mr.. Conrad found himself il
Richmond. where the Convention for re
yl-iur the State Constitution was IL se-
s!On.
II saw there the old relics Of Revolu
tiouary times. Ex-president Monroe wa
he presiding officer, but had so nue.
failed that Mr.. Robert Stanard had 10 81
near him and prompt him. Mr.. Madison
too. was a member-tne Nestor OF the CON
monweaith. his voice. always weak, wa
now SO low that when he spoke the mem
bers had, il violation OF order. 10 crow
| around MN thfrc ol ioui u'cP !" n's''
From the lobby could not distinguish hl
words. He was small but well-torne
man. very bald. with bloodless CON
plexion. Chapman's engraved Likeness
him is very true.
- heard again the high keyed notes
John Randolph. the intellectual ana IN
pulslVe prevailing IN HIM over tho feeDl'
ness of premature senlllty. There was Il
follure in John Marshall, the Mansfield Q
America. His keen black eye was rs origh
and his well-trained mind rs alert as ever
He was the vsses OF the host: and eve
Watkins Leigh. the champion or the lowe
country views on the basis or represents
ton. was in constant communication VII
him Phillip Doddrid.e. from the extrem
Northwest. championcd the position ,
that region. His nelghbor,. Parse
Campbell. founder of the Campbell
tie Baptists, was on the Moor, but on
of his element. Almost every eininen
lawyer and Judge of mature age IN VI
gluia could be seen in that cluster OF tn
elits of the State. and yet they failed I
make a good Constitution. because IL wa
made ON compromise OF principles
Missouri compromise OF an instrument
based on the artificial division, OF the stat
into geographical sections, ana not upon
grand paramount principle. as II sbouI
have been. The alterations in the Judicl'
system were some OF them Tor the wors'
aud even the best OF them might nave pee
better made 10y legislation. .,
4 .oc. .YFah ~