Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-30
Tho Statue of Wickham.

the life of General WILLIAMS G. WICK
HAM there are three which stand ont
with marked distinctness. These re-
cord bis services as soldier, as rail-
road manager, and as q senator in the
General Assembly Of Virginia.
As member OF the State Convention
OF 1851 he struggled against secession
until Mr.. LIyCoLN's cali for troops re-
moved the last vestige OF the peace
prospect Virginia having seeded he
forthwith resigned his seat and buckled
on his sword. He was in the thick OF
many fights and was thrice wounded,
opce by the sword Of one OF the enemy.
He found favor both with his sub
ordinates and his superiors. BY sue
cessive steps he rose from captain
to brigadier-general. and popular
vote, cast largely by the soldiers in the
camps, gave him seat in the Confederate
Congress when he was too weak from
wounds to return to the field. In all our
mighty and prolonged struggle for
southern independence his name stood
among the knightliest In all OF our
counsels his advice was courted and his
Judgment carried weight.
When some years after the war he be-
came president of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railway Company, its lines were
only in operation from Richmond to
Jackson's river. Under II new organizi-
ton. of which he was made president
and manager, the road WAS extended
westward to the Ohio rlver and eastward
to Hampton Roads. His position was
one OF continual responsibility, and he
was at all times tho bearer OF great
burden of care which reached its maxi
mum when the company was forced into
receivership. Whether ~ president or
yice-president or receiver, he was always
the man to whom Virginians turned
when they had to do with the company.
He looked after our interests. Few men
could have done as well not one that
We know of could have done better.
Here too he won the love OF tho people
above and below him. He knew per-
sonslly nearly every man in his brigade.
He likewise knew personally nearly all
the men on his road and these are the
two classes who constitute the mass OF
the membership OF that association which
on yesterday completed It's work when
it presented General WICKHAM's statue
to the city Of Richmond.
In 1888 the people of Virginia, burn-
ing with manifold wrongs, uprose
against the MALONE administration,
Over every seat in the General Assem-
bly, there was great struggle, but
the miehtiest combat in all that hot
battle was IN the Hanover and Caroline
senatorial district. General WIcKHAM
was Republican-had been one for many
years-but he was dear lover of Vir-
ginia and was unalterably opposed to
MALONE and all Mahonish methods. To
him the Democrats turned for help.
To q man they supported him when
be announced himself candidate
for the Senate, and though the
struggle was fierce and bitter WICK
HAN won the victory. The day after
wards he came to Richmond and was
seized upon by the enraptured Demo
Gratis who were crowded in front OF the
DISPATCH Office. and amid wild mani
festations of popular Joy was borne
upon their shoulders across the street
and set down and compelled to make q
speech.
His senatorial career was greatly to
the advantage of the State, and upon
his death and the formation OF the
Wickham Monument Association the
two houses Of the General Assembly
passed resolution which the Governor
approved offering the Capitol Square as
site for the monument The City
Council of Richmond passed like reso-
luton offering site for tho monument
on any of the public grounds of Rich
mond. And 80 it came about in due
course that Mr.. VALENTINES statue OF
General WIcKHAM was unveiled in Mon.
roe Park yesterday.
The presence of the Governor Of this
State, and of the Governor OF North Caro-
lima, Of Supreme Court Judges. OF the
Mayor of the city, Of veterans Of the Con.
federate army, and Of all the volunteers
present in the city, gave great dignity to
the occasion, while ex-Major. General and
Ex-Governor FITzHUGH LEE delivered the
Grafton, which was alike worthy Of the
soldier speaker and the soldier subject.