Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-19
HISTORICAL RECORD.
l Lang Line Of Richmond's Representa-.
llIss IN Congress.
noI YHE YEAR 1889 TO DATE.
Seha Clopscn Loads With ~ Successive
xesrs, with George -. Wise Close
second With IL Years.
written for the p,spatch.,

Cvrftten for the Dispatch.)
the following is list Of the men who
represented the district In which Rich
uond Is Included in the Congresses OF
the United States from 1883 until the pres
mt time:
1. Samuel Grim. who represented this
u,strict from i7ss TO l1s5.
Z John Ciopton. from 1876 to 1888.
3. John Marshall, from 1900 TO 1900.
Z. John Clopton, from 1901 TO Isi6.
& John Tyler. from 1876 10 1871.
{. Andrew Stevenson, from 1871 TO 1885,
Z. John Robertson. from 1893 to 1884,
Z. John NJ. Bolts. from 1899 to 1s.s.
3. John w. Jones. from 1913 TO 1876.
10. James A. Seldom, from 1876 to 1877
Al. John NJ. Bolts. from ls7 to 1919
II. James A. Seldom. from 1s4s to ISL
70. John s. Caskie, from 1851 TO iS5
IL Daniel s. Dejarnette. from 1855 to
vs5o.
liam C. Wickham represented Richmond
In the Congress of the Confederate States,
but not until after reconstruction and
Jnntii Virginia was readmitted into the
Union, on the Goth OF January, 1870. did
we send congressman TO Washington.
Then we sent the following gentlemen:
!. Charles II. Porter. from 1871 to 1873
Z John Amber Smith, from 1873 to 1875
.. Gilbert G. Walker. from 1875 to 1879
T. General Joseph Il. johnson, from
1879 to 1881.
s. George u. Wise, from 1881 10 1895.
AZ the conclusion OF his present term,
Mr.. Wise will have served in Congress
fourteen years. with the exception OF
about one year. when his seat was con-
tested by Judge Edmund Waddill, and
Congress seated him.
ABOUT OUR CONGRESSMEN.
As 20 their political association, Griffin
and Clopton were Republicans OF the
Jenersonian stamp. from which party
afterwards arose the Democratic party
which has predominated In the country
for so long period until the present
time. John Marshall was Federalist
Bolts and Tyler were Wings, although
Tyler afterwards affiliated with the
Democrats. Porter. Smith, and Wsd-
dill were latter-day Republicans, and
Gilbert c.. Walker was Con
servative Republican. The balance of
them were all Democrats j know very
little about Samuel Griffin. He resided
In Williamsburg, which was then In the
same district with Richmond. In looking
over the list Of names Of the members
from Virginia In the first, ana
second congresses 1 find many distin-
xuished men whose public participation
of D.
has been recorded. and their memories
are now, even after these long years,
alive In the minds OF our people. 1t Is,
therefore, fairly to be inferred that the
METROPOLITAN District of Virginia would
have selected a man OF such qualities on
mind. intellect, and position as would
have rendered him a suitable associate
for the distinguished, able men by whom
he was surrounded in his time He was.
perhaps. a silent member. but he must
have been man of good Judgment OF
great knowledge and experience, and of
high social position.
FIRST SESSION OF CONGRESS.
On the 3Oth OF April, 1882 General Wash
tngton was inaugurated President OF the
United States in New York. and took his
oath of Office, administered to him by
chancellor Robert II. Livingston. on the
balcony of the old Federal Hall. in
Wall street. The first Congress met IN
New York on the Goth of April, 1883.
The scat of government was removed
10 Philadelphia In $780, and the second
Congress convened there on the first Mon
1ay of December in that year Mr.. Crit
I'm represented Richmond in both or
these Congresses. and 1T Is the highest
honor TO him TO have been selected by
his Virginia constituents as co-laborer
ha nd cfinqlIiShFH
conceived and designed the hitherto I'M
thought OF, but the noblest and best
yystem of government on the eafth-our
Tree American constitutional government.
WASHINGTON CITY.
In 1870 the seat OF government was
removed to Washington, where 1t has
EVER since remained. 4 few words about
this city will not be uninteresting, nor
altogether ungermain TO our subject. In
1900 Washington had about 3,2l0 inhaDl-
tants: in 1910 IL had s.20S: in 1870 l3,24i;
in 1910. q, 364; in 1874, S0,42s. Since IL mas
been growing ana improving in every de-
cade In beauty and size, until the
present time. when IL is now. perhaps. one
OF the most beautiful and magnificent
cities on the globe. with a population or
2es 1856 inhabitants. When Thomas JET
ferson. like an old Virginia farmer, quietly
rode down the muddy street OF Penn-
sylvania avenue, and took the oath OF
ONCE at the Capitol. and John CIopton,
John Marshall. and their fellow members
sat In its halls, Washington city did not
nresent the beautiful aspect which 1t now
does: but 1t will hardly be questioned
now by any intelligent man OF thought
that the men assembled there then greatly
transcribed in honesty, IN craftsmanship
In patriotic purpose. and unselhsh loVe
OF country many Of the statesmen OF later
days, whom the people have sent to that
grand historical building TO make Their
laws.
gested by General Washington, ana the
ground on which 1t stands was conceded
10 the United States In December. l'es.
IL was laid off by three commissioners IN
1871, and surveyed under the direction OF
Andrew Ellicott.
THE CAPITOL
The M nth wing of tire Capitol was COM
MERGED IN 1893 ara finished In 1890 at the
cost OF siso. 2O2. The south wing was COM
menced in 1900 and finished In 1905, at the
cost OF $3oS.Sos.
Then the centre building was commenced
in 1873 and finished in 1927, at the cost OF
SsSs.6i7. In August. 1914, the British,
under General Ross, captured washington
and set fire TO the Capitol and other pub
lie OfnCtS, anu also inc l.plais VI NN'
gress was burned, and 1t was afterwards
replaced by the purchase of Mr.. Jeffer-
sons library, consisting Of 1900 volumes,
for S22 900, in 1915.
The Capitol has since been repaired, en-
larged, improved. and beautined. until 1t
II now as splendid and magnificent pub
lie building as any nation possesses Tor
ats legislators II Is built of free stone
and marble. and covers an area of more
than an acre and half: the length OF the
front is S52 feet, including the wings; the
depth of the wings IS III feet. The centre
building Is surmounted by lofty dome,
and there are two less elevated domes--
pne towards each end. A projection on the
east front. including the steps. is g. feet
wide; and another on the west front,
with the steps. Is So feet wide. In the
projection on the east front there Is a
noble portico OF - lofty CorlntAian
columns. and on the west front there is
U portico OF ten corinthian columns. The
height OF the building TO the top OF the
dome Is 10 feet Under the dome In the
middle OF the building is the rotunda-a
circular room. ninety-five feet IN diameter,
and Of the same height, adorned with
sculptures and paintings of historical sub
31cts. In the second story OF the south