Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-19

Just claim to honors enough without
having this one thrust upon him. The
Legislatuye were stimulated" directly by
the memorial which represented the So
cIety from which u emanatsd. and by
some Of the msmorialists who xealously
followed II up. But the right time had
come; the leading men OF the Legislature
and Of the State fully concurred with
them. and the cause itself. too long neg
lected. was strong stimulus.
ABOUT IT'S COST
Nor did Mr.. Robinson have the least to
do with the cost OF the monument. though
he. no doubt, deplorcd any waste or ex-
travagance In It's construction. and there
were some. Its cost was. increased by
the unexpected depth OF It's foundation.
some msmanagemsnt In the execution OF
the work, and undertaking u on State
account. but especially by adopting the
plan which embraced so many OF Wash
ington's illustrious compatriots. and even
then such men as Morgan, Harry Lee.
Wythe, Pendleton. Madison, and Monroe
had to be omitted.
Mr. Robinson's connection with the
monument. besides his approval, against
the opposition OF the secretary, OF the
resolution adopted by the Historical So
ciety. was this: As III and Mr.. Patton
progressed with their revision of the
state Code, they made successive reports
Ut their work with copious notes. Mr.
Robinson presented copies of these re-
ports to the writer who. foreseeng their
value TO a lawyer. had them bound and
would now refer to one OF them, but can
not as they were, the night OF the evacua-
ton OF Richmond, burned. together with
his law library. in the bookstore OF j. w.
Randolph. whittier they had been removed
from the Law Building for supposed
greater security. Those reports could not
be obtained at the State Library.
In one of them, in March. ISIS. before
that resolution of the Historical Society
was adopted. the revisers took under
revision that act OF 1885, which consti-
tuted "the monument fund" and what
they then did Is referred TO in the fol-
lowing extract from the memorial OF
the Historical Society TO the Legislature:
"Nothing has been done or suggested
since 1898 In relation to the proposed mon
ument except few individual hints here
and there, the recommendations or some
of our governors. and the plan recon-
mended by the revisers OF our civil Code.
Chapter 70. page 4o5)
This plan evinces the patriotic spirit
in which those gentlemen have executed
their work: that they are mindful not
only Of the Jurisprudence OF the state.
but OF her honor and glory. by IT mon
ument might be erected In twelve or
fifteen years. perhaps less. But after
what has been done. and especially after
what has been undertaken and not done.
Is IL not due TO every interest and con-
sideration involved in this comprehensive
eubiect that such work be forthwith
commenced and carried through as
| speedily as may be compatible with hav-
ing il properly executed? uDoc. o.
page 3. Docs. 1850
Therefore, the memorlalists, unlike
| the revisers. earnestly request ami re-
| commend that an appropriation be mace
| out OF the public treasury. which, TO-
| eether with the present monument fund
shall be amply sufficient for the end de-
sired"
| HAD COMPLETED ITS OBJECT.
| But when the Revised Code was com
| pleted and published the memorial had
| accomplished its object. and the act OF
! the 22d OF February. lS49. authorizing tht
erection Of the monument had been
! passed and had received the cognlzanct
! OF the revisors. they amended 1t by
placing some safeguards around the exc
cutlon Of IT, ,See Code 1919. chapter %
! page $50 and note)
| Mr. Robinson was the author OF ina
part of the revision. especially the notes
| which relates to the Washington monu
ment and il thus clearly appears from
! his own work that, instead Of "stlmu
lating the Legislature TO pass the ac
Of 1919. he recommended that the monu
ment fund be allowed 10 go on accumu
/ latng. Moreover though he was ON
| Of the most active members OF the HIS
| torlcal Society and chairman " IL
Executive Committee, always ready will
his annual reports. and though the move
} ,,ent which led to the erection Of IN
splendid monument, OF which We are al
so Justly proud, originated in that society
and met with his approval. yet ne az
not allude to the subject in any OF hi
reports, President William &. rive
made complimentary reference 10 IL u
| one OF his addresses.
BEN BLAKE MINOR.
| Richmond February IL, 1891