Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-17
A NEW COURTHOUSE.
INTERESTING OCCASION IN ALEX
ANDRIA COUNTY YESTERDAY.
GOV. TYLER AND OTHERS SPEAK.
The Building Dedicated to the Cause
Of Justice-Banquet Ia the House
and barbecue ON the Green-Notes
of Interest.
of Interest.

ALEXANDRIA, November 16.-(Sne-
cial.)-The time for little Alexandria
county to celebrate came to-day. and
this she did right well Despite cold and
threatening weather. a representative
gathering OF about five thousand persons
assembled this afternoon around the new
courthouse on Fort Meyer Heights.
over beyond Arlington, and for two hours
there was speaking and for two more
eating. There was something somewhat
significant in this occasion, owing to the
fact that 1t makes the city and county
separate, and the work just completed
has been the outcome OF mutual agree
ment. To-days celebration was in the
hands Of both ladies and gentlemen,
headed by Supervisor George N. Saeg-
muller. A band was In attendance, and
the speaking was from a stand seating
several hundred. erected in front of the
new building. 1t and the JAIL not far
distant, are completed and were open
for inspection.
Supervisor Saegmuller called the as
semblage to order at o'clock. and Gov
ernor Tyler was introduced as the first
speaker. The Governor said:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
Standing here in the presence Of this
vast assemblage Of representative people,
and at this magnificent building, which Is
hereafter to be place for the dispense
ton Of justice, and as / gaze upon the
faces of so many people who are eager TO
hear all that is said upon this notable
occasion, / am forcibly impressed with
the situation of that poor fellow who was
brought into court for trial. The jury had
been empanelled. and the prisoner. who,
perhaps, had previously had a touch of
public speaking, was asked to make his
plea. Rising to his full height, and Civ
ing emphasis TO each word, he said: IF
your Honor please and gentlemen of the
jury, this is an instance in which the
place sought the man, and not the man
the place" OF course, when he was con-
victed and sent to Jail, he repeated the
assertion.
DID NOT SEEK THE PLACE.
My friends. I was not n candidate for
this place, but since by the kindness OF
the good people OF this county, and the
earnest persuasion OF your committee, ]
was sought to come here and add few
words TO what may be said upon this
great occasion by others. / felt that |
could not decline. and am therefore with
YOU, even though | come TO speak briefly.
You all must know how eXacting, perplex-
ing, and trying has been my official duties
since this little unpleasaDnesS' with
Spain began, that IL has been impossible
for me to find time to prepare an address
that would comport with this notable
event. So many applications for positions
| e.,
appeals from parents TO have their sons
discharged from the, service, and SO
many other applications OF various sorts
have been pouring into the Executive Of
fee. that l could scarcely find time to
slip away from Richmond to be with you
even for a short while to-day.
In the shadow Of the great Capitol al
Washington you have erected this i'm
posing structure, which, while ii viii be
a monument TO your enterprise and pub
lie spirit, will also be testimonial
through years to come to the devotion
of your people to justice, law, and order
We are here upon historic ground, anc
may inspiration from the past constraif
those of the present and the future &c
walk uprightly and dispense justice with
an even hand, and declare the law with
ever be that here will stand
poetic Justice, with her lifted scale,
Where in nice balance truth with gold
she weighs"
For many years, / am told, you have
| been striving to have courthouse bull
| i'm more convenient locality than tho
| one YOU have been using since the forma
| ton of your county. This movement ha'
not been prompted by desire to separate
| yourselves from your own beautiful city
| and IL will I'm no wise weaken the tie tina
| has bound you together. Instead 81
| standing as one strong pillar of protec
| ton. henceforth you will be as twin sis
| tiers. united in one common endeaVor u
! preserve law and order in your section.
/ You have reared this temple on TN
| banks of this beautiful river. whos'
waters have rppled in musical notes
telling in ceaseless songs OF the grandeu
! of the scenery along their banks. ana o
the glory of the men and lOvellness of tn
| women who have enlivened and made
! glorious these historic hills and plains
! cultivate these grounds, adorn and beau
tifv them and make this a fit set
! ting aiming the other jewels with whicl
art and nature haye adorned this favor
ed locality
A BIT OF HISTORY.
BY concurrent action Of the United
States Congress. and the Legislature o
| Virginia. made known by. proclamation
Of the President of the United States, thi
norton of the District of Columbia
| which. by an act of the General Assem-
! blv of Virginia, passed the 3D. day o
| December. 1889, was ceded, or given. 4
| the United States, and all the rights AM
jurisdiction Herewith given over tn
| same. having with the assent OF che PEG
| pie OF the county and town OF AleXan
| dria. ascertained. as prescribed by al
| act of Congress, approved the 9Th day o
July. 1876. was given back and foreve
relInduished unto the State Of Virgini'
I'm full and absolute right and jurisdiction
as well of soil as OF persons residing o
10 reside therein. And IL was declare'
that the same be reannexed TO the Com
monwealth of Virginia. and TO constitut
n mart thereof. subject TO such reserva
ton and provisions respecting the publ
nrouerty of the United States as Congress
| had enacted In its act of recession. Til
! norton retroceded by the United State
10 Virginia. was called Alexandria cit.
| and county.
1t is an interesting coincident that tn
! Governor Of Virginia, who stands wit
! YOU to-day, helping in the dedication ser
vices of this building, was born In tn
! same year and almost on the same da
| fhis county was formed; but / must inss
that no one will consider me as old or a
great as this historic county.
This is not only the nearest temple o
Justice that Virginia has 10 our grea
nations capital, but is the nearest publ
structure she has to Arlington. the HON
OF our peerless Lee. May the memory O
| tons horn - "A