The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-15
this is as it ought 10 be.
Enp1rISp pFS0J TTC,N


To one who remembers her former
desolation and views this pageant of
to-day in a prosperous and magnificent
city the transformation is bewilderinS,
while the most pleasing reflection upon
it all is the fact that this great and
beneficent change has been wrought by
the energies of our own people II is
true. and I acknowledge it with graft
tude, that others from foreign lands
have from time to time come and joined
their fortunes to ours, but they have
become a part of us, and I claim them
and their energies for Richmond, as II
they had been native and to the manner
born.
1t is no reflection upon any other city
of Virginia. or even of the South, to
say that In point of historic renown
Richmond is without a peer. She has
been made the scene of events Of the
most momeutous Importance for more
than hundred years. Within that
time every Legislature and every consti-
tutionaI convention OF our State have
sat here. al! the illustrious men OF
Virginia, and, indeed, of the South, have
sought her gates and Iabored here. It
was on yonder hill. now crowned by that
d monument to our soldiers and
sailors, that Patrick Henry. whose
resistless eloQuence welded at will the
fierce democracy more than a year
thrilled the patriots throughout the colo
MES by his apostrophe TO Liberty. 1t
was in a building on this very street
that the Virginia Convention of 17sS, in
ratifying the Constitution of the United
States, made the memorable reservation
which ignorance and fanaticism and the
lust for conquest caused TO be ignored
by our enemies in 1861.
SHOULD BE TAUGHT.
eve. the delegates OF the people of
Virginia, do in the name and in behalf
OF the people of Virginia, declare and make
known that the powers granted under the
Constitution, being derived from the peo
pie OF the United States may be resumed
by them whenever the same Shall be per-
verted to their Injury or oppression, and
that every power not granted thereby
remains with them and at their Will We
should remember and teach to our chill
dren. that Virginia did not resume the
powers she had granted until Ehey had
been perverted to the injury and oppres-
sion of the people, nor until she had been
called upon 10 furnish troops to invade 4
sister State, which had already resumed
her sovereignty.
It was only a few squares nearer 10 us
that the great JOAN Marshall lived. His
father had heard Patrick Henry's speech
and ne himself had been a soldier under
Washington, and he loved Richmond and
made his home here and his ashes now
lie In our Oldest cemetery.
The glorious but iII-starred Confeder-
acy established its government here. and
in our capitol was enacted all the legis-
lation of that struggle for constitutional
rights, and from here was dated and senI
out the commissions of every Confederate
officer in the army and navy.
The peerless Lee made his home here.
and from our capitol all that was NOR
tai of the immortal Jackson was borne to
its tomb in his own beloved Valley
When. the overwhelming forces OF Sheri-
dan had broken through the tain ranks
of Jeb. Stuart's cavalry in May, 1861. just
thirty-six years ago almost to the day
that Incompatible cavalry leader said that
the enemy should never take Richmond
except over mis- dead body. and they did
not take Richmond, but Stuart died. He