The Bozeman courier., 1927-10-14
HALL
BECOMES SHRINE
Virginia VIII Restore Room
Where Great Historic
Events Occurred.

RtCunO4us Nds-4nG u1SbOEAS Hail OI
the House Of Delegates in Virginia's
old state capitol is to be restored as
a shrine of American tradition.
Except for bronze tablets relating
great incidents in its history and for
a statute of Robert e. Lee, which
Governor Byrd has suggested to CON-
memorate his acceptance of the Con.
federate command. the hairs appear
ance will be made as much as possible
like that preceding the Civil war.
In the hall now is the ancient chair
OF the speaker of the house OF
burgesses, used at the capitol In VII.
liamsburg as early as 100, and eff
forts are being made to return as
much as possible of the old furniture
used in the Black and Tan and Scala
rag Constitutional convention, which
las been scattered about the state.
This building was designed by
Thomas Jefferson, and he determined
the interior arrangements. The cor.
nerstOne was laid in 1885. II has
been used longer as a capitol than
any other building In the United
States. On October }, 1889, the gen.
cral assembly convened in 1t. The
famous statue of George Washington,
which is seen on entering, was placed
in the capitol on May IA, 1895. It Is
the work of HOudon.
Aaron Burr Tried.
Probably the first great event TAX
ing place in the hall of the house of
delegates was the adoption of the IA
nous resolutions of 1889 drafted by
James Monroe as the true interpreta-
ton Of the Constitution of the United
States.
Aaron Burr was tried for treason
there in 1907. It was necessary that
the trial take place in the hall of the
house Of delegates because the court
room Immediately above was entirely
too small to accommodate the crowd.
as was the hall of the house of dele
gates itself. This was one of the most
celebrated trials in the history OF the
United States. Chief Justice Marshall
presided. and for a part Of the time
Judge Cyrus Griffen, also Virginian.
of the United States Circuit court.
sat with him. The most learned law
yers Of the day were assembled
Caesar Rodney, George Hay and Alex
ander McRae for the prosecution; Ed
mund Randolph. John Wickham, Will
liam Writ, Benjamin Bolts and Lu-
ther Martin for the defense.
On June 26, 1913, a public meeting
was held in the hall of the house OF
delegates to kindle the enthusiasm OF
the citizens II the conduct of the war
with Great Britain. A vigilance com-
mittee was appointed to look after the
defense Of the city. William Foushee
John Marshall William Writ, PhiliI
NorbOrne and Thomas Ritchie were
among members of this committee.
On February Z, 1922, Henry Clay
and George IN. Bibb. commissioners
from Kentucky, appeared before q
joint session of the general assembly
Of Virginia to speak In reference tt
the meaning and execution Of an ac
of Virginia in 1889. entitled "Tht
Erection of the District of Kentuck!
Into a Separate State"
Scene of Secession Convention.
In 1924 General Lafayette visite,
the city of Richmond for three days
1t was the occasion of the creates
rejoicing. Chief Justice Marshall dc
livered an oratiOn on behalf of the Oh
f1cers of the Revolution, the exercise
being conducted in the hall of tn
house of delegates.
In 1929 there was assembled in tn
hall of the house of delegates th
famous Constitutional conventfo
which continued into 1880, and whicl
gave the western nOnslave hOldin
counties of Virginia increased repr,
sentation in the general assembly. L
attendance on this convention wer
Marshall, Madison, Monroe, Gle
John Randolph, Benjamin Watkin
Leigh and Littleton Walter Tazewel
A meeting was held on July 9, 1888
to arrange for public manifestation
sorrow at the death of James Monro
which had occurred In New Yor
The ceremonies we're held at Il
northeast end Of the capital Publ
meetings were held there later
memory of Thomas Jefferson, Chi
6 Justice Marshall and James Madiso
& In 1874, in the great explosion
4 the U. s. S. Princeton near Alexa
dria, ex-GOv. T. w. Gilmer of virgini
then secretary of the navy, was kiIle
g The remains OF. Governor GIlmer L
Z In state in the hall of the house. ~
q remains of John @. Calhoun also we
q brought to Richmond, taken TO t
q hall Of the house and placed il sta
q on the clerks desk.
q The great secession convention n
q there in February, 1861 It was |
q fore this convention that Gen. Robs
| E. Lee appeared and accepted appOil
q menf as commander Of the militia
81 and naval forces or Virginia. It "
VI In the hall OF the house Of f1oloCai