Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-07-02
THE VIRGINIA HISTORICAL s'nIsTY

II s proposed revive for renewed effort thi. Assoe.
ton, which, ushered life amid auspices 80 propitous
promised much but which, alas proved the OF
hour and sank into oblivion profound that which
shrouds OF the incidents the early days OF that
State whose history II proposed to commemorate. No
meeting OF the Association has been held for years. Ha
fus pslds dcendus Its charter still subssts-its records
and library still eItant-its members still survive
events are still uanspiring-while ago and dust sl
further nhuming the foot OF the past There are
still helds OF Vginsn history still uu-
explored but the Historical Society uers voice-gives
no sign OF te-carries the lamp OF investigation no
Magazines OF boarded makes one effort 10
the fading fragments Of the time gone by gather
up the ransitoy records OF that which will be so-
SO far as any effort is concerned the dark Of ehe
overflow all that il cherished in her earlier all that
Is TO render her immortal for the future. Almost
every State in the Union has furnishing Society hut
Virginia has acknowledged repository OF her history
evenul, glorious though he; has she any auihor
ed agent snatch from quick oblivion the fleeing evil
dences OF events that iranspng She content
TO live upon the memory OF her ancestral glory thout
charging herself with the duty of preserving any OF the pc
cious OF it for her distant postery.
Within her borders the spot fire, pressed by the feet Of
European colonss Ii has been reserved for
Of heto pronounce her soil the classic and historic
ground OF America. She mas given great men without
stint TO the Naiion-she brought empire of doman to
he Federal Union-wihin her precincts the War Of the
Revolution actually ended and Peace aud Freedom first
uniolded from her bosom, tho tns of beauty on the
velvet leaf unfold from the fresh blown flower where thew
had lain encirccd in the bud. Yethere trace
for coming ages the glory of her Pastthe form and pres
sure OF her present history
Within her borders the bones Of Heroes Sages and
Presidents but they lie uncommemorated. like common
Garth Do they deserve place in the annals Of hstorf
She has hed the most conspicuous this Empire OF
the Free-Will not her sons take OF her honorl
Bolingbroke has said that "Hsory Philosophy teach.
ing by example" denouuce the definition, as Athestc
in its spirit and false fact History but record Of the
past and present. from which Philosophy learn. Phi
osOphy learns; II never teaches-lts implies this
and its unvaunting spirit claims But whether
Philosophy teaches learns, We, far
State history concerned aordng her material for doing
eiheri Are we dong justice TO the the present
the futurci Are we doing duty ancestors 10
ourselves and TO poste1 Does the blood quick
y into the cheek Of every Vrginan when he remembers
that there not extan commendabs history OF his ma
tive State and that the most recent inaccurate compendium
Of facts pretending be SUCH written by native of
that land upon which rely for many other notions
beside Historical fgrHents' Suth, Burke. Beverly Smith
&c &c well could be done in their day but
oreend that sublime theme the story OF virgina-
settlement and progress should be conded unaeraby to
Howe
Will her history be creditaby written, unless un-
der the inspiring influence and essential aid Of Historical
Society," Wluever be undertaken by ability equal TO the
task upon private and by individual enterpze1
There is material which pershng for Of combined
and energetic action. Let the Historical Society
OF Virginia.
More anon. vIRGINIUs.