Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-12-22


tnfoes and commissions which are now Hsiauns
| the old world, is a sublime spectacle wn'ch O.
tracts the psz. Of mankind; an! Philosophers,
statesmen and Legislators, every where are
studying with profound interest, The history Of So
ciely and government in cur iies.ein heihi-
sphere.
II is not surely at snch moment that We our
selves car be neelectul ol our History. bu1 we
have vel higher motives Tor lis sniy anu cui'i-
walton. The more familiar we are win lie OH
gin Of our Institutions and the occasions "hci'
give birth 10 or modified them, The more ihoiouSh-
Iy we comprehend their genius and Character,
and the more highly we appreciate anu cne'isa
them. We learn hereby that they were 'oous".
with price" ia The rials sufteTinSs, virtues dnu
wisdom Of our ancestors, and we leei nioic
strongly tie obligation to preserve them from
degeneracy and corruption, and TO transmit lhe,u
unimpaifed 10 poslerity. believe il IS ttu'h,
without solitary exception in the history oil our
race, that no nation has ever risen TO lasting
greatness without a strong sentiment OF iese
| renee Tor their ancestors. The divine precep'
"Honor thy father and thy mo'htr that my days
may be long upon The land which the Lofd my
| God giveh thee" is as applicable 10 States anu
communities in heir political and corporate ca
pacily, as 10 individuals in their private ana ,o
raj relations. n great philosophical statesman,
profoundly versed in The history OF human al
fairs has said, people who do not look back TO
their ancestors, will not look forward 10 lhef
pos:eriiy. The "largc discourse, looking before
and after" with which The Author OF ouf being
has gifted US. can fad lis legitimate scope only
by embracing with the present both the past anu
the future.
In the history OF our particular Stale, we nave
The highest inducements 10 cultivate ihese RENT
niscences Of The pas. The Tree institutions u
Virginia claim an ancient and exalted lihedse'
They come down 10 US, through Inc Lohaon
Company, under The able and ssnei Gus ieau "
Sir win Sancys and The Earl Of Southampton;
from that noble band Of patriots who commenced
The Struggle for British freedom in The reign OF
first James, and, who, By The spirit they KINDRED
ensured is final contamination IN The reign oi hls
successor. Happily, the most autneni: anu
abundant materials exist IN The country iur me
illustration OF This important p3ruon OF OH an
mails, an, rus, hey will, ere lung be gwen ~
the public They carry US back u one ol 'he
most stirring and evenliu! epuchs IL HE !oituneS
OF the human family. Il was lnen, ana uhuer
those auspices, that the INST Representative
Assembly met which was ever coa:ened III lhis
Wes,ern wcrId-lhe "Gfdnd Assembly,, a: y
was called. though small in numbers, which sal
al flames City" in June 1919. Of which Inc
present General Assembly o! Virginia may De
considered the descendant, in direcl line OF sue.
cessiou through course OF two hundred ana
thirry ycars This event so fruitful oil impof-
tant consequences 10 the liberties OF me new
world, no less than the first settlement Q! me Col-
onvlhere invests tie now deserted jamestown
with historical associations, which can never De
recalled without touching interest. why sh'uid
not such a spot be COMMUNICATED ~ some P'-
Gus monumen; II the public gratitude anu vehe-
ration 2 Is il unworthy 0! beings constituted IS
we are, To furliy rational attachment soihe
institutions we have derives from our ancestors,
By enlistns on their side the natural lhslhct anu
affections ol The human heart!
10 this connection, am strongly reminded OF
AN omission which, fear, may not be without
some reproach to ourselves or the public coun
ellis The soil Of Virginia was the theatre Of
the great closing scene Of the war oil lndepen-
dence. The plains OF York Town was signallzcd
nv The capture and surrender Of the last hostile
army that maintained the contest against amer-
can Liberty The surrender of that powerful
and weIl.appointed army to the combined iofces
of America and France, was in itself m St
august and imposing scene, and in It's conSe-
uuenccs, b. far the greatest event oil the age =
il was so felt 10 be al the time; and both Con
gress and the people testified their sense OF II
by unbounded illusions OF the public Joy, ana Dy
tho moo, soion,n nanifosta ionn OF gratitude 10
Almighty God. Among other resolutions adopt
ed BY Congress on the occasion, they resolved on
the 29th day Of October, ISL, just ten days al
ter the event. that "thc United States IN Con
gress assembled will cause to be erected at fork
in Virginia. marble column adorned with suit
able cmblcms md Inscribed with succincl
narrative Of the circumstances Of the surrender
The enquiry forces itself upon US, why il is that
no movement has yet been made towards the cx-
ccuton of this pious resolve. The subject seems
properly 10 fall within the province OF this Socie-
", and have been led TO bring il TO your notice,
BY having in my possession most interesting orr
gnal letter written at the time by an eye wltnessl
Of the surrender, containing very graPhic and
detailed account of it, which it IS my intention
| 10 place among the archives of the Society,"
| Some of our Sister States have set us noble
example by marking those spots OF their terri
| tory which have been the scenes oil great MS
torcal events, by simple but appropriate monu
| mcnts, 10 sigRalize them Ia future ages, and 10
| embody a lasting expression of the national sen
sibity and gratitude. Are not York aud James
Town worthy TO be thus concentrated with
Bunker Hill and PLYMOUTH
But have detained you, gentlemen, by these
desultory hints loo long from The rich enter
,ainmcnt which awaits Us al the hands OF the
learned and distinguished gentlemen who have
consented 10 favor us with addresses on this
occa sion, and whom shall have the honor to
introduce o The Society as soon as The annual
reports Of the Executive Committee and OF The
Secretary are read.