The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-02-04
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
,ATURDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY !. 1854.
.soNs or THE OLD DOMINION"

SATURDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY 4. 1854.
.sONs or THE OLD DOMINION"
We have never made an announcement
which gave us more pleasure than that in
yesterdays Dispafch, of the meeting Of Nir.
ginians held in Washington on Tuesday
night, to establish Society, to be called the
jamestown Society, which should have its
associate societies in the different States
The object Is the annual celebration of the
FIRST permanent settlement of the 7. States,
and to perpetuate the memory, services and
achievements which that settlement gave TO
America and to the American Confederacy.
We have often expressed our astonishment
that while New England has exhibited SO
much spirit in celebrating the later and'iess
important settlement of Plymouth Rock
virginians, whose State prid, is proyerbiai'
have not taken single step to perpetuate
the glorious memory of the founders OF their
Commonwealth. Years ago, ana over ana
over again, have we urged the formation of
such an association as that which has been
recently established in Washington, and of
which that recently organized at Chica-
ro was the pioneer. Most heartily do we
rejoice that we have lived to see the day
when virginians have resolved to do this
Justice to their ancestors, their history and
to themselves.
Every Roundhead who came over to Ply
mouth Rock, protesting to fly from persecu-
ton yet prosecuting others, has been so can
o,:,nI n,,1 al h., Dl,,yo o,,4t, pool,
celebrations, that it is deemed little less than
rank heresy to speak irreverently of any of
them. In the opinion of a full blooded des-
cendant Of the Pilgrims, it is horrid blasphe-
my to take the name of one of their Jededi-
abs, Nehemiahs, or Ezekiels in vain,-much
moro SO than to speak slightingly of ST. Paul,
81. John, or st. Peter. Every one of them
was holy, self-sacrifcing Saint, who came
to America purely for conscience sake, and
sacrificed Quakers and Witches in attesta-
ton of their sincerity! Such is the magical
effect of an anniversary dinner. good cheer
and sparkling champagne! A band of sturdy
and intolerant zealots, whose history in the
new world abounds in deeds of persecution,
fraud and violence, looked at through the
coloring glasses of dinner festivity, be-
eome immaculate models of piety and vir-
tue!
Virginians have been hitherto content to
let the memory of their fathers vindicate it.
self against the arrogant assumptions OF the
present Puritanical race, which inherits all
the old Puritan pecnliarities of selfrighte-
BUSINESS, pharisaic pride, self deception and
deception of others; whose idea of freedom
consists in having its own way in religion
and politics, and never permitting other peo-
pie to have theirs; which burns and hangs in
one age, and despoils of reputation orproper-
ty in another, all who do not conform to the
Puritanic standard of religion and liberty !!
1t is time that Virginians should show at least
as much respect to the memory of the real
founders of liberty and civilization on this
Continent as is manifested by the Sons of
New England for men who never had the
first clear and just conception of civil and
religious liberty.
1t is striking evidence of the intrinsic
merit of the great lights of Virginia's past
history, that with none of the aids of peri
odical putting they maintain an elevation in
the armament of Fame, which no laudation
can exalt, no detraction can cloud, no rivalry
eclipse. 1t was no common race from whose
loins sprung such men as Washington, JEFF
ferson, Madison, Marshall, Henry, Clay,
SCOT, Taylor, and thousand more of kin
dred qualities and who have stamped indel
blv upon the Southern nature its characteris-
nv frank bnp ma i
courage.
We subioin an extract from the address of
the President of the Association, and trust
that throughout Virginia and the whole
Union. Jamestown Associations will be form
ed, and that the "Sons of the Old Dominion
may meet in force in jamestown, in May
next:
"It is impossible to account for the Indifference of
our ancestry to the importance of keeping up the
anniversary OF the settlement at jamestown. The
amor parie is not less powerful in Virginians than
in the people of Massachusetts. And yet the people
of Massachusetts have eyinced not evanescent
enthusiasm, but an ndestructible interest in Ply
Inouthrock. They would not permit the hammer
of the geoosist to strike that rock, if the blow
were to decide the age OF our world to the fraction
of a second. And in 1890 Daniel Webster planted
his great feet that great rock and, in the pres
ence OF assembled thousands, poured forth stream
of eloquence which wound itself out among the de
lighted multitude. This the best effort ever
made by the Massachusetts senator. We are at a
loss for terms in which to express admiration of
that speech. We win only cay that in the details of
colonial history in philosophc illustration in search
ing the motives which impel men into action in de-
timing the lights and shades of character in pictu.
resque sketchng and views of Divine agency that
the orator alluded to- it must ever be regarded as
the prose Had of New England And the people
of New England meet at Plymouth amid the storms
VtanQ in their iuy N
esm5er winds. In this respect shall possess a
decided advantage, FOR celebrations will always
occur in the genial month of May The queen OF
the year viii preside and diffuse abroad her volets
over hills and dales; the woods viii have unfolded
their buds into leaves; the roses win be wearing
their ample crowns. and the James will be spark.
ing IN the sun The huntsman may have relinquish-
ed mis- wntry horn, but the angler win be cut In hi,
skin There. and under such circumstances. viii
We REGAL with ilia reverence the deeds enacted by
our fathers at jamestown. We will muse over
ara xoa and eckra al.as..-a 49, III