The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-01-19

ea
"The virginians resident in Chicago Illinois
= have formed themselves into association, 20 es
. called the s'Socicy Of the Old Dominion. Then
anniversary 10 to be the 18th Of May, the day on
winch Jamestown was drst settled"
We have long urged upon Virginians, both
here and elsewhere an organization of this
kind, which should select as its anniversary
The day of the settlement of jamestown. 1t
has been to us a matter of the most profound
establishment tina. while New England, gen.
orally believed to be cold and passionless as
her own ice and rocks, commentaries with
the greatest enthusiasm the anniversary Of
the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers, the sons
Of Virginia have never, till this movement in
Chicago, taken a single step to preserve and
exalt the glorious memory ofthe founders of
Virginia And il has been reserved to Vir-
ginians, abroad, ON the black and distant
shores of Lake Michigan, to make the first
demonstration in honor OF the men who first
laid the corner stone of civilization, liberty
and religion, within the limits of what is now
the U. States of America.
TWAS at jamestown, in Virginia, that the first
tIuEVptdu StttltAitht was AdQS, Oul ana Inc
seeds first planted of that magnificent growth
of free government which now overspreads
the continent. BY means of their Plymouth
Rock anniversaries, which the sons of New
England with equal wisdom and ardor cele-
brate in every part Of the Union,-and the
flaming speeches, toasts and newspaper pa
ragraphs to which the occasion gives rise
the attempt has been made to monopolize for
the Pilgrim Fathers, as they are called, all the
credit and glory of being the first that laid the
foundations of civil and religious liberty in
this country. There never was more absurd
and unfounded pretence. The fact can be
demonstrated beyond possibility of dispute
that Virginia led the advance of American
civilization and liberty, and furnished mo-
del OF free representative government, of
which the State Constitutions of the other
States and of the Union are merely copies
Of all the claims set up by the orators of
Plymouth Rock in behalf of the Pilgrim Fa-
theirs, that which is most generally conceded
to them has theleast authority in point of fact.
We mean that they established the founda-
tions OF religious liberty in this country. lin
eannals of Virginia or any other State ofthis
Union, as fragrant instances of intolerance.
persecution and bigotry, can be found as are
afforded IN abundance in the early history of
New England, We will admit all for the Pill
grim Fathers that is claimed for them in the
most grandeloquent flights Of Plymouth Rock
eloquence. In the mean time, however. we
are unable to reconcile love of religious
freedom with the hanging and burning of
people of different religious opinions Nor
do we believe that the motives of the first
settlers of New England. in coming to the
q. States, We're in any degree more lofty and
disinterested. than those of the men who
founded Virginia. Both were adventurous.
and enterprising, and both, the Cavalier in
leaving England, and the Puritans in leaving
Holland, Ito which country they had first en-
1grated from England,1 were actuated by the
wish to improve their temporal as well as
their spiritual condition. Conceding to the
PWitans stern adherence and fidelity to their
ewn religious views, it cannot be denied that
the precautions they took, before coming to
America, to secure themselves large grant
efland, would have done honor to the shrewG-
ness of men who were engrossed exclusively
by schemes Of temporal aggrandizement.-
Far be it from us to question their religious
sincerity and honesty. Nevertheless the
founders of Virginia, with much less preten-
sion, were just as virtuous and godly Even
IN the character of saint, we would set off
Captain Jehn Smith against any Pilgrim Fa-
ther on the New, England calendar. 1t is
well known that this great warrior, whe, if
he had lived in New England, would have
had a monument built to him in every North
ern State, was as ardent and unaffected in
religion as in Chivslry The Indians of this
region, witnessing the zeal and regularity OF
his devotions, learned 70 speak of the Deity
OF the Christians as Captain Smiths God"
Its time that Virginians everywhere should
vindicate" the claims and the character of
their ancestors from the imputations which
are cast upon both by the arrogant and ex
elusive assumptions of the champions of the
Phgrim Fathers. In no way can this be more
efectuaily accomplished than by such an as
socaation as has been established in Chicago
we hope to see similar societies springing up
In all the cities and towns Of the West and
south west which are peopled by Virginians
and their descendants, as well as in every city
and town of the Commonwealth. Virginia,
nom whose teeming womb SO many States
nave sprung, who has given to the Union its
hrst model of representative government.
Virginia, the mother of Washington, and Of
the greatest statesmen and soldiers Of the Re-
public, deserves that her sons should make
an organized, systematic and enthusiastic
effort, to preserve and refresh the chaplets o,
har peerless fame.
s.... a YEAR OF WREcKs.-'fhe N. Y. Times has :
table showing thar the past year has been one O
unusual calamity at sea. In the brief space o
Twelve months, one hundred and thirty vessels .
all descriptions, have been totally lost involving
heavy amount OF damages, and floss Of near,
fEo doasaed lires. We believe that nosves