Washington sentinel., 1854-05-21

unsubdued wilderness 10 the political attributes
of English scenery. Sheltered for time by
nothing but convex clouds, then by frail tene
ments, parched by the heat of summer, dreading
the storms OF winter, surrounded by merciless
savages, wasted by sickness, reduced by famine,
their situation must have been truly forlorn.
Mercural hope must have fallen down TO Zero !;
but Il was rekindled by timely arrival from Eng
land Man is never entirely forsaken of hope.
It's inspiring influence has been sung even by the
tragic bard OF Wyoming Its activity cannot be
qneled even by disappointment. AT the distance
OF hundred miles, the eye of the pilgrim may be
entertained by the blue haze on the peaks of
Otter. When he reaches their submits, that
haze is all dispersed, and he has been toiling up
ward for the sight of massive rocks. But, standing
even on those tlowerless rocks, hope like vision
expands over the wonderful panorama, and he
is guided down by the same emotion under which
he achieved his elevation,
Our colonial ancestors, under such circumstan-
ces, were not dreaming of republican empire.
They were thinking OF the way in which material
wants could be supplied. But there was an eye
upon them that never sleeps, which foresaw cara
van of States, destined eventually 10 join in the
same march 10 the tomb OF despotism and 10 the
spacious temple OF freedom. What, we ask, is
Mecca compared 10 liberty The Creator of all
had even then determined that the North Ameri-
colonies should be free. II is his privilege
alone TO prearrange the future. Man is a creature
with large retrospective, but small prospective,
powers. We may, as nation, learn wisdom from
the past We may dwell amid the gigantic ruins
OF Egyptian Thebes; we may survey the fall OF the
Assyrian or Persian empires we may follow Alex
ander as far out as the Indus; we may contemplate
the rise OF Rome from pair of twin babes; we
may muse over the thiry-tworepublicso Of Greece;
we may excavate in the sepulchral grounds of
Babylon, Palmyra, and Hercuaneum; we may
'cast down cypress wreath on the field Of Leuc-
ira; but we cannot tell whether the whirwind of
passion may not, in short year, shake this
great contederacy Three years ago it was agi
tated 10 its centre. Our hope must be in him who
guided and preserved our fathers across the sea,
who fed them in the wilderness, and whose ear
was open 10 the cry of the midnight sentinel al
jamestown as he responded to the frequent in
quiry, watchman what of the night % We can
fancy his reply 10 have been, sorrow may endure
for night, but Joy cometh in the morning"
The Ruler of all events employs human instru-
ments for the execution of his designs. This posi-
lion might be illustrated al large by citations from
history; but the "reminiscences of this day are
sacred 10 Jamestown. That locality at all times
congenal 10 memory is especially so at this hour,
when the queen of the year is lowering in our
zenith, dispensing her light over the Constitution
by which this whole Union is governed, and array
ing the banks of the james in her lowly as well as
gorgeous plants. Jamestown is not an exception
TO the general rule, for agents existed there TO
whom we owe the preservation of our fathers.
We cannot designate them all but two of them
must be recalled. Without their presence by
mental association, the festival of this day would
De lncOHlplele. one OF tncSe agents was EnSllsn
and the other was Indian. The one was full
grown man, and the other mere child. The one
was Captain Smith, and the other Pocahontas.
To these persons are all the United States indebt-
ed, but Virginia most deeply of them ell. The
claim on her gratitude can never be fully met /;
but, instead of reputation, she occupies the posi-
ton of sublime insolvency. Captain Smith was
native of Lincolnshire. His life seems 10 have
been romance daguerreotypedf from the splendor
which chivalry had cast over the face Of Europe.
= u ~
ish wars he found Newport about to sail for the
James. His imagination did not permit him to
hesitate moment in continuing his adventures
even into wilderness. After reaching his new
field OF action, his services were truly valuable !;
but they need not be recounted in the presence Of
Virginians. Faction covered before the hundred
eyes OF this modern Argus. He was energetic,
when energy was indispensable; he was daring,
when courage was indeed virtue and industri-
Gus, when drowsiness had overtaken the colonial
swarm. The banks of the James and Chickahom-
ing witnessed his enterprise together with the
Capes of Virginia; the islands and shores of the
Chesapeake and the Rappahannock with its cata-
racts. lie was taken captive and carried TO York
river. on which was one Of the wigwams Of Pow
hatan, the great Indian monarch. AT this seat the
preservation ofhs life took place by the Intervention
ofPochahontas, when the scowl of Powhatan gave
way before the smile Of his daughter. Her olive
neck was on the neck of the white man. and by
saving the life fSmith, the club of the Indian was
INTO the WaNQ OF empire lHiS uteu
gave Virginia to England and Virginia has since
become the mother of States. Pochahontas was
al this time but child Only twelve springs had
spread their carpets in her way only twelve sum-
mers had impressed their hues on her complexion
only twelve autumns had embrowned her native
woods, and only twelve winters had encircled the
wigwams of her sire with their SHOWS; and yet she
had performed important services 10 the colonists
She had threaded the desert for their advantage
she had given them notice Of intended harm she
IL, IL
warn them of massacre; she had been their SEN
linel at the Indian court she had frightened the
chain of peace, and sent forward the wampum belt
The moons were comparatively few which had
passed round the earth since her existence had
but the fond arm of Virginia plants
her in the centre OF those moons, that the mild orb
Of heaven may cast on her memory its pensive,
chaste and beautiful radiance The maid of Or
leans did well, and she passed nobly before the
mental eye OF Schiller. Isabella did well, when
she profered her jewels TO Columbus. Lady Jane
Grey did well, when she died with the heart of a
heroine and the faith Of christian. Many daugh-
ters have done virtuously, but, daughter of Pow
hatan thou hast excelled them all; And Yet the
appalling question will arise. Have we been true
10 her memorya Ii is not TO be denied that her
preservation of Smith is cut in the free-stone of
the Capitol, and her baptism in 1913 is embamed
in one of the inches of the rotunda, and that
steamer on James river may bear her name, and
some village inn in our mountains may display
ruue resemblance Oh ner on us sign Dut Wnere
are her ashes slumbernga On foreign soil, at
Gravesend, on the Thames, where the dripping
oar is not elevated in homage 10 her dust. Those
ashes long 10 hear the voices of Virgnians above
them, and 10 feel their footsteps on the pous pill
grmage of removing them 10 her native land to
be lulled by the murmurs of her native streams.
When the dust OF Napoleon reached Paris, that
city was agtated to lis centre and when the ashes
of the Princess shall arrive al Richmond Virginia
will feel thrill of emotion from her capes to her
Appalachian range. Perhaps this association may
produce band of young Virginians who may
scour the Thames on this noble errand and, when
fulfilled even aged men will bend in homage to
the young.
u would be grateful task on this day 10 review
the whole of our colonial history The infant set
tlement was slow in its growth, but il acquired
population, and its resources Were gradually en-
larged. II went on, notwithstanding the great
connections which agitated England in the reign
of Charles the First when q hundred Etnas were
blazing over England which required the genius
and vaor Of Cromwell before they could be lulled
The position Of Virginia, during the protectorate
has been a subject of discussion. Was she still
loyal to the crown? Did she wish Charles the
Second for her king? On this point sentiment is
divided. We lean 10 the opinion that a difference
of views prevailed in the colony. That the Suarts
were not without adherents we regard as fixed
fact and that some would have made Charles the