Washington sentinel., 1855-02-17

have no history, utal csn pages tell Of US OF
Tor us We must lcaru hy the light oi others,
and lave by ,ps eAuu.,s iaei, lhe, ulay give Us.
Without history t on, UWn, We can expect
| neither unuy nor CONSISTENCY OF national charac-
ter, W. may hope for no ;, stem OF culture prop
ery our own, We cannol mantain even Just
selErespect nor have we IA right TO expect from
our SONS high ambition or noble aspiration
They may spring up aatochthOnes in the SOIL but
they must grow as they spring, unaided by our
hand tor We refuse even memorial TO the man
who may fall in our service. As understand il,
Mr.. President, il is 10 prevent such want OF
history, as would, indeed, be reproach 10 our
people, that your society has been organized, and
is laboring and now appear before you 10 call
public attention, as far as am able, 10 the great
value and importance of your pursuits. Let il
not be said that while the whole world is alive TO
matters OF historical interest, we alone should be
dead TO the Importance OF our own story and
insensible to the duty we owe TO those who have
| preceded us, and those who will succeed us, 10
| guard and preserve its materials at least. But
| throwing out Of view all consideration of duty, is
there nothing attractive in tho study Of Virginia
| history itself! Is there nothing III the strange
scenes of warfare and adventure, through which
| the settlements extended from the shores Of the
| Chesapeake 10 those Of the Ohio and the Missis.
sippi, 10 stir the blood kiLdle the glow Of sym.
pathetic feeling? Is there no interest in the wild
| march Of the pioneer, who led the advance Of
this line OF settlement, finding friend and
| home wherever he might have ecompanionship with
nature; whose aspects were familiar 10 him in
her deepest solitudes, least accessible retreats
as when she smiled most pleasantly upon the
| usual abodes OF man!
Who would not recall, if he could, the lost ira
dtions OF that bold spirit, who willingly staked
desperate or Wild il it promised TO crafty his Pc
cuar tastes, and casting all fear behind him, pen.
| etrated the very depths Of the wilderness, where
ne could only hold his life upon the double cond
tion OF pursuing his game and eluding the savage
/ by a woodcraft, and courage superior to his
| ownt Undoubtedly the day will come, when the
little that is left Of this history, will be sought
after with the most eager curiosity, AID become
| favorite object OF antiquarian research. To col.
lect its stray sybiline leaves will vet be labor
| of love. Even now, think, shall find many 10
agree with me IN the opinion that the institutions
and civil deeds Of the old fathers Of our State
well deserve the study and commemora,ion of her
| sons.
These were, indeed, such men as had no need
10 ask for more than 10 be fairly known, and who
mighrtruy say:
"Ailer my death wish no other herald,
No other speaker of my living actions,
To keep mine honor from corruption,
But such an honest chroniccr as Griffith
/ You may have observed, Mr.. President, that in
the course Of my brief review Of portion Of Vr-
gina history, have said nothing OF the period
since the adoption Of the present federal cons,tu-
lion. To have done SO
| would have extended this address beyond its
proper limits, and involved topics whose discus
sion might disturb the party feelings Of the day.
My object has been TO develop the moral, and
unity of our history and 10 present II in such a
point of view should be above and beyond party
considerations and influences. For that purpose,
| have shown how our ancestors through sue
ceeding generations, labored for the great end OF
40 adjusting the social and particular interests OF
man, as 10 give the largest amount of individual
liberty and power, which might be consistent with
the necessary protection OF regularly organized
| society. Indeed, with some, il has been matter
OF rcproach 10 Virginia that in the pursuit Of this
end, she sacrificed too many Of the elements OF
/ social strength and wealth. But the fruits OF this
system are 10 be found in the individual excel
lence which il developed, and the number OF great
men that il produced, during the period of which
have been treating, and through which the State
| adhered 10 II most exclusively. ! think, too, |
have shown, that during this lime, her social
| achievements were such as would have done
honor 10 any people Of the same number and
means, in any era, or part Of The world. II Lord
| Bacon was right in saying that the plantations
OF new countries are amongst the primitive and
| most heroic works of man. then surely Virginia
| y entitled to-a high place in tho order Of human
| achievement Until the time OF the American ex-
pertinent in government, the efforts of statesmen,
and the rehnements of their skill, seem 10 have
been wholly directed to the endsof social strength
| and progress With that experiment commenced
the first great forward movement in favor OF m
dlyidua liberty, and the most successful form OF
political organization for making that develop
mcnt compatible with social strength and order.
| Amongst the leaders in this movement, il not at
ITS head, Virginia is entitled 10 be ranked, and
when she takes her appropriate place in the great
Pantheon OF History, there shall ascend from her
| altars not the smoke from the blood OF her vic.
Tins, but the grateful incense of the noblest Of
human aspirations, those Of the SOUL after larger
liberty of selfdevelopment, and a wider range in
the boundless domain of thought. In the great
Epos OF Humanity we nation after nation
seizing the torch of civilization as il passes 10 the
head OF the column 10 lead the advance in the
| mighty march Of our race. In the struggle for
mastery, some faint and some fall by the wayside.
Nationalites decay ahd the forms of their inst-
| tulions pass away, but each, ere IL leaves the
| scene, bequeaths its great and Characteristic
thought as an everlasting possession 10 man. Be-
| meath the very ashes OF their decay lives fire
whose light is as imperishabe truth itself, and
| which is capable Of transmission from generation
10 generation, so long the human mind exists
| TO afford the subject to feed the sacred fame.
Some leave new light, and others inspire higher
\ hope 10 guide or 10 animate the march Of human.
| ny. When we lock thus 10 the achievements OF
others, and reckon up the legaces Of immortal
thought bequeathed by the past 10 the present, is
| u extravagant 10 hope that Virginia, too, may
| contribute her idea whose type may be found
| hereafter in some new stage OF human progress
| IL is pious wish and for one dare 10 indulge H.
The New York and Liverpool United states
ca