Washington sentinel., 1855-02-17
TCoNCLUDED.I

Der IA, 1854,
by Hon. r.. NJ. T. Hunter.
CONCLUDED.
M, Presideat and Gentlemen
81 Me Virginia Historical .Soeisty:
In thus pointing out the extent 10 which The
freedom and energy Of individual action was de-
reloped and encouraged by our colonial policy il
= pht Jnstce 10 our ancestors 10 show that il
Mas hot done without some regard also TO the
flshls and welfare Of the Indian who in the gen.
rral, seems 10 have been treated kindly except
IN 'he exlgencles of actual war; or under the pro-
vocation OF some late massacre. In Henings
slutuies ior io6l,a may be digest of laws
previously passed, In which TO be found many
oi me germs OF the federal policy in regard 10
ihdan intercourse. The boundaries between the
lndan territory and that opened 10 the settlements
" ahe Whites, We're to be marked out if the
WHtes ihiruded upon them within their settle
mehts, their houses were 10 be pulled down and
themselves expelled. Their persons and properly
were secured by law, and none but licensed
foarrs We're allowed 10 trade with them, and, 10
en. .o.isions' no Indians were permitted 10
me Wanin Inc settlements, except such as had
naages subsequently, ii was prohibited by law
- SeH them liquor or arms and various provisions
we're nade Tor their education and civiIizationJ
., 1te' 'nls review OF the fundamental institutions
ot our coionia government, and Of tts policy in
regard 10 The lands and the Indians, the two sub
Jge's " greatest interest TO il, and which were so
closely connected with the moral state and the
eessnies OF the physical existence OF the people
rom ,'aS "a VIII % admitted that our early organiza-
an, 90 lar as II was OF domestic origin gave great
rHclency 10 society, whose members were 40
lew and scattered To settle the wilderness. and
,ear up great people, were the main objects OF
lneir pursuit. and the chief ends of their mission
What progress was early made in This career
ihelr history will attest
! nave already shown how they laid the founda.
non o. our subsequent Indian policy with most OF
Sf, nI CONSERVATIVE checks upon the cupidity of the
haA
iederai legislation in favor Of the aboriqines
lhighi nave shown, TOO, that they introduced the
essential elements which have characterized our
leaerai iand Pohcy, its preempiions,c its discrim
nations IN Iavor OF the actual settlers and not its
system, but system OF SURVEYS and records
m provision ior the record of the sales O. lands
SAID by Sir William Berkeley a TO have been al
'lhl gay (loHl The only innovation upon the laws
~ England. In l67l, Sir William Berkeley SAYS,
he does not much miscount in rating ihe popnla
lion OF Virginia at above 40 900 persons Of which
2ooo were Christian servants for a short time
and z,ooo Were black slavese In 1855 Bancroft
Ss.iales lhe population al more than 50,000t
omch was The people OF whom it was asserted in
lh1i That both The acquisition and defense Of
Virginia have been the charge Of the inhabi
'ahis, and that the people that time were at the
eAPense OF supporting NOT only the government
Sii me governor, which occasoned their Ia res 10
ne very hlghs and that these taxes must coniinne
hsa ior the maintenance and support Of the qov-
rrhmehi, execution law and justice and defense
"ha ornament OF the country, erecting and endow-
iag OF churches, maintenance OF ministers of Eng
lsh ordination, doctrine and liturgy building and
furniture Oh iorts bridges, ships-ofwar towns IL Hc
IN ,he same document is asserted by the Yir-
s'nia agents, that their goods yielded TO the king
"a his customs about 100 900 pounds
Ihis, TOO, was the handful Of people who had
commenced contest for an enlargement Of tbeI
ibeftIes When their hrsi assembly met, which the,
were sun conducting AT thai time In III.
very hr>t assembly they declared that the
nn iaU
upon The colony their lands or commodities
Otherwise Than by the authority of the general as.
srD'bIy, 10 be levied and employed as The said as
Nehby shaH appoint, and in 1851, il was enact
"d mat lor encouragement of men 10 plant store
% corn, the price shall not be stnted but il shall
lr Tree lor every man 10 sell il dear as he can
In lo5<, during the English Protectoraie they
asserted that "ihe right Of electing all officers OF
which right tney exercised during that period
bancroft says: Virginia established upon her
soil the supremacy of the popular branch the free.
dom OF trade, the independence OF religious socie.
ues the security from foreign taxation, and the
universal elective franchise - already she pre.
ierred her own sons for places of authority; the
country felt itself honored by those who were
Nirginians born, and emgrants never again de.
sired 10 live in Eogand." M If reaction 10 some
extent took place after the restoration of mon.
archy in England, "it was not without an earnest
struggle on her part" The agents sent by her to
England TO obtain new charter, essayed by ar.
a he
privileges OF Englishmen, "a and said that they
humby conceived il TO be the right OF yirginian.
a well as all other Engshmen. not 10 be taxed
but by their consent, expressed through their re.
preventative Especially did they wish tha,
the people OF Virginia should not be cantopized
10y grants given 10 particular personsu meaning
The large and improvident grants 10 Arlington,
Cnlpeper and others. II was during the DELAY OF
redress oi these grievances, that Bacon's rebellion
broke out IN Virginia. caused partly by these large
which embarrassed he In nd as, ii.
colony, and still by the delay OF the governor
10 punish the Indian ouirsges upon the whites.
Whatever may have been the origin of thi.
movement, II is plain from the action of Bacon,,
legislature, that their views extended bsvond ,bei,
hrst subject Of complaint. They declared seapst
plurality OF Offices and for rotation in certain off;
ces, disqualified all persons from holding Offices
except natives, or those who had resided in ,br
country Tor three years, restored universal suf
irdge, required vestrymen TO be elected every
three years 10y the people OF the parish prescrib.
I'd that IN each county representatives should be
chosen by The people equal in number TO the JUS.
tcesi TO act with them IN laying county leyies
aud making bylaws This movement which
vas suppressed, caused much blood TO flow and
great suffering IN the colony The author Of The
Northumberland tract says, II whispered 10
have been said by the king, "that old fool Sir
William Berkely had hanged more meu in ,ba,
naked country, than he had done for the murder
OF his father II was made an excus~ TOO for
denying the charter, and curfsiling the privileges
- h"t >o'sniai nsscmpy' Suli, Tor all practical
purposes, they continued 10 exercise more and
more power over their domestic interests. The
statute book proves u. They coined money tbev
laiddufies for forts and light houses they made and
managed Indian wars, authorized exploring expe.
diuons, rewarded dscoverers with monopoly Of
The use OF their inventions for a limited time
and maintained their right 10 appoint and con-
tlrol Their own treasurer, and 10 appropriate
hy law the money raised by taxes. III a new
territory was 10 be explored upon the Roam.
oke, or beyond the Blue Ridge, they offered an
exemption from taxes for limited period. and
gave settlement rights and pre- -emptions 10 tbe
adventurers. II new road was 10 be opened a,
that over Rock.hsh gap, the county was empow.
cred 10 lay the necessary taxes, and execute The
work. II the Mattapony was 10 be opened bv
private subscription, trustees were appointed
aud their duties prescribed.
u was Colonial Legislature which first pro
lected the improvement Of the waters Of the
lanes above the fails, and OF the Potomac up 10