Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-03-06

HOSt ITOH Utne lulnetnOrtai, ana We nave
had the curiosity to trace or inquire into
its origin. II grew out Of the loyalty Of
Virginia to Charles |. and Charles l.,
and her refusal to recognise the proctec.
tOrate Of Cromwell. During the struggle
between Charles I. and the Parliament,
Virginia, under Sir William Berkeley, { as
Governor. then contained 20, 900 inhabit.
ants, remained true to the king, and the
ColOnists, by solemn act, declared
that they were both under monarchy,
and would never degenerate from the con-
dition Of their birth, by being subject to
any other government After the un-
fortunate monarch had been brhcadcd,
she acknowledged the authority Of the fu.
gitive Prince, his son, and actually con.
tinued the provincial government under
a commission which the latter sent from
his retreat and Breda toSir William Brrk.
ley. According to Clarendon, Sir vii.
liam BerkCly was so assured Of the 10y
atty Of the inhabitants, and SO impressed
with the confidence Of ultimate success,
that he wrote to the young Prince, "al
most inviting him to America. In con.
sequence Of this open defiance of the
power Of Parliament, an ordinance de-
claring the refractory c0loniSts notorious
robbers and traitors, prohibiting all inter-
course with them, either by the people Of
England, the inhabitants OF other AMeri.
can colonies, or foreign nations; and a
feet was finally dispatched, under Sir
George AyScUe, "a reduce them to SUBJ
mission by force, if they should refuse to
embrace the pacific ovcrturcs which q
commission, accompanying the cxpcdi-
tiOn, were authorised to propose.
From BarbadOcs, Capt AyScuc sent
Captain Dennis with small squadron, to
land his force and drive Sir William Berk
ley out Of Virginia as to whose proceed
ingS on the arrival Of the feet within the
Capes of Virginia, historians widely diff
fer. Beverly, Oldmixon, Burke and Gra.
ham assert that he made n great show of
resistance with the RoyRliSts who con-
StitNt d a majority Of the population, aS-
sisted by the Dutch ships in the harbOr |;
hut Bancroft, citing the authorities Of the
highest value, says that no sooner had
the Guinea irigate entc' cd within the wa.
ters Of the Chesapeake than, quoting
from Clarendon, "all thoughts Of resist
ancC were land aside. :" Bancroft further
mentions, as characteristic Of Virginians
even at that early period, "that they re-
fused to surrender TO force, but yielded
by voluntary deed and mutual com
pact. This decd Of surrender Stipula-
ted for u complete indemnity as to all
past offences, and that the colonists rec
ognixing the authority should be admitted
into the bosom Of the English common.
wealth, and into an equal participation Of
the privileges Of oil the free people OF
England-And particularly that the Pro
vincial Assembly should retain its won-
ted functions, aud the colonist have as
free trade as the people Of England to all
places and all nations, and be free from all
taxes, customs and impositions WhatSo-
ever; without the consent Of their AS
sem6ly-thus carly insisting on the prin-
ciple that taxation without representa-
ton, is tyranny" Bcrkrly, a true aud
royal cavalier, diSdained to make any
stipulation for himself, with those whom
no regarded a. uSurpers; and without
leaving the colony, IN March, 1852, with
drew to retired situation, where, as a
private individual, he continued to be res
pected and beloved, biding his time, un.
Ill q counter revolution in the mother
country should summon him once more to
defy tho republican forces Of England,
and restore the asccndcncy Of royalty in
Virginia.
In the interval between 1859 and 1860,
the BurgCSScSS Of Virginia successfully
elected Richard Bennett, Edward Diggs,
and Samuel Matthews. to the office OF
Governor, under allegiance TO Oliver
Cromwell, and on his death, in 1868, to
his >on, Richard Cromwell. But on the
death Of Governor Matthews, in 1860,
the people, prompted BY discomfort, with
certain commercial restrictions imposed
by the Protectoratc, did not wait for q
new commission, but elected Sir William
Berkcly Governor, and by ian Obliging
violence compelled him to accept the gov
Crnmcnt" He, however, refused to act
under the usurpcrs, or to the wishes oi
the cOlOniStS, unless they would unite
with him in riSking life and fortune for
the exile King. "ThiS" says Beverly
was their dearest wish; and, therefore
with = unanimous voice, they told him
they were ready to hazard all for The
King" This occurred before the Kings
return TO England, and was the result ot
signal and uncxamplcd loyalty. Berkely
then acquicSced In the choice of the peo.
pie, aud asSumtd the helm, and thcrcup.
on, he forthwith proclaimed Charles l.
King Of England, ireland, Scotland, and
Virginia, and caused ail processes to
DO issued in the royal name. Thus his
majesty was actually king in Virginia,
before no was king in England-and
hence, has Virginia borne the title oi
"The Old Dominion. On the rest0ra.
ton Of Charles l I. to the throne Of his
ancestors, he sent new commission to
Sir William Brrkrly. He was rect ivcd
by the King with Kindness, and tradition
narratvs that tho King, in compliment tc
the colony, wore at his coronation robe
made Of silk sent from Virginia.
The Massachusetts Historical Society
has in its possession . coin having on ono
side "a head and the words GeOrpius II.
Rex and on the other side q shield, on
which arU qNArtered the arms Of Eng.
land, Scotland, Ireland, and Virginia, the
whole SurMoUnt,d by a crown, and en-.
Circlcd by the words, Virginia, 1873
a similar cOin was dug up. some years
since, in Virginia, when = description oI
Il published apocryphaly ascribing IA
Charles II, on his ascension to the throne,
the QUartering Of the coat of arms Of
Virginia, as an "indcpcnuent member OI
the Empirr, with those Of England,