Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-02-22
VIRGINIA..

cords her fate will reserve his lotuest flight lor
the chanter which shall close he eTentiul story
Not in the annals Of that wild adventure, which
on the 18th Of May, two hundred aud sixty
wears ago. planted within her borders the INST
settlement on the continent; not IN the long
and cheouered record Of her colonial history
not in her exalted contributions to the lcdepen
dence Of the colonies not IN her uhappfoacneu
labors in founding the government; not IN hcr
unmatched share in its glorious administrations
not in her unselfsh heroism on distant border
when ;eace was first broken; not in her self
sacrificing labors TO prevent the disruption OF
the Union; not in the knighty gaallantry win
which she barred her breast 10 receive the shalt
launched at her weaker sisters; not IN the
wreath Of honor won on every field 10 The late
war not in The memory Of her matchle'S he
rocs dead, and the illusTlou9 but unfortunate
liying-in none CT these pages, rlcl with the
immortal glory CT her children, Will he hn1 so
grand theme Tor euloglum, as IN the record
Of the sublime majesty with which to-iay she
receives the slabs Of her aSSaSslns-thoSe a.
sasslns her children
Fer, let us remember that it was through
the bene; oercc OF Virginia" as Kentucky
convention affirmed On the 18th OF Deccn.bcr,
1889. that that great State arose from the m
significance and dependence Of Virginia colo
ny. Let us remember that 1t vas: Likewise,
through the bcncgolcnce the royal muahcencc
Of Virginia, that, eight years before, she made
l free gis to the Union of that vast empire now
containing eight millions CT souls-the North
western Terrt0ry-rcscrving to herself 30 rights
OF privileges that she did not in terms stipuatc
should be As freely and fully enjoyed by all );
and yet with generous f0rcthought making one
condition for l,n:tcrity lh0w it reads in these
days!l:
'pr0vdcd that the States 80 formed lout Of
the Northwestern Territory shall be distinct
Republican StatCs, and admitted members Of
the Federal Union, having the same rights OF
sovereignty o., freedom and independents" rs
the other States.
Almost everything that she love; and prices
whether d person on OF right, has been torn
from her. Ilcrtcrritory has been parted among
her CXCcutOueTS, every sentiment has hctn
shocked, every Scnsbility wBuolcd, and She
who gave more to the Union. did more for thG
Union more advanced the Union. more hon
orcd the Union, than any, almost than at-hor
Si.tcrS is delivered, for the crime Of lighting as
her Washington did, for the right which her
Henry asserted AMI her Jefferson recorded, Of
&cll-gO"CrnnCrt to Il rabJic mad Wlth blood
and rapinc, to be- outraged and destroyed at
Their pleasure.
And yet, Ihc world hears no weak rcpInrg
Even Of her physical suffering, The absolute
want Of her people, she has 50 little TO say thai
in dispensing charity, in the distribution Of food
TO the needy, the hcncticent hand passes over
Virginia, i-oorant "t necessities which he
proudly concca!S, TO >cl;cr III" blessing OH Sis
ter 5'atca, ~ho:c uccJ& ar 40 greater than her
OWL.
AND il she ma kc5 40 claim on the world Tor
sympathy as little does She attempt b. Sc"Vlllty
to Irup,i;t;a her enemies. Exhausted with
blows. lrarnl led UNDER bTutaI feet. The Enl!c
entering her heart, her lnurdercrs offer her life
and liberty if she will dlshomor her children;
| and her reply is tOHder embrace and Il tirmcr
Defiance
Nor does she forget in these, perhaps Der
dying hours the least Of her duties. To-day,
while hcr cxccutioners arc divided only BY dis,
pues as to the spccdicst ana Surcst method Of
DESTROYING her, her representatives are bending