The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-04-20
tut UTE F3Hr4Hi FI1'UINIA AZ
a Hundred Years Ago. .9.

.F4 20
| What a, change since then The then
small villages have grown to he poplilous
cities, the vast forest Of thoSe days have lang
/ since been converted into fields of production.
| the War-hoop of the savage Indian has been
supplanted with the siren songs of peace bnt
yet in taking'a retrospective view of the past
and compartment withs the present, there is
much to admire, in SYugnia'si history OF one
hundred years AGO that is preferable to the his
tory OF the present.
The General Convention of Virginia met at
the capital May 9Th. lI76, and appointed Ed
| inund Pendleran President, and John Tazwell.
| clerk. On the 18th Of the same mouth unanimous
lly Sdopteda resolution mstict1nG Their dele
gate appointed TO represent them in Congress.
to propose to tl,at body to declare the united
colonies free end independent States, absoyed
| from all allegiance to, Or dependence on the
crown or parliament OF Great Britain On the
18th OF the same month unanimously adopted
q constitution, i(t!e ffSt whicll.wsls ffameIwith
avieW to8a ;pernIanesltl separatiphs from Great
| Britain;) appointed Patrick Henry Governor,
and the requisite State officers provided for i'm
| der the constitution, and adjourned on the 9Th
of July. Though the session was brief among
other acts besides the formation of IL Govern
ment. they passed an ordinance for erecting
salt works il the colony; for establishing board
| of commissioners to superintend and direct the
naval affairs OF the colony; for raising six
| troop Of horses; for arranging the counties in
TO dis riots; for electing Senators, etc, etc
How stands the contrast between the patriots
| of the Convention of 177G and the modern Leg
islators OF 1876? Is the mother of States and
statesmen retrogradng? In those days one
government was demolished and Il permanent
one established upon its ruin, which has stood
the test of one hundred years. its wheels
were put under it and started III full working
order. all in the space of iifty-iour days. Well
may Virginia be proud of her sires Of l776.--
| But follow the pages CT history to 1876. Won
find that her eScttcileono Of those days has faded
her mighty men have departed. The ar,lu-
Gus EbofS OF her wisestiintellects for one hun
! dred and twenty days could ouly mark out 4
line Of something like % miles IN length, upon
which, at some future time Il railroad may be
built; make some amendment to the dog-law;
! vote their Honorable body So per alsy fer fiji
ture services in the same kind OF heavy work.
and return home to repose under the shade of
! some kind leafy bower. until their fatieued
minds are sufficiently restored to undertake u
| similar task to the just coESummated.-
But what shall be said Of the immaculate. the
parsonage who occupies the char filled by Pat
| rick Henry in 1776? Has not The weight of
100000 rested SO heavily upon his shoulders.
that he. too, will need rest from his labors !?
! $500, 900 taken from the poor and the orphan
| to pay the rich bOnd-hultler. who has. perhaps
bought his stock at from % to so cents Oh the
| dollar-it being the entering welge by which
it is Intended to split free schools from the ar
chives OF Virginia; and yet in the face of this
fact, as if to add insult to injury. the Leoisa-
tuie of 1876 has appropriated $50, 900 to Il liter
airy Institution for the purpose Of favoring the
favorite few; for what poor boy can enter the
University of Virginia, although his tuition
there may be sratu;tonS? What poor man can
afford to pay the requisite expenses erclsice oE
tuition? 1t does seem that these blows are
| aimed at the poor children Of Virgii ia. they
| cgH be aimed at no other. Is this Republican,
ism? How does rliis compare with the actions
| of him who welded the helm Of Statn one hum
bred years ago, whose heart was BUILT mp in the
welfare OF his people, ard whose ann WlS the
greatest good for the great a9i,e
Stands tile contrast between the Patriots Of
17l6 and the politicians Of 1876. Be on the
watch tower We friends of freedom, Tor the
yltals OF our land are in danger
s9e sf sF SENEX.