The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-06-09
Rebellion in Virginia 200 Years
Ago.

AAOs
There ever has been and ever will be
an irrepre.sible conflict between aris-
tocracy aud democracy The history Of
our race is full Of examples of this
truth. Chapters Of cur nntioual histo-
ry abound with them At times these
conflicts have been mild and dove-llke
IN their nature; again they have been
fierce and unrelenting.
In the early history of Virginia We
have examples Of both kinds. The first
colonists were composed of aIistocrats
and democrats. but there was general
harmony and very little antagonism on
account of class or the unequal distri-
/ button Of privileges; but when half a
century in the progress OF the colony
had elapsed. and the population vas
/ nun bered by thousands instead OF by
scores and hundreds, the line Of demar-
cation between aristocrats and demo-
Gratis was very conspicuous. This had
been more sharply defined by the an
wise conduct Of royal governor, who
ruled tue colony for period for more
:hsn forty years. That governor WAS
Sir William Berkeley, who WAS appoint-
ed III l64i and reached Jamestown, in
Virginia. III February, 1912.
Berkeley was then fine specimen Of
q young English courtier, and was only
81 years of age. He had been we'll ed
ucated at Oxford; was handsome in
person; polished in manners by extern
sive travel. and was on the whole. one
Of the most elegsn cavaliers Of his
time. At his mansion near jamestown.
he dispensed generous hospitality. and
by suavity Of manner aud the adoption
of measures for the benefit of the peo-
pie, was very popular for many years.
He was thorough royalist; and so pru-
IDENTIFY did he manage Affairs during the
civil war in England. that . greater
part of the Virginisrs were in sympa-
thy with him in his adherence to the
cause of the king. Virginia was the
last Of the British possessions to yield
to the authority Of Cromwell.
In later years. when society in Vir-
ginia had strong infusion of the Pun.
tan element. which. in England. afil-
lated with democracy or republicanism,
decided antagonisms appeared. Berke.
Icy was OF the cavalier class. and heart
lily despised the noa- conformists Or Pu-
ritsns. Perceiving that a large major.
ity of the Nirginians were warmly At
tached to the Church OF England, he
conceived the idea that to tolerate Pu-
ritanisn or conformity. would fos-
ter republicanism, and he venturcj up.
on the dangerous experiment OF first
prohibiting preaching and teaching by
Puritan ministers, aud then the banish-
ing Of all non- -conformists from the
colony.
The civil war in England had filled
Virginia with refugee cavaliers, ~hv
despised the common people"
tOilers-- and assumed to rule the colony,
politically and socially. They held q
greater portion Of the land. and lived
in luxury, with black slaves to attend
them; and the governor, sympathizing
with this class. became. as age crept
upon him. tyrant. The people Cthen
almost thirty thousand strong) were de-
prived Of political privileges which
they had enjoyed, and the toilers saw
tina: they were rapidly drifting FROM
state of freemen TO that OF serfdom.
Everything calculated to elevate their
condition WAS neglected. There were
no roads or bridges; and obstacles were
thrown in tho way Of education. Il
thank God" Berkeley wrote to min
lister, there are no free schools nor
printing in Virginia. and hope We
shall not have them these hundred years.
for learning bath brought heresy. and
disobedience, and sects into the world.
and printing both divulged them and liz
bells against the best government. God
keep us from both :"
Oppression produced ''disobediencc
in Virginia as well as in Englsnd. The
heat Of persecution stimulated the
growth Of repu ublicanism, and the to,lers
and the righteous ones Of the cavalier
class soon found q powerful democratic
republican party under the leadership
! Of Nathaniel Bacon. . rich young plan
ter An occasion for the exercise of
their power appeared when the gov
ernor. afraid Of bacon. refused to allow
him to lead an armed force against the
Indians. who were distressing the colo
ny in a terrible manner.
Bacon took fire at this refusal. See
ing the temper of the people. he acted
boldly, for he knew the hidden cause OF
the governors refusal. He proclaime !
his willingness to lead an expedition
xgainst the savages without permission,
If another white person should be mur-
dercd by them That event soon occur
red The people assembled in great
numbers. when Bacon. mounted on the
stump of large tulip tree. addressed
,hem with impassioned eioquence, dc
noune,ng the governor ss an imbecile.
aud warning them of sure destruction
IL they dii not a; once rise III arms for
the defense Of their homes
\ large number of men organized IN
military form, and ehose Bacon for their
general Berkeley refused 10 give him
commission. ana proclaimed him N
outlaw. He crossed the York Rive!
with the expe 4ision without the gov
ernog's sanction, and drove the lndisn,
back to the Rappshsnnock; and At the
same time other settlements were iu In.