Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-12-18
LEGISLA TION AND PATRON
AGE.
ADDRESS BEFoRETHE LITERARY SOCIETIES
OF ROANOKE COLLEGE, VIRGINIA, ny
HON. CLARKsoN N. POTTER. Ii. d.

! here from the North fOl the hrst time,
by the route [ have just passed over,
without emotion.
The history Of this State has been
so distinguished and evonlful she has
had such large share in the foundation,
the trials, the growtbs, and the triumphs
of the nation, that no citizen can well
enter her territory with indifference.
Her very name recalls that sovereign
whose reign was one Of the grandest
periods alike of English literature and
English power. Every mile Of the
way hither is rich in the memory of
great men and great deeds. The
route passes by the home of that
wise ard august man whose rare for
tune il was togo down to history as the
the most faultless Of heroes-so per.
feet that we even love to hear
that he sometimes yielded TO u
burst of feeling or an outbreak OF tenn
per. 1t passes Fauquier, the birth
place of that great jurist who had such
large share IN settling the nature and
powers of our National Government,
and whose opinions, whetherupon con.
stituuonal or other legal questions,
have an irresistible logic and power,
1t goes near Montpelier, where dwclt
that wise and pure President, who was
one of the ablest and most practical
statesmen of his age. 1t winds round
the noble hill where the Sage Of Monti-
cello-patriot, philosopher and states
man-dispensod lavish hospitality,
in keeping with his warm heart and
liberal IDEAS.
Washington, Jefferson, Madison and
Marshall names second to none IN all
our national history.
Then our route goes on TO Cbarlottes'
vile, the scene oi some OF the great
efforts OF that wonderful orator whose
fiery patriotism and marvellous elo'
quence have hung a halo around the
name of Patrick Henry. 1t passes
through the grounds oithat University
whereso many learned and distinguish
cd men have been educated, suggest
ing by contrast the days when Sil
William Berkeley thanked God thai
there was within Virginia neither ire,
schools, nor newspapers, nor printing.
Then il follows down the fair Blue
Ridge, whose extended forests recal
the pioneers of the frontier, and nota
bly, that tar-seeing woodsman GeorgC
Rogers Clarke, "the Hannibal OF thu
West" to whose wisdom and energy
and courage we so largely owe thu
territory between the Ohio and the
Gulf of Mexico.
And so as we pass on from the home,
of the Lees and the Masons to th'
country Of the Randolphs and th'
Lewises, We come hour by hour upoI
some spot famous in history-som'
name that recalls great deeds. W.
fEaaaS 'ESaqhtisss,' and "a again de- ID Iis
years Of civilized combat, ran red with
blood. We pass over fields wher'
great armies have met in the shock o
battle. We go by towns that wer,
the homes of statesmen and jurists
men who in the Senate, in the forum
and in the Executive chair, have giveI
character and direction to the nation
Everywhere, our way is rich in fh
memories and stirring from the event
that il recalls, until We come, aglov
with high thoughts and great recollec
! tions, TO this home Of education, plant
ed amind oil these great names an'
great scenes
. Surely, if there were any virtue il
the statues and inscriptions with whIc
the ancicnts surrounded their youth
that, fired by the example Of the goo
and great who bad gone before then
:. they might be excited to nobler efior
you, young gentlemen, growing u
among such scenes, living among sue
:. names, inspired day by day by tbes
recollectons-you, too, have Away
about you like incentive TO higbe
efforts and 10 worthier life
PHYSICAL ADVANTAGES OF VIRGINIA.
y think Northern visitor comm
" for the first time to Virginia will ais
- be surprised at how little it resemble
the South, as part of which we cla'
il. The agriculture, the production
the face of the country, the mouniai
SUBMITS, the wooded ranges, tb
charming valleys, the swift stream
a the bubbling springs here, are all TO
eign TO what we are wont To consid,
as tho physical features of the Sout
Iudced, the climate of Virginia
more akin 20 the climate OF Englau
than is either the climate OF Ne
, England, with its rigorous winters,
!. . that OF the Southern States, with the
extremes OF heat and as the colon
q, was favored with u productive soil al
other great natural advantages, Il
: English came naturally and readily
settle here.
Amongthese immigrants were mar
leading families, who brought Wi
a. them to tho colony considerable wcaIt
ss and they brought here perhaps mo
ng than to any other part OF the con
nN nent, because more suited for SUI
. habits, the pursuits and amusemen
- of the land from which they cam
Hero, as at home, were large land
proprietors, and distinct laborlr
class; and here, as there, grow up
love OF the sports of the field, fon
. ness for outdoor exercise, and mai,
and vigorous amusements. Here, ev,
more than there, independence Of opi
n ion and liberality Of thought prcvailc
- at the same time that decent respe
-. ior precedent and authority was ch,
~ ished, while higher education and 9
giant cultivation were not neglected
And thus il happened that Virgin
l. whose House OF Burgesses was I
first legislative chamber in the lar
had come, when the Revolution bro
m out, 70 be far the richest, the most {
vcloped, and the most influential OF
colonies.
THE LONG PREPARATION foR SELF &c
-. ERSnEHT.
The revolutionary war was nosudd
and accidental movement Neitl
was IL caused by any special mcas'
of oppression. IL was inevitable th
separated as the colonies were
weeks of time and thousands OF mi
10. of distance from the mother count
unlike as they were TO that couutr,
5. their situation, necessities and OPP
- tunities, they could not be well 4
erncd from Great Britain. No mat
how wisc the ministry at home '
snis directed the colonial government WI
1my, nor how good, they could neither
' derstand nor appreciate what the
q 70. of colonies required. And thus II
y unavoidable that their government
~ the colonies should prove In the