National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-07-31
Letters from oId Virginia.

To The Editor OF The National Republican.
SIR: Tho historical associations identified
with Hampton are very remarkable. 1t was
in full sight of Hampton that the first slave
ship from Africa to America, in command of a
Dutch captain, sailed through Hampton roads
by Newport News, and up the james riyor to
jamestown. That memorable craft landed
her human cargo Of "chattels, 10 all intouts
and purposes whatsoever" in the year Of our
Lood 1620-tho samo year of the landing OF
the pilgrim fathers on Plymouth rock. What
o compensation Of history are the events that
have transpired in this part of the Old Do.
mnion since then More than 250 years have
rolled away, and Plymouth rock stands in
Massachusetts bay as monument of tho past
in the city Of Plymouth, surrounded by
population Of Il score OF thousand tice souls,
tho blessings of a free religion, a free press,
commerce, manufactures, agriculture aud the
arts. Railroads connecting all parts of the
American union, reaching from the Atlantic
to tho Pacific oceans, pass to and from Plym-
outb, and the electric wire connects this
ancient town with all parts of the world, a
living memorial of what freedom, controlled
by intelligence morality and law, can accom-.
pish under the guidance of the great ruler Of
human events,
IL has remained for history TO compensate
itself by making Hampton, the theatre in the
vicinity of which slavery was first estab
lishod, the groundwork of its overthrow.
Ont of Hampton roads sailed tho first ship in
the year 1862, leading tho American squadron
that struck tAe first effective blow in the war
of tho slave.holders' rebellion, which ended
in the total destruction of slavery. But that
curse Of curses left its blight at Jamestowm--a
blight that has remained in this grand old
state OF Virginia for these moro than $50
years Go and look at jamestown, the au-
Oiont slave mart, and then look ut Plymouth,
the birthplace of civil and religious liberty.
Plymouth tho free, n great aourishing city,
despite its rocky and stormy home on the
Now England Atlantic coast; jamestown, the
long. g.ensaved, a ruin and desolation-noth.
ing remang Of it's shore on the sunny and
beautiful james but u solitary house lankod
by q Crumblng, ivy.covored tower standing
alone in the solitudes Of the cypress, the Bit
torn and the owl.
History is Mt this moment multiplying her
componsations at Hampton, It Is hero she
has established two great public institutions
the Hampton soldiers home and the Hamp.
ton normal school. They are both justly en-.
titled to the highest need ofpraise. Colonel
WOOdhn and his associates IN charge of the
large company of defenders OF the union at
the homo have rendered and arc still render
ing an efficient service to the country, which
every patriot VIII ever delight TO honor. The
Hampton soldiers homo is in no sense parti-
san institution. Party issues arc in no way
introduced among its inmates for discussion.
But 1t is q fact worthy OF note aud rcmcm.
branco in these testing times for patriots that
large majority of these union defenders on
tho field OF battle would continue to defend il
at the ballotboX, ii they had tho opportunity,
by casting their votes for fairfield and Arthur
At the normal school conducted by Gen.
oral Armstrong aud his assistant Gonoral
Marshall, inchoate citizenship is more pro.
nounGed, and, therefore, more available.
There is not u colored citizen In Hampton
but can be implicitly depended upon to sup
port the republican cause. Not that the nor
NAL school any more tbau the soldiers
homo is h party institution. All parties and
all states should DO interested in them, for
they sro all more or less benefited by them
The normal school especially ia growing daily
Ia It's relations TO tho agriculture and manu-.
mC,ur0s Of tho country. 1t Is smphatioally
centre OF ednoatiohAl and Industrial inter-
csts that rs eNerting, and must always exert
II managed As II now ID, powerful Influence
ON the Colored and Indian races Of America.
Every lover Of our country should do all In
his powor to aid its extension. Leltors may
be expected from Danyillo, Wheeling Win
chester aud llarpors Ferry. O. w. d.
HAMPTON, VA, July 20, 1880.