The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-08
Richmond
uB SEAT OF THE CHEAT EXPOSITION
The Most Interesting Citv in
the Union.
Historical Sketch.

The first permanent settlement OF the
English speaking race on the American Coh-
HDent was on q peninsula jutting out INTO
James riyer short distance below Rich
mopd. The English had already established
themselves in Virginia and had explored
the country far above the site of Richmond,
and had taken IL in the name OF Their TOD
and their King, and had q representative as
sembly when the Pilgrim Fathers set foot
ON Plymouth Rock. Powhatan had traded
oorn with the Virginia settlers, had made
n.aoe and war with them for years and had
retired from the scene amid his native forests
IN the banks of the Powhatan tby the
homesick colonists foolishly changed to the
James, long before Massasoit and samoset
of the Wampanseys made their treaty with
Governor Carver and taught the half starved
remnant Of the pilgrims to raise corn.
James river from Richmond to Old Point
Comfort was the highway for Virginia boat
men. and jamestown, Newport News, Ber-
muda Hundreds and Henrico were flourish
ing colonies. when New York was Dutch
trading post and Boston was forest.
MOI many miles below Richmond are the
Yuins OF The oldest Christian church which
the Saxon race built in America, and the
Peninsula is the scene Of the first struggle
,,etween the English race and the forces OF
the wilderness and the savage Every loot
of ground is more directly associated with
the settlement of this continent than IS his
toric Plymouth Rock.
Thus Virginia is the Oldest Of all the States
In the Union. Since that time she has re-
tanned her historic prestige.
The first representative assembly which
ever met on American soil convened at
jamestown. The last Of the British Domin'
ions which held true to the Crown was Vir-
rinis, which gained thus the right to be
ouartered on British Arms. The first armed
resistance made against yicergal tyranny
was made in Virginia and was headed by
Young planter who owned the very spot on
which a portion Of the city Of Richmond
now stands, one of the boundaries Of The
city being named in incidental commemora-
ton of the fact Bacon's Quarter Branch.
On Virginia soil took place the long strng-
yle between the colonies and the crown, be-
tween liberty and oppression, and finally from
Virginia burst forth that matches galaxy Of
etsrs which founded this nation and estab-
lished the American Union
Along the banks of the James Trished a
race which has had no parallel if This land,
arace ofEDgh h gentry who added to traits
inherited and transferred from their British
ancestors. a love Of freedom and a passion
for the rights of the individual born of the
liberty Of the forest. The splendid man
mons falling to decay yet dignity and adorn
the banks of the historic river; their work
can never decay. Its fruit is the American
Union.
Thus Virginia is historically the most in
teresting of the States Of the Union. From
the settlement Of the continent to the end of
the great Civil War she retained uninter-
rppted her prestige.
1t WIS Virginian. Henry, who first flung
down the gauntlet at the feet Of an armed
and mailclad tyranny and declared for lib
erty or death. 1t was a Virginian, Nelson,
who first moved in general assembly that
the Delegates of the colony in the Colonial
Congress oe instructed to declare us free and
tndependent States 1t wasa Nirgnian, Ma
son, who drafted the great Bill Ct Right. TWAS
n yirginian, Lee, who was selected 10 draw the
Declaration Of Independence, and in his I'M
avoidable absence, the task deyolyed upon
another Virginian, Jefferson.
1t was virginians who first in the worlds
history ordained a written Constitution as
compact between the Governor and the gov
erned. It was yirginian who took COM
mard of the armies Of the Revolution. and
after conquerirg Freedom for the new land
took and held the helm of State steady
through the rough seas which pre- eeded the
launching of nation. Ii was a Nirginian
who presided for nearly half a century over
the Supreme Bench Of the United States and
there expounded the LAWS and laid down the
principles upon which the new government
was founded with a wisdom which was
their yindication and reason which was
their proof.
At the time Of the war Virginia had held
the Office Of President during half the period
which had elapsed since the formation ofthe
government; Virginans had commanded
the armies Of the country in the only two
wars which had taken place, and VirginianS
had taken the lead in nearly every act in
volving the welfare and progress of the
country.
In 1861, Virginia after long and painful
dehberation and doubt as to her duty, and
after exhausting every effort TO effect re-
Cancellation between the hostile sections,
upon her peace commissioners being treated
with disdain, and upon President Lincolns
call for troops. and demand ior a passage way
through her borders, deemng this final
violation of her Constitutional rights, with
drew from the Union, and prepared for war.
he Simmediaiely became the. battle-ground.
Within three mont :, one OF the bloodiest