The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-16
FIX sBAT OF THE GREAT EXPOSITION
The Most Interesting Citv In
the Union.
Historical skete

tinept was on peninsula jutting out lhl'
James river q short distance below hlcn
mond. The English had already establishes
themselves in Virginia and had explores
the country far above the site OF Richmond
and had taken il in the name Of Their Go'
and their King, snd had representative as
.emblv when the Pilgrim Fathers set 100
n, Plymouth Rock. Powha.an bad tradeC
norn with the Virginia settlers, had made
psaoe and war with them for years and nae
retired from the scene amid bis native forests
I'm the banks of the PowhaSan 10y the
bomesick colonists foolishly changed TO Sht
james, long before Massasoit and samose
M the Wampanseys made their treaty Win
Governor Carver and taught the half starved
remnant of the pilgrims TO raise corn
James river from Richmond to Ola POM
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.
Not many miles below Richmond are the
ynins of .he Oldest Christian church when
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 foot
Of ground is more directly associated with
the settlement of this continent than IS his
DpCk
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 Nir-
ginia. which gained thus the right to be
uuartered on British Arms. The first armed
resistance made against yice-regal 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 Pacon's Quarter Branch.
On Virginia soil took place the long strug-
gle between the colonies and the Gown, be-
tween liberty and oppression, and finally from
Virginia burst forth that matches galaxy Of
stars which founded this nation and estab-
Ished the American Union.
Along the banks Of the james Trished
race which has had no parallel in this land,
q race of Engli h gentry who added to traits
Inherited and transferred from their British
ancestors, q love of freedom and a passion
for the rights of the individual born Of the
liberty of the forest. The splendid man
sions 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 10 the end of !
the great Civil War she retained uninter-
ISpted her prestige.
1t was Virginian, Henry, who first flung |
down the gauntlet at the feet Of sn armed /
and mailclad tyranny and declared for lib
erty OF death. 1t was a Virginian, Nelson,
who first moved in general assembly that |
the Delegates Of the colony int the Colonial
Congress be instructed to declare US free and |
independent States. 1t was Virginian, Ma
son, who drafted the great Bill Of Right. Ii was
! Virginian, Lee, who was selected to 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 q written Constitution az a
compact between the Governor and the gov
erned. II was Virginian who took com
mand 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 a nation. 1t was Virginian
who presided for nearly half a century over
The Supreme Bench of the United States and
here expounded the laws and laid down the
principles upon which the new government
was founded. with wisdom which was
their vindication and reason which was
heir proof.
AT the time of the war Virginia had held
he Office of President during half the period
which had elapsed since the formation of the
virginians had commanded
he armies Of the country in the only two
vars which had taken place, and virginians
,ad taken the lead in nearly every act in
'olying the welfare and progress of the
ountry.
In 1861, Virginia after long and painful
elaboration and doubt as to her duty, and
FER exhausting every effort to effect re- /
onciliation between the hostile sections,
'pon her peace commissioners being treated I
Nth disdain, and upon President Lncoln's !
all for troops and demand for passage way I
through her borders, deeming this final
collation. Of her Constitutional rights with G
rev from the Union, and prepared for war. {
he Immediately became the, battle-ground. 6
Within three mon'Ns one Of the bloodie.,