The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-06
Richmond
fHB SEAT OF THE GREAT EXPOSITION.
The Most Interesting Citv in
the Union.
Historical Sketch.


English speaking race on the American Con
hnent was on peninsula jutting out into
james river a short distance below Rich
mond. The English had already established
themselves in Virginia and had explored
the country far above the site of Richmond,
and had taken it in the name of their God
and their King and had representative as
sembly when the Pilgrim Fathers set foot
on Plymouth Rock. Powhaian had traded
corn with the Virginia settlers, had made
peace and war with them for years and had
retired from the scene amid his native forests
on the banks Of the Powhatan (by the
bomesick colonists foolishly changed to the
Jsmes) lorfg before Massasoit and Samoset
of the Wampanseys made their treaty with
Governor Carver and taught the half starved
remnant Of the pilgrims 10 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 we're flourish
Ing colonies. when New York was Dutch
trading post and Boston was forest.
Not many miles below Richmond are the
ruins OF the Oldest Christian church which
the Saxon race built in America and the
Peninsula is the scene Of the first struggle
setyeen 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
toric Plymouth Rock.
Thus Virginia is the Oldest Of all the States
I'm the Union. nee 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 Domn-
ions which held true to the Crown was Nir-
pinia. which gained thus the right to be
ousrtered on British Arms. The first armed |
resistance made against vice-regal tyranny /
WAS made in Virginia, and was headed by a
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 strug-
gle between the colonies and the CROWN be-
tween liberty and oppression, and finally from
Virginia burst forth that matchless galaxy of
stars which founded this nation and estab-
lished the American Union.
Along the banks Of the James 1rished
race which has had no parallel in This land,
n race ofEngl h gentry who added to traits
inherited and transferred from their British
ancestors. n 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 unlnter-
rppted her prestige. ,
II WIS Virginian, Henry, who first flung
down the gauntlet at the feet OF an armed
and ;nailclad tyranny and declared for bib
erty OF death. II was a Virgfnian, Nelson,
who first moved in general assembly that
the DELEGATES of the colony in the Colonial
congress be instructed TO declare us free and
States. ltwas Nirginian, Ma
von. who drafted the great Bill CT Right. Ii was
Virginian, Lee, who was selected to draw the =
Declaration of independence, and in his I'M
ayoidable absence, the task devolved upon .
another Virginian Jefferson. =
IL was Virginians who first in the worlds :,
history ordained a written Constitution as
compact between the Governor and the gov
erned. 1t was Virginian who took COM
mard of the armies of the Revolution. and ,
AFTER conouering Freedom for the new land,
took and held the helm of State steady
through the rough seas which preceded the -
launching Of a nation. II was Nirgn'an =
who presided for nearly half century over Il
the Supreme Bench Of the United States and
there expounded the laws and laid down the
principles upon which the new government Il
was founded, with wisdom which was
their yindication and reason which was
their proof.
At the time of the war Virginia had held y
the Office of President during half the period
which had elapsed since the formation OF lhe
Virginians had commanded y
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 II
yolving the welfare and progress Of the .
country.
In 1861, Virginia after long aud painful
and doubt as to her duty, and u
after exhausting every effort to effect re- y
Cancellation between the hostile sections "
upon her peace commissioners being treated Il
with disdain, and upon President Lncoin's
call for troops, and demand for passage way II
through her borders, deeming this final i'
violation Of her Constitutional rights, with X
drew from the Union, and prepared for war. "a
be simmedately became the. battle-ground.
Within three moD'i one Of the bloodiest IL