The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-10
Richmond
PIX MAT OF The GREAT EXPOSITION
The Most Interestins |itv IN
the Union.
Rhetorical Sketch.

The first permanent settlement OF tne
English speaking race on the American Ooh-
tioent was on peninsula jutting OUT lnlo
lanes river a short distance below klch-
mond. The English had already established
,h.mselves in Virginia and had explored
the country far above the site OF hlchhonu
and had taken il in the name OF their "ou
and their King and had representative as
sembly when the Pilgrim Fathers SET 100.
on Plymouth Rock. Powha'an had raueu
corn with the Virginia settlers had maze
,e.oe and war with them for years ana hau
retired from the scene amid his native forests
nm the banks Of the Powhatan loy the
homesick colonists foolishly changed to the
I.mes) long before Massasoit and Samosei
nj the Wampanseys made their treaty Win
Governor Carver and taught the half starved
remnant of the pilgrims 10 raise corn.
lanes river from Richmond to Old Point
Comfort was the highway for Virginia boat
men. and jamestown, Newport News Der
r,,ds Hundreds and Henrico were flourish
ing colonies. when New York was Duich
trading post ana bOstoh was +" 'V'NN'
MOI many miles below Richmond are the
yn,ns O, The Oldest Christian church when
the Saxon race built in America ana the
Peninsula is the scene Of the first struggle
,,.tween the English race and the forces oi
the wilderness and the savage. Every 1901
of ground is more directly associated win
the settlement Of this continent than IS MS
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
aver met on American soil convened al
Jamestown. The last Of the British Domln'
ions which held true TO the Crown was VIZ
v;r;a which gained thus the right to be
ouartered on British Arms. The ilrst armed
resistance made against vicer'gal tyranny
was made in Virginia, and was headed by d
Young planter who owned the very spot on
which portion of the city OF Richmond
now stands. one Of the boundaries OF che
c,tv being named in incidental commemoTa-
.ior of the fact Bacon Quarter Branch
On Virginia soil took place the long suug-
xle between the colonies and the crown be
tween liberty and oppression, and finally nom
Virginia burst forth that matches galaxy Of
stars which founded tins nation and es'ab-
tished the American Union.
Along the banks Of the James 1rished a
race which has had no parallel in 'nis land
race ofEngli.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 We. dignity and adom
the banks of the historic siyer, their work
can never decay. Its fruit is the American
Union.
Thus Virginia is historically The most in
terestine of the States OF the Union. From
the settlement of the continent 70 the end oil
the great Civil War she retained unipier-
Ipp,ed her prestige.
II YVES Virginian. Henry, who first Hung
down the gauntlet at the feet OF an armed
and mailclad tyranny and declared for ho-
erty or death. 1t was Nirginian, Nelson
who first moved in a general assembly that
lie Delegates Of the colony in the Colonial
C..,gress be instructed to declare us free and
,ndenendent States. 1t was Virgnian, Ma
son. who drafted the great Bill of Right. IL was
.V;rginian Lee. who was selected to draw the
Declaration of independence, and in his I'M
ayoidable absence, the task devolyed upon
another Virginian, Jefferson.
twas Virginians who first in the worlds
history ordained.a written Constitution as
oompact between the Governor and the gov
armed. 1t was Virginian 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 preceded the
launching Of a nation. II was 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
rinciples upon which the new government
was founded. with wisdom which was
their yindicatiOn and reason which was
their proof.
the Office Of President during half the period
which had elapsed since the formation OF the
government Virginians had commanded
the armies Of the country in the only TWO
wars which had taken place aud Nirginians
had taken the lead in nearly every act in
volving the welfare and progress Of the
country.
In 1861, Virginia after long and painful
deliberation 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 for a passage way
through her borders, deeming this final
violation Of her Constitutional rights, with
drew from the Union, and prepared for war.
she Immediately became the. battle-ground.
Within three month one OF the bloodiest