The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-04

YR STAT OF THE GREAT EXPOSITION
The Most Interesting Citv in
the Union.
Historical Sketch.


The first permanent settlement OF lne
English speaking race on the American oon-
tinent vas on peninsula jutting out ih'o
Ismes river 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 Il in the name Of their 0od
and their King, and had representative as
vembly when the Pilgrim Fathers set loot
ON Plymouth Rock. Powhsian had TRACED
oorn with the Virginia settlers, had maze
p.soe and war with them for years and had
retired from the scene amid his native forests
nm the banks Of the Powhatan tby the
homesick colonists foolishly changed to the
James, long before Massasoit and samose'
of the Wampanseys made their treaty with
Governor Carver and laugh. the half starved
remnant of the pilgrims TO raise corn
james river from Richmond to old foin'
Comfort was the highway for Virginia boat
oen and jamestown, Newport News, Ber-
muda Hundreds and Henrico were tourlsh-
ING colonies. when New York was a Dutch
traa;ny nos, and Boston was forest.
Not many miles below Richmond are the
yuins OF The Oldest Christian church when
the Saxon race built in America ana the
Peninsula is the scene Of the first struggle
..esween the English race and the forces Of
wilderness and the savage. Every 1901
ground is more directly associated with
The settlement of this continent than IS MS
toric Plymouth Rock.
Thus Virginia is the Oldest Of all the states
I'm the Union. S nee that time she has re-
tanned her historic prestige
The first representative assembly wnich
aver met on American soil convened al
Jamestown. The last of the British Domih-
inns which held true to the Crown was VIZ
vinja. which gained thus the right TO De
ouartered on British Arms. The first armed
resistance made against vice-regal tyranny
vss made in Virginia, and was headed py
vounp planter who owned the very spot on
which a portion of the city Of Richmond
now stands, one Of the boundaries OF fhe
c,tv being named in incidental commemora-
ton of the fact Bacon's Quarter Branch
ON Virginia soil took place the long strug-
ole between the colonies and the crown, be-
tween liberty and oppression, and finally IRON
VIRGINIA burst forth that matches galaxy OF
stars which founded this nation and estao-
iished the American Union.
Along the banks of the James 1rished
rare which has had no parallel in ,nis land,
a race ofEngli. h gentry who added to traits
inherited and transferred from Their Blush
ancestors. 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-
rnpted her prestige.
II WIS Virginian. Henry, who first hung
DOWN the gauntlet at the feet of an armed
and nailclad tyranny and declared for lib
erty or death 1t was Virginian, Nelson,
Who first moved in general assembly that
the Delegates of the colony in the Colonial
Copyress be instructed to declare us free and
,ndependent States. 1t was Virginian, Ma
nor. who drafted the great Bill Of Right. II was
q yirginian, Lea, who was selected to draw the
Declaration of Independence, and in his I'M
uyoidable absence, the task deyolyed upon
another Virginian, Jefferson.
II was virgiuians who first in the world S
history ordained written Constitution as
compact between the Governor and the gov
ened. 1t was Virginian who took COM
mard of the armies Of the Revolution and
sner conouering Freedom for the new land,
toot and held the helm of State steady
through the rough seas which preceded the
launching of nation. 1t was Nirgin'an
who presided for nearly half a century over
the Supreme Bench of the United States ana
there expounded the laws and lard 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 OF the
government; yirginians had commanded
the armies of the country in the only two
WARS which had taken place, and Nirginians
had taken the lead in nearly every act in
volying the welfare and progress OF the
country.
In 1861, Virginia alter long and painful
elaboration and doubt as TO her duty ana
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 fora passage way
through her borders, deeming this a final
violation of her Constitutional rights, with
drew from the Union, and prepared for war.
AZ eimmediaiely became the, battle-ground
within three monty one OF the. bloodieSt