The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-22

uB STAT OF THE GREAT EXPOSITION
THE Most Interesting CIV III
the Union.
Rhetorical Sketch.

The first permanent settlement OF 'he
English speaking race on the American Oon-
Hnent was on peninsula jutung out ihto
lanes river a short distance below hlcn,
ynond. The, English had already established
themselves in Virginia and had eApioreu
The country far above the site OF Richmond
I'D had taken il in the name OF their Ooo
and their King, and had representative as
.srob,v when the Pilgrim Fathers set loot
nm p,vmouth Rock. Powhatan had traded
co,n with the Virginia settlers, had made
psaoe and war with them for years and had
retired from the scene amid his native forests
nm the banks Of the Powhatan 10y the
ho,nesiok colonists foolishly changed to the
James, long before Massasoit and samose'
M the Wampanseys made their treaty with
Governor Carver and taughtthe half starved
remnant of the pilgrims 20 raise corn.
lanes river from Richmond TO Old FONT
Comfort was the highway for Virginia boat
men. and Jamestown, Newport News per
r,nda Hundreds and Henrico were flourish
ing colonies when New York was Duich
trading post and Boston was forest
MOI many miles below Richmond are the
ru,ns of The Oldest Christian church whlch
tbo Saxon race built in America and the
Peninsula is the scene Of the first struggle
.,stween 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 his
toric Plymouth Rock.
Thus Virginia is the Oldest Of all the States
IN the Union. Snce that time she has re-
tanned her historic prestige.
The first representative assembly which
svsr met ON American soil convened at
Jamestown. The last the British Doinlh'
ions which held true to the Crown was VIZ
g;nia which gained thus the right to be
ouartered on British Arms The INST armed
resistance made against yice-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 strng-
ole between the colonies and the crown De-
tween liberty and oppression, and finally from
Virginia burst forth that ma'chless galaxy OF
usrs which founded this nation and estab-
Hshed the American Union.
Along the banks of the James 1rlshed
ware which has had no parallel in this land,
srsce Of English gentry who added to traits
Inherited and transferred from their British
ancestors, q love of freedom and passion
for the ;;sssts Of the individual bern 81 The
liberty Of the forest The splendid man
s;ons 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
tsrestinc of the States of the Union. From
the settlement of the continent to the end OF
<be great Civil War she retained uninter-
iapted her prestige.
II yass Virginian. Henry, who first flung
down the gauntlet at the feet Of an armed
and mailclad tyranny and declared for lib
erv OF death. II was a Virgnian, Nelson,
who first moved in a general assembly that
the Delegates Of the colony in the Colonial
Congress be instructed 10 declare us free and
independent States 1t was Virginian, Ma
son, who drafted the great Bill Of Right. Ii was
ayirginian, Lee, who was selected TO draw the
Declaration Of independence, and in bis I'M
avoidable absence, the task devolyed upon
another yirginian, Jefferson.
1t was ytginians who first in the worlds
history ordained written Constitution as
compact between the Governor and the gov
erned. 1t was Virginian who took com
mand Of the armies of the Revolution. and
after conquering 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 Virsinian
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 a 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; Virgnians 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
elaboration 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, aud upon President Lincoin's
call for troops and demand for passage way
through her borders, deeming this a final
violation Of her Constitutional rights, with
drew from the Union, and prepared for war.
She Immediately became the, battle-ground.
Within three mon'Nsone Of the bloodiest