The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-01
Richmond
MH SEAT OF TUE GREAT ElPJSlllON'
The Most Interesting Citv IN
the Union.
Historical sketch.

English speaking race on the American OOi'
tinent was on a peninsula Jutting out mo
y.mcs river short distance below Rich
moad. The English had alrcacy established
themselves in Virginia and bad explored
the country far above the site OF Richmond
and had taken il in the name Of their God
md their King, and had representative as
ssnbly when the Pilgrim Fathers set 1901
ON Plymouth Rock. Powha'an he'd traded
rom with the Virginia settlers, had made
nsaoe and war with them for years and had
,s.;rsd from the scene amid his native forests
IN the banks Of the P0whaian ,hy the
homesick colonists foolishiy changed to the
James) long before Massasoit and Sainose'
of the Wampanseys made then treaty VIVID
Governor Carver and taught the ban s'Ai'eu
remnant Of the pilgrims TO raise corn
James river from Richmond TO Old foin'
Comfor. was the highway for Virginia boat
men. and Jamestown, Newport News, Der
nuda Hundreds and HcnricO were flourish
ING colonies, when New York vas Dutch
trading post and Boston was a forest
Not many miles below Richmond are the
ynins Of the Oldest Christian church which
the Saxon race built IN America ana the
Peninsula il the scene Of tie first struggle
between the English race and the forces OF
the wilderness and the savage Every ioo'
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
in the Union. ; nee that time he has re-
tanned her historic prestige
The first representative assembly when
ever met on American soil convened at
jamestown. The last Of the British Domn-
ions which held true to the Crown was Viz
ginia, which gained thus the right to be
cuartered on British Arms The first armed
resistance made against vice regal tyranny
vas made in Virginia, and was headed IS 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
citv being named IN INCIDENTAL commemora-
ton Of the fact pacons Quarter Branch
On Virginia soil 'ook place the long strug-
Gle between the colonies and the crown, be
tween liberty and oppression, and finally from
Virginia burst forth that ma CHESS galaxy OF
stars which founded tins nation and es'aD-
usbed the American Union.
Along the banks Of the James ilounshed
raoe which has had no parallel In TINS land,
a race ofEngh gentry who added to TRAITS
inherited and transferred from their British
ancestors. love of freedom and 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 unintef-
rupted her prestige.
II was Virginian, Henry, who first flung
down the gauntlet at the feet Of an armed
Ard mailcla6 tyranny and declared for hn-
erty or death 1t was a Virginian, Nelson,
who first moved in general assembly tina,
the Delegates of the colony in the Colonial
Congress lie instructed TO declare Us free and
independcnt States. 1t wasa Nirgnl@n, Ma
son. who Grafted the great Bill # Right. twas
a Yirginian, Lee. who was selected to draw the
Declaration Of independence, AID IN his un-
ayoidable absence the task deyolyed upon
another Virginian, Jefferson.
II was yirsinians who first in the world
history ordained written Constitution as
cornpact between the Governor and the GOV
erned. II was Virginian who took com
mand of the armies Of the Revolution. and
After couquerirg Freedom for TIE new land,
took and bed the helm Of State steady
through the rough seas which pre- eeded the
launching of u nation. Ii was Nirgin'an
who presided for nearly half century over
the Supreme Bench Of the United States and
there expounded the laws and land down the
nlnciples upon which the new government
vas founded, with 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, virginians had commanded
The armies Of the country in the only Two
xars which had taken place, and Nirgnians
had taken the lead in nearly every act in
yolying the welfare and progress Of the
country.
In 1851 Virginia AFTER long and painful
dehberation and doubt as to her duty, and
AFTER txhausting every effort TO effect re
concilhti'n between the hostile sections,
upon t. peace comm ssioners being treated
with didln, and upon President Lncoln's
call fortrools, and demand fora passage way
through her borders, ceeming this i final
violation of her Constitutional rights, with
drew from the Union, and prepared for war.
She Immediately became the battle-ground.
Within three months one Of ,hel bloodie.t