The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-29
Rich mOnd
fHR SEAT OF THE GREAT EXPOSITION.
The Most Interesting City ia
the Union.
Historical sketch.

Historical Sketch.
The first permanent settlement OF th
English speaking race on the American Con
tinent was on peninsula jutting out into
James river a short distance below Rich
nond. 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 Goo
and their King, nd had a representative as
sembly when the Pilgrim Fathers set ioo
on Plymouth Rock. Powhatan had TRADED
corn with the Virginia settlers, had made
peace and war wit them for years and had
retired from the scene amid his native forests
on the banks Of the Powhatan (by the
homesick colonists foolishly changed to the
james, long before Massasoit and Samose'
of the Wampanseys made their treaty with
Governor Carver and taught the hall starved
remnant of the pilgrims TO 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 were flourish
inc colonies. when New York was a Dutch
trading post and Boston was forest.
Not MANY mics below Richmond are the
ruins of the old, st Christian church which
the Saxon race built in America and the
Peninsula is the scene Of the first struggle
between the English race and the forces OF
the wilderness and the savage. Every foot
of ground is more directly associated with
- ]. =
toric Plymouth Rock.
Thus Virginia is the Oldest of ali the states
in the Union. 5 nee that time he has re-
tanned her historic prestige.
The first representative assembly which
ever met on American soil convened at
Jamestown. The last of the British Domin-
ions which held true to the Crown was Viz
ginia, which gained thus the right TO be
quartered on British Arms. The first armed
resistance made against yice-r gal tyranny
was made in Virginia, and was headed by
young plante- who owned the very spot on
which portion of the city Of Richmond
now stands, one Of tie boundaries Of the
city being named in incid ntal commemora-
IOu Oh lllt ldtt dNpI Nyhd4Nt bAsAA'NN'
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 this nation and estab-
hshed the American Union.
Along the banks of the James iiounshed a
race which has had no parallel in this land,
O race ofEpgli b gentry who added to traits
inherited and transferred from their British
ancestors, love of freedom and a passion
for the rights of the individual born Of the
liberty of the forest. The splendid man
nons 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 10 the end Of
the great Civil War she retained uninter !
rupted her prestige.
1t was Virginian, Henry, who first flung
down the gauntlet at the feet of an armed i
and mailclad tyranny and declared for lib |
erty or death, II was a Virginian, Nelson, !
who first moved in a general assembly that
the Delegates of the colony in the Colonial |
Congress be instructed TO declare Us free and |
independent States. Ii was Nirginian, Ma |
son, who drafted the great Bill Il Right. Il was |
Virginian, Lee who was selected,o draw the !
Declaration of independence, and in his I'M
avodable absence, the task deyolyed upon
another Virginian, Jefferson.
1t was Virginians who first in the worlds
history ordained a writ en- Constitution as
compact between the Governor and the gov
erned. 1t was a Virginian who took COM
mand of the armies of the Revolution, and
after oonquering Freedom for the new land,
took and held the helm of State steady
through the rough seas which pre- eeded the
launching OF nation. 1t was a Virginan
who presided for neayly 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 wisdom which was
their vindication 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
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 alter long and painful
dehberation and doubt as to her duty, and |
after exhausting every effort TO effect a re- I
ooncilia,i IL between the hostile sections,
upon her peace comm ssioners being treated !
with disdain, and upon President Lncolns l
call for troops, and demand FOX 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. 4
Within three months one Of the bleedie t