The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-03
Richmond
YHB SEAT OF THE GREAT EXPOSITION.
The Most Interesting Citv in
the Union.
Historical Sketch.

HfstOriChi Shtt'h.
The first permanent settlement OF tn'
English speaking race on the American Con
tpent was on peninsula jutting out into
James river a short distance below Rich
mond. The, English had already established
themselves in Virginia and bad explored
the country far above the site OF Richmond
and had taken il in the name oil their zoo
and their King. and had representative as
.embly when the Pilgrim Fathers set foot
on Plymouth Rock. Powhstan had traded
oorn with the Virginia settlers, had mace
psace and war with them for years and had
retired from the scene amid his native forests
nm the banks of the Powhatan (by the
bomesick colonists foolshly changed to the
James) long before Massasoit and samoset
of the Wampanseys made their treaty with
Governor Carver and taught the half starved
remnant of the pilgrims TO raise corn
lanes 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
Ing colonies, when New York was Dutch
trading post and Boston was forest.
Not many miles below Richmond are the
yuins OF the oldest Christian church which
the Saxon race built in America, and the
Peninsula is the scene Of the first struggle
.,etween the English race and the forces Of
wilderness and the savage. Every foot
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. Since that time she has re-
tanned her historic prestige.
The first representative assembly which
ryer met on American soil convened az
Jamestown. The last Of the British Domin-
inns which held true to the Crown was Var
pinia, which gained thus the right to be
ouartered ON British Arms. The first armed
resistance made against vice-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
uity being named in incidental commemora-
ton of the fact Bacon's Quarter Branch.
On Virginia soil took place the long strug-
gle between the colonies and the crown, be
tween liberty and oppression, and finally from
Virginia burst forth that matchless galaxy OF
stars which founded this nation and estab-
ushed the American Union.
Along the banks Of the James 7rished
race which has had no parallel in tnis land,
Q race ofEDgli'h 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
mons falling to decay yet dignity and adorn
the banks of the historic river; their work
cun 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
che great Civil War she retained uninter-
,apted her prestige.
1t was yirginian, Henry, who first flung
down the gauntlet at the feet Of an armed
and mailclad tyranny and declared for lib
erty or death. 1t was a Virginian, Nelson,
who first moved in general assembly that
the Delegates of the colony in the Colonial
Congress be instructed to declare us free and
independent States. II was a Virginian, Ma
son, who drafted the great Bill of Right. II was
q Virginian, Lee, who was selected to draw the
Declaration of independence, and in his I'M
ii 10 tac AaNnlVpd
another Virginian, Jefferson.
1t was Virginians who first in the worlds
history ordained written Constitution as
compact between the Governor and the gov
erned. 1t was Virginian who took COM
mard of the armies Of the Revolution. ana
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 Virginian
who presided for nearly half 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. K
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
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
volying the welfare and progress Of the
country.
In 1861, Virginia after long and painful
and doubt as TO her duty, and 7
after exhausting every effort to effect re- t
cancellation between the hostile sections,
apon her peace commissioners being treated +
With disdain, and upon President Lncoln's n
call for troops, and demand for passage way n
through her borders, deeming this final
of her Constitutional rights, with e
lrew from the Union, and prepared for war. f
be Simmediately became the battle-ground. 6
Within three mon''i one Of the. bioodiest