The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-13
Richmond
The Most Interesting Oltv III
the Union.
Historical Sketch.

English speaking race OH Vho
,,rsn, was al peninsula jutting out INTO
lanes river a short distance below Klch-
,nond The English had already Established
themselves in Virginia and had explored
,hs country far above the site OF Richmond
and had taken It in the name OF their Goa
and their King. and bad representative as
.eublv when the Pilgrim Fathers set lool
nm Plymouth Rock. Powha'an had lT'ueu
c,-n with the Virginia settlers, had maui
r.sce and war with them for years and hau
rst;rad from the scene amid bis native iores's
On the banks of the Powhatan 10y 'no
homesick colonists fOolishly changer 10 'ie
y.mes) long before Nassasoit and samoSe'
~ the Wampanseys made their treaty WIN
Covernor Carver and taught the half starved
,e,nnant of the pilgrims to raise corn.
James river from Richmond to Ola ioiii'
Corfort was the highway for Virginia boat
rr.n and Jamestown, Newport News Der
urda Hundreds and Henrico were hourish-
inc colonies. when New York was Du'ch
trading post and Boston was a forest
Nm MANY miles below Richmond are the
minis Of he Oldest Christian church which
The Saxon race built in America ana 'he
Psninsula is the scene of the first struggle
..stween the English race and the forces Oi
the wilderness and the savage. Every ioo'
sc ground is more directly associated with
the settlement of this continent than Is DIS
toYic Plymouth Rock.
Tins Virginia is the Oldest Of all the States
in the Union. Since that time she mas IT.
tanned her historic prestige.
The first representative assembly, winch
aver met on American soil convened at
jamestown. The last Of the British Domin'
Ions which held true to the Crown was VIZ
g;nia. which gained thus the night 10 oc
onstered on British AIMS. The first armed
resistance made against ylceregal tyranny
vss made in Virginia, and was headed by d
voupe planter who owned the very spot Oh
which a portion Of the city OF klchmohu
NOW stands. one Of the boundaries OF the
r,,v being named in incidental commemoIa-
ton of the fact Bacon's Quarter Branch
On Virginia soil ook place the long s'rus
ole between the colonies and the crown Oc-
tween liberty and oppression, and inaily from
Virginia burst forth that ma'chless galaxy oi
rars which founded this nation ana es'ao-
I;shed the American Union.
Along the banks of the James 'Tshea d
race which has had no parallel IN ms iahu'
.rsce ofEngli.h gentry who added 10 ua',S
Inherited and transferred from their Bil'iSh
ancestors. a love Of freedom and a passion
for tbe rights of the individual born OF the
liberty Of the forest. The splendid man
mons falling to decay yet dignity and adorn
the hanks of the historic river; their Work
can never decay. Its fruit is the American
Union. ,a. g.,
Thus Virginia is historically the most m
teresting of the States Of the Union FROM
tho settlement of the continent TO 'he emu VI
.hs great Civil War she retained unih'ei-
rnpted her prestige
n VISA Virginian, Henry, who hrs' hui's
down the gauntlet at the feet OF an aiiue"
md ,nailclad.iy tyranny and declared Tor I'D
.rv or death. II was Virginiah' Neison'
vbo first moved in a general assembly ina,
40 De,ecates of the col0nyin the OOioh'ai
C<-,yress be instructed 10 declare US Tree anu
,naependent States. 1t was Nirglnian Ma
.or wbodrafted the great Bill Of Right. twas
. yirginian, Lee, who was selected 10 ora" INC
Declaration of independence, ana III MS "''-
,voiaable absence, the task devolved upon
another Virginian, Jefferson
II was virginians who first in the world
h;s,orv ordained written Constitution az "
compact between the Governor and the gov
.rned. 1t was Nirginian who TOOK coiS
mard of the armies of the Revolution ana
~, conouerirg Freedom for the new land'
took and held the helm OF STATE s'eduy
,hroueh the rough seas which preceded the
Launching of a nation. Ii was Nir5ih'ah
who presided for nearly half century over
,hs sroreme Bench of the United States ana
there expounded the laws and laid down 'ne
r;nciples upon which the new government
was founded, with wisdom whch Was
their vindication and a reason when Was
their proof.
Atthe time of the war Virginia had heid
the office of President during half the perioi
vbich had elapsed since the formation OF the
government virginians had commanded
The armies Of the country in the only TWO
vars which had taken place and Nlrginiahs
had taken the lead in nearly every act IN
volying the welfare and progress OF the
country.
In 1861, Virginia after long and painiu,
elaboration and doubt as to her duty ana
after exhausting every effort to effect re-
cancellation between the hostile sections,
upon her peace commissioners beng treated
with disdain, and upon President Lincoln
call for troops, and demand fora passage way
through her borders, deemng this maj
violation Of her Constitutional rights, with'
drew from the Union, and prepared Tor war
Sue Immediately became the battle-ground
Within three monty one OF the bloodiest