The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-26
Richmond
ms SEAT OF THE GREAT EXPOSITION
1rhs Most Interesting Civ IN
the Union.
Historical Sketch.

The first permanent eeS''e"'0
xorlish Speaking race on the American con'
s,rsnt WAS on peninsula juaing out in.o
I.u.s river q short distance below hich'
ua The English had already established
ebemselyes in Virginia and hao eAP'oieu
the country far above thesite Of hicnmono
.,a had taken il in the name OF their zoo
and their King. and had representative rs,
,,hiv wben the Pilgrim Fathers SCI foot
.r Plymouth Rock. Powhstan had traded
scrn with the Virginia settlers. had made
100 and war with them for years and mao
,.t;,ed from the scene amid bis native forests
80 The hanks of the Powhatsn tby tne
somesick colonists foohshly changed 70 'ne
J.mesl long before Massasoit and safnose'
os the Wampanseys made their treaty WIN
aov,rnor Carver and taught the half starved
rsmnant of the pilgrims 10 raise corn
James river from Richmond to ola ro'n'
co,nfort was the highway for Virginia boat
mon and Jamestown, Newport News, Der
myds Hundreds and Henrico we're nourisn-
,nv colonies. when New York was Dutch
trading post and Boston was forest
Nos many miles below Richmond are the
yu,ns Of The oldest Christian church "nlcn
the Saxon race built in America ana inc
Peninsula is the scene Of the first struggle
.,etween the English race and the forces Oh
wilderness and The savage. Every loot
ground is more directly associated with
A.. a.t,,ement of this continent than - hls-
toric Plymouth Rock.
Thus 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 "hici
AVER met on American soil convened al
jamestown. The last Of the British Domin'
ions which held true to the Crown was WI
pinia. which gained thus the right 70 De
ouarered on British Arms. The ilrs' ariheu
resistance made against yice-regal tyranny
was made in Virginia, and was headed by q
voupe planter who owned the very spot on
vb,ch a portion Of the city of Richmond
row stands one of the boundaries OF the
oity being named in incidental commehora'
ton Of the fact Bacon's Quarter Branch
On Virginia soil took place the long strug-
ole between the colonies and the crown De-
tween liberty and oppression, and inaily from
Virginia burst forth that matches galaxy OF
stars which founded this nation and es'aD-
iished the American Union
Along the banks Of the james 9nsheo a
race which has had no parallel in ms lano'
race ofEngl h gentry who added 10 Haits
inherited and transferred from their BRUSH
ancestors. love of freedom and passion
IN, 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 uninter'
rupted her prestige.
II was Virginian. Henry, who first flung
down the gauntlet at the feet Of an armed
and mailclad tyranny and declared for lib
erty or death. II 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. il was Nirginian, Ma
son. who drafted the great Bill of Right. TWAS
syirginian, Lee, who was selected to draw the
Declaration of independence, and in his I'M
avoidable absence, the task devolyed upon
another Virginian. Jefferson.
II was vrginians who frs, in the worlds
history ordained written Constitution as
compact between the Governor and the gov
armed. II was Virginian who took COM
mard of the armies of the Revolution. and
after conquerirg Freedom for the new land,
took and held the helm of State steady
through the rough seas which preceded the
launching Of nation. 1t 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 q 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
wars which had taken place, and Virginians
hnd taken the lead in nearly every act in
yolying 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 re
cancellation between the hostile sections
upon her peace commissioners being treated
with disdain, and upon President Lincoln'i
call for troops, and demand for q passage way
through her borders, deeming this tina
violation of her Constitutional rights, with
drew from the Union, and prepared for war
She Immediately became the, battle-ground
Within three mont some Of the bloodies