The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-30
m ssAf OF THE GREAT EXPOSITION
Tho Most Interesting Oir" ia
the Union.
Historical Sketch.

s,vsnt WAS on q peninsula Jutung ou' INV"
&c, short distance below Rich
,nona. The English had already estaDnsne,
themselves in Virginia and had e1pioie'
ths country far above the site OF hicnmonu,
md had taken il in the name Oh 'helf "o'
.ra their King, and had representative as
..ublv when the Pilgrim Fathers set 100.
an plymouth Rock Powhatan had traneo
.oyn with the Virginia settlers, had ilaoc
400 and war with them for years ana mac
..t,red from the scene amid bis native iores'S
on the banks Of the Powhatan 10Y tnc
horoesick colonists foolishly changed 10 'ne
I.usal long before Massasoit and samose'
NJ the Wampanseys made their treaty WIFI
Governor Carver and taught the hall starved
remnant of the pilgrims to raise corn
Ismes river from Richmond to Old foin'
co,ofort was the highway for Virginia boat
men and jamestown, Newport News Der
,nnas Hundreds and Henrico were flourish
,rs colonies. when New York vas a Du'cn
trading post and Boston was forest
No, many miles below Richmond are tne
-,,,rs ot .he oldest Christian church wmcn
The Saxon race built in America ana 'ne
pa,;nsrls ;s the scene of the first struggle
.,etween the English race and the forces oi
wilderness and the savage. Every 1901
ground is more directly associated WIN
tbe settlement of this continent thsh Is MS
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
aver met on American soil convened al
jamestown. The last Of the British Doinih'
ions which held true to the Crown was IT.
sdn;a which gained thus the right 10 De
chartered ON British Arms. The first armeu
resistance made against yice-regai tyranny
WAS made in Virginia, and was heaueu py
Young planter who owned the very spot Oh
rhicb norton of the city of Richmond
row stands. one Of the boundaries oil the
c;ty being named in incidental commemora'
lion Of the fact Bacon's Quarter Branch
On Virginia soil took place the long s'rug-
s,e between the colonies and the crown De-
tween liberty and oppression and flnsiiy from
Virginia burst forth that matches galaxy o.
stars which founded this nation ana es'@0-
fisbed the American Union.
Along the banks of the James Hrlsneu
race which has had no parallel in ms land'
.race ofEngnsh gentry who added to tra',s
inherited and transferred from their BLUSH
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 contnen, to the end Of
che great Civil War she retained uninter-
.upted 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
srtv or death. II was a Virgnian, 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
,ndepenaent States. 1t was Virginian, Ma
,on. who drafted the great Bill Of Right. itwa'
yirginian, Lee, who was selected to draw the
Declnra,ion of Independence, and in his UNI
ayoidable absence, the task deyolyed upon
another Virginian, Jefferson.
1t was yirginians who first in the worlds
history ordained written Constitution as
compact between the Governor and the gov
erned. Ii was Virginian who took com
mard Of the armies Of the Revolution, anC
snsr copouering Freedom for the new land
took and held the helm of State steady
through the rough seas which preceded thu
launching of nation. II was Nirginiar
who presided for nearly half a century owe
the Supreme Bench Of the United States anC
there expounded the laws and laid down the
principles upon which the new government
was founded, with a wisdom which wa
their yindication and reason which wa
tncll pioOis
At the time of the war Virginia had bel,
the office of President during half the rsriot
which had elapsed since the formation of tn
government, Viginians had commando
the armies of the country in the only TIVE
wars which had taken place, and Virginian
had taken the lead in nearly every act in
yolying the welfare and progress Of tn
country.
In 1861. Virginia ater long and painful
delberation and doubt as to her duty, AM
after exhausting every effort to effect & re
cancellation between the hostile sections
upon her peace commissioners being treate'
with disdain, and upon President Lincoln
call for troops, and demand for passage wa
through her borders, deeming this fine
violation Of her constitutional rights, Will
drew from the Union. and prepared for wa
She Immediately became the. battle-ground
Within three monf"sone Of the bloodie