The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-18

us sRAF OF THE GREAT EXPOSITION
The Most Interestins J1tv IN
the Union.
Historical sketch.

v..psb rpeaking race on the American Con-
Husns WAS ON peninsula jutting Out IN"
Jenes river a short distance below h,cn,
,,ond. The English had already estaDiishoa
s..-,.s,ves in Virginia and had explored
~. country far above the site Of Richmond
.od had taken Il in the name OF their you
and their King, and had representative as
,embly when the Pilgrim Fathers sci 'oo'
nm Plymouth Rock. Powhatan mao 'raue'
com with the Virginia settlers, had mace
800; and war with them for years ana mao
...;rad from the scene amid his native fores's
- ,he hanks of the Powbatan (by the
homesck colonists foolishly chaneea 70 'he
lanes, long before Massasoit and saInose'
of the wampanseys made their treaty WIN
covernor Carver and taught the half starved
remnsnt of the pilgrims TO raise corn
James river from Richmond to Ola foin'
Comfort was the highway for Virginia boat
men and jamestown, Newport News Der
-,uds Hundreds and Henrico were flourish
inc colonies, when New York was Du'Nh
trading post and Boston was forest
MOI many miles below Richmond are the
yr,ns @, The Oldest Christian church wh'ch
A.. saxon race built in America and the
Peninsula is the scene Of the frst struggle
,,.tweep the English race and the forces Oh
4hs wilderness and the savage. Every 1901
OF ~ronnd is more directly associated with
,,s settlement of this continent than is his-
soric Plymouth Rock.
Thus Virginia is the oldest OF all the States
=, ,be Union. s nee that time The has re
tanned her historic prestige
The first representative assembly when
.v.r mot on American soil convened at
Jamestown. The last Of the British Domin'
ions which held true to the Crown was VIZ
s;nia. which gained thus the right 10 De
onar,ered on British Arms. The first armed
resistance made against vice-rtgal tyranny
was made in Virginia, and was headed by
Young planter who owned the very spot on
which portion Of the city OF Richmond
now stands. one of the boundaries OF che
c,tv being named in incidental commemora-
HON 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 matches galaxy OF
r.rs which founded this nation and estab-
Ished the American Union.
Along the banks of the James lrlshed a
race which has had no parallel in this land,
a race of Engli gentry who added to traits
inherited and transferred from their British
ancestors. q 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 we. dignity and adorn
the hanks 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-
rppted her prestige.
II wsss Virginian, Henry, who first hung
down the gauntlet at the feet Of an armed
and nailclad tyranny and declared for lib
srty or death, II was Virginian, Nelson,
Who FIRST moved III a general assembly that
lie Delegates of the colony inthe Colonial
Ot-ssress be instructed to declare us free and
independent States. TWAS Q Virginian' Ma
.on. who drafted the great Bill of Right. II was
n yirginian, Lee, who was selected to draw the
Declaration of independence, and IN his I'M
syoidsble absence the task deyolvec upon
another Virginian, Jefferson
1t was virginians who first in the world
history ordained a written Constitution as
oompact between the Governor and the gov
srned. 1t was Virdnian who took com
mard of the armies of the Revolution, and
.a~e conouering Freedom for the new land,
took and held the helm of State steady
through the rough seas which preceded the
launching of a nation. 1t was Nirginian
who presided for nearly half century over
the Suoreme Bench of the United States ana
there expounded the laws and laid down the
rinciples upon which the new government
was founded, with 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, virgnians had commanded
the armies of the country in the only ,wo
wars which had taken place, and Virginians
had taken the lead in nearly every act In
yolying the welfare and progress oil the
country.
In 1861, Virginia alter long and painful
elaboration 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 s
call for troops, and demand for a passage way
through her borders, deeming this final
violation Of her Constitutional rights, with
drew from the Union, and prepared for war.
he Immediately became thel battle-ground.
Within three month one Of the bloodiest