The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-20
Mr. xgar OF THE GREAT EXPOSITION
The Most Interesting CIV III
the Union.
Historical Sketch.

ensnt was ON a peninsula jutting out inlo
lanes river q short distance below hich
mond. The, English had already estapi,she'
themselves in Virginia and had expiore'
the country far above the site OF klcnnonu
I'D had taken il in the name OF their 1oc
and their King, and had representative aS
.~,h,v when the Pilgrim Fathers set 100
nm Plymouth Rock. Powhatan hao lfaueC
.orn with the Virginia settlers, had mace
mace and war with them for years ana nao
ltd from the scene amid his native forests
on the banks Of the Powhatan 10Y n'
ao,nesick colonists foolishly changed to the
lanes, long before Massasoit and samose'
of the Wampanseys made their treaty VIII
Covernor Carver and taught the half starved
rrmnant of the pilgrims to raise corn,
lanes river from Richmond to Old ROM
Cnmfort was the highway for Virginia boat
men and jamestown, Newport News, Der
muda Hundreds and Henrico were nourisn'
tny colonies, when New York was Dulcn
trading post and Boston was forest
MOI many miles below Richmond are th'
rr,ns Of .he Oldest Christian church when
the Saxon race built in America ana 'n'
Peninsula is the scene Of the hrst stfugg''
,,etween the English race and the forces u
the wilderness and the savage. Every 100
~ ground is more directly associated WITH
the settlement of this continent than IS DIS
toric Plymouth Rock.
Thus Virginia is the Oldest OF all the states
IN the Union. Since that time she mas re
tanned her historic prestige.
The first representative assembly whicl
aver met on American soil convened al
Jamestown. The last Of the British Donih
ions which held true to the Crown was FiI-
sinia. which gained thus the right TO De
onarsered ON British Arms. The first armed
resistance made against yice-regal tyranny
vas 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
CITY being named in incidental commemora'
tion of the fact Bacons Quarter Branch
On Virginia soil took place the long strug
ole between the colonies and the crown be
tween liberty and oppression, and finally from
Virginia burst forth that matches galaxy Of
ntars which founded this nation and estab'
lished the American Union.
Along the banks Of the James Hnshed
race which has had no parallel in 'his land'
q race of Engli'h gentry who added TO Iaits
Inherited and transferred from their British
ancestors. a love of freedom and a passion
for the rights of the individual born OF the
liberty of the forest. The splendid man
xions 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-
Yppted her prestige.
1t 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. 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 Virginian, Ma
son, who drafted the great Bill Of Right. 1t was
Virginian, Lee who was selected to draw the
Declaration of independence, and in his I'M
avoidable absence, the task deyolyed upon
another Virgnian, Jefferson.
1t was Virginians who first in the worlds
history ordained written Constitution as a
compact between the Governor and the gov
erned. Ii was Virginian who took COM
mand 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. II was Virginian
who presided for nearly half a century oyel
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 wa:
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 Virginian'
had taken the lead in nearly every act in
volving the welfare and progress Of the
country.
In 1861, Virginia after long and painful
elaboration and doubt as to her duty, anC
after exhausting every effort to effect re
Cancellation between the hostile sections
upon her peace commissioners being treated
with disdain, and upon President Mnooln'i
call for troops, and demand fora passage wa,
through her borders, deeming this ilna
violation of her Constitutional rights with
drew from the Union, and prepared for war
She Immediately became the. battle-ground
Within three moD'ssone Of the bloodies