The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-23
fRE SEAT OF THE GREAT EXPOSITION.
The Most Interesting City in
the Union.
Historical Sketch.

wa
tinent was on peninsula jutting out int
James river a short distance below Rich
mond. The English had already establishe
themselves in Virginia and had explore
the country far above the site of Richmond
and had taken it in the name of their Co
and their King, and had a representative as
sembly when the Pilgrim Fathers set foo
on Plymouth Rock. Powhatan had trade
corn with the Virginia settlers, had mad
peace and war with them for years and ha(
retired from the scene amid his native forest
on the banks Of the Powhatan (by hi
homesick colonists foolishly changed 10 tht
James, long before Massasoit and SamOse
of the Wampanseys made their treaty with
Governor Carver and taught the half starved
remnant of the pilgrims TO raise corn.
James river from Richmond TO Old Point
Comfort was the highway for Virginia boat
men, and Jamestown, Newport News, Ber-
muds Hundreds and Henrico were flourish
ing colonies, when New York was Dutch
trading post and Boston was forest.
Not many miles below Richmond are the
ruins Of the Oldest Christian church which
the Saxon race built in America, and the
Peninsula is the scene of the first struggle
between the English race and the forces Of
the wilderness and the savage. Every foot
of ground is more directly associated with
the settlement Of this continent than is his
toric Plymouth Rock
Thus Virginia is the oldest of all the States
in the Union. S nee that time she has re-
tanned her historic prestige.
The first representative assembly which
ever met on American soil convened Al Al
jamestown. The last of the British yxm;n.
ions which held ySsts-tSe Crown was vir-
ginia' whict5.rgained thus the right to be
qu9eHcfed ON British Arms. The first armed
resistance made against vicergal tyranny
was made inAVirginia, and was headed by
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 incidt ntal commemora-
ton of the fact facon's Quarter Branch.
On Virginia soil look place the long strug-
gle between the colonies and the crown, be-
tween liberty and oppression, and finally from
Virginia burst forth that ma.chless galaxy Of
stars which founded tins nation and estab
hshed the American Union.
Along the banks of the James fiourished a
race which has had no parallel in this land,
race Of Engli gentry who added TO traits
inherited and transferred from their British
ancestors, love of freedom and passion |
for the rights of the individual born Of the |
liberty of the forest The splendid man
nons 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.
1t was Virginan. 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 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 1t wasa Virginian, Ma
son, who drafted the great Bill of Right. 1t was
q Virginian, Lee, who was selected to draw the
Declaration of independence, and in bis I'M
avoidable absence, the task devolyed upon
another Virginian, Jefferson.
1t was Virginians who first in the worlds
history ordained a writ en- Constitution as a
compact between the Governor and the GOV
erned. 1t was Virginian who took COM
mand of the armies of the Revolution. and
after conquerrg Freedom for the new land
took and held the helm of State steady
through the rough seas which pre- eeded the
launching Of nation. 1t was a 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 a wisdom which was
their vindicadon 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
had taken the lead in nearly every act in.
voivlng the welfare and progress of the
country.
IN lSOl' Virginia after long and painful
deloeration ana doubt as to her duty. and
a''er exhausting every effort to effect a re-
cancellation between the hostile sections
upon her peace comm ssioners being treated
with diSdain, and upon President Linco,ns
cali Tor troops, and demand for "A passage wav
through her borders, deeming this final
violation OF her Constitutional rights. With
s,ew nom the Union, and prepared for war. {
one Immediately became the battle-ground ,
"itnin three months one of the bloodicst