The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-19
PR SEAT OF TIE GREAT EXPOSITION
The Most Interesting Citv IN
the Union.
Historical Sketch.

James river a short distance below hiCn-
mond. The. English had already established
themselves in Virginia and had explored
the country far above the site OF klchmonu,
and had taken it in the name oil their uod
and their King, and had representative "s-
s<p,bly when the Pilgrim Fathers set loot
I'm Plymouth Rock. Powhasan had traced
corn with the Virginia settlers, had made
neace and war with them for years and had
,st;rad from the scene amid bis native forests
on the banks Of the Powhatan 10y the
bomesick colonists foolishly changed to the
James, long before Massasoit and samose'
OF the wampanseys made their treaty wi'n
Governor Carver and taught the half starved
remnant 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
mnda Hundreds and Henrico were flourish
ing colonies, when New York was Dutch
trading post and Boston was a forest
Not many mics below Richmond are the
rims OF The Oldest Christian church when
the Saxon race built in America and the
Peninsula is the scene Of the first struggle
setween the English race and the forces oil
the wilderness and the savage. Every ioo'
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 whlch
syer met on American soil convened al
jamestown. The last Of the British Donln-
ions which held true to the Crown was Nir-
GINA, which gained thus the right to be
ouartered on British Arms. The first armed
resistance made against yiceregal tyranny
was made in Virginia 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 incidental commemora-
ton of the fact Racon's Quarter Branch.
On Virginia soil 'ook place the long s'rug-
gle between the colonies and the crown pe-
tween liberty and oppression, and finally from
Virginia burst forth that ma'chless galaxy OF
stars which founded this nation and estab-
Gshed the American Union.
Along the banks Of the James 'inshed a
race which has had no parallel IN 'hls iand'
, race ofEngli gentry who added to traits
inherited and transferred from Their BLUSH
ancestors, a love Of freedom and passion
for the rights of the individual born Of the
liberty of the forest. The splendid man
sions falling to decay yet dignity and adorn
the banks of the historic river; their work
ran 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-
vupted 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 1t 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 was a Nirginian, Ma
son, who drafted the great Bill Of Right II was
sVirginian, Lee, who was selected to draw the
Declaration of independence, and in his I'M
ayoidabe absence the task deyolyed upon
another Virginian, Jefferson.
1t was virginians who first in The worlds
history ordained a written Constitution as a
compact between the Governor and the gov
armed. 1t 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 pre- eeded the
launching of nation. II was Virgin an
who presided for nearly half a 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 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 NHb4HiaAio Ia" YUM 'ii'
the armies of the country in the only two
wars which had taken place, and Nirginians
had taken the lead in nearly every act in
volying the welfare and progress OF the
country.
In 1861, Virginia after 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 Lncoln''
call for troops. and demand for passage way
through her borders, deeping this a fina
violation Of her constitutional rights, with
drew from the Union, and prepared for war
She Immediately became the battle-ground
Within three mon e one Of the. bloodle-