The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-13
FIR SEAT OF THE GREAT EXPOSITION
The Most Interesting Civ III
the Union.
Historical Sketch.

t;pept WAS on a peninsula Jutung out h'.o
r;ve, a short distance below Rich
mond. The English had already established
.hs,nselves in Virginia and had explored
the country far above the site OF hchmohu,
and had taken il in the name OF their you
and their King, and had representative aS-
..,nblv when the Pilgrim Fathers set 1901
ON Plymouth Rock. Powha'an hau 'r"o,u
corn with the Virginia settlers had iiiauo
1900 and war with them for years and had
rs,;red from the scene amid bis native forests
or the hanks Of the Powhatan tDy the
b,,nesick colonists foolishly changed to the
James, long before Massasoit and Sainosc'
of the Wampanseys made their treaty Win
Covernor Carver and taught the hail starved
remnant of the pilgrims to raise corn
lanes river from Richmond TO Ola 1oinI
Comfort was the highway for Virginia boat
men and jamestown, Newport News Der
,nuds Hundreds and Henrico were flourish
,ro colonies. when New l0rk was Dutch
trading post and Boston was a forest
No, many miles below Richmond are the
rn;ns oi The Oldest Christian church "hich
tbe Saxon race built in America ana 'he
Peninsula is the scene Of the first struggle
.,etween the English race and the forces oil
,be wilderness and the savage. Every loo'
~ 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. 5 nee that time she has re-
tanned her historic prestige.
The first representative assembly when
ever met on American soil convened Z"
jamestown. The last Of the British Domin-
ions which held true to the Crown was VII
ynia. which gained thus the right to be
onarored on British Arms. The first armed
resistance made against yice-r'gal 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
citv being named in incidental commemora-
ton of the fact Bacon's Quarter branch.
On Virginia soil took place the long s'rug-
ole between the colonies and the crown be-
tween liberty and oppression, and finally from
Virginia burst forth that matches galaxy Of
,,srs which founded this nation and estab-
lished the American Union
Along the banks Of the James hounshed
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. A love Of freedom and a passion
for the rights Of the individual born q the
liberty Of the forest. The splendid man
sions falling to decay yet dignity and adorn
the banks of the historic riyer; 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-
rnp,ed her prestige.
II wasa Vrginian. 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 a Nirginian, 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
tndependent States. 1t wasa Nirginian' Ma
son. who drafted the great Bill Ct Right 1t was
nVirrnian. Lee who was selected to draw the
Declaration of Independence, and in his un-
ayoidable absence, the task deYol'ed upon
another Virgnian Jefferson.
II was Virginians who first in the worlds
history ordained a written Constitution as "a
oompact between the Governor and thu GOV
erned. II was Nirgnian 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 PIE eeded the
launching Of nation. 1t was Nirginan
who presided for nearly hall 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 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
voving the welfare and progress Of the
country.
In lsGi, Virginia after long and painful
dehbera,ion 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
call for troops. and demand fora passage way
through her borders, deemns this ina
violation of her constitutional rights, with
drew from the Union, and prepared for war
he Immediately became the battle ground
Within three months one Of the. bloodio.