The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-02
The SEAT or TIE GREAT EXPOSITION.
The Most Interesting Citv IN
the Union.
Historical Sketch.

English speaking 'ac'oh eH' hAH'''''' -<'
tinent was on peninsula juttng out into
James river short distance below Rich
mond The English had already established
themselves in Virginia and had explored
the country far above the site Of Richmond
and had taken il in the name Of their God
and their King. and had representative as
~mbly when the Pilgrim Fathers set foot
ON Plymouth Rock. Powhaian had traded
corn with the Virginia settlers had made
peace and war with them for years and had
,e,;rcd from the scene amid his native forcsts
ON the banks Of the Powhatan (by the
bomesick colonists foolishly changed 70 the
James, long before MassasOit and Samose'
of the Wampanseys made their treaty with
Governor Carver and taughtthe half starved
remnant Of the pilgrims to raise corn
James river from Richmond to Old Point
Comfort was the highway for Virginia boat
rnen, and jamestown, Newport News, Der
mnda Hundreds and Hcnrioo were flourish
ING colonies, when New FORK was Dutch
trading post and Boston was forest.
Not many miles below Richmond are the
Yuins of the Oldest Christian church which
the Saxon race built in America and the
Peninsula is the scene Of tie FIST struggle
between the English race aud the forces Of
the wilderness and the savage. Every foot
of ground is more directly associated with
the settlement Of this continent than is bis
toric Plymouth Rock.
Thus Virginia is the Oldest If all the States
in the Union. Since that time she has re-
tanned her historic prestige.
TIE first representative assembly which
ever met on American soil convened at
jamestown The last Of the British Domin-
ions which held true to the Crown was N,r-
ginia. which gained thus the right 20 be
ouartered on British Arms. The first armed
resistance made against yiceregn 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 commem0fa
ton of the fact Pacon's Quarter Branch.
On Virginia soil 'ook place the long strug
gle between the colonies and the crown, be
tween liberty and oppression, and finally from
Virginia burst forth that ma chess galaxy OF
stars which founded this nation and cstab-
lished the American Union.
Along the banks of the James flourished q
race which has had no parallel in this land,
q race of Engli gentry who added to traits
inherited and transferred from their British
ancestors, a love Of freedom and passion
for the rights Of the individual born Of the
liberty Of the forest. The splendid man
mons 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 10 the end Of
the great Civil War she retained unin.er
rupted her prestige.
II was Virginian. Henry, who first flung |
down the gauntlet at the feet of an armed |
and malclad tyranny and declared for lib |
erty or death. II was Virginian, Nelson !
who first moved in y general assembly that |
the Delegates O. the colony in the Colonial |
Congress be instructed to declare rs free and |
independont States IL was Virginian. Ma !
son. Who drafted the great Bill If Right. 1t vas
Vireinian Lee who was selected TO draw the
Declaration of Independence, and in his un |
ayoidablc absence, the task de,olyed upon /
another V,rginiau, Jefferson.
1t was virginians who first in the worlds |
history ordained written Constitution IS a |
compact between the Governor and the gov !
erned. Il was q Nirginian 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 a nation. II was a Virgnan |
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 eoyernmen, |
was founded, with a wisdom which was
their vindication and a 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 Virgnians |
had taken the lead in nearly every act in |
yolving the welfare and progress Of the /
country.
In 1861 Virginia after long and painful !
elaboration and doubt as TO her duiy. and /
after eShaustng every effort to effect Tc-
cancellation between the hostile sections, /
upon her peace comm ssioner being treated /
with disdain, and upon President Lncoin's
call for troops and demand for passage way
through her borders, deeming this final
violation of her constitutional rights with
drew from the Union, and prepared for war.
She Immediately p,came ine. battle ground.
Within three ms one Of the. oloodiest