The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-23
Richmond
yHB MAT OF THE GREAT EAPOSlIiVN'
IN. Most Interesting Cit" III
the Union.
Rhetorical sketch.

vrbe fist permanent settlement oi 'n0
-,,s,, s,sak;ne race on the American Con-
t;nsnt was on peninsula jutting Out iheo
r.vo.s river a short distance below hich-
mond. The. English had already es'aoiisieu
themselves in Virginia and had e@pio'ou
tbe country far above thesite OF hcnihonu,
.nd had taken it in the name OF 'heir "ou
nd their King. and had representative as
..roblv when the Pilgrim Fathers SET iooI
ON Plymouth Rock. Powha'an mao faueu
rom with the Virginia settlers hao haue
1900 and war with them for years ana hau
r.,ired from the scene amid bis native forests
~, the banks of the Powhatan 10Y tne
homesick colonists foolishly changed 70 'he
James long before Massasoit and saInOse'
nj the Wampanseys made their treaty WIN
Sovernor Carver and taught the hall starved
remnant of the pilgrims to raise corn.
lanes river from Richmond to Ola Point
Confort was the highway for Virginia boat
men. and jamestown, Newport News per
muda Hundreds and Henrico were noufiSn-
,nv colonies when New York was Dutch
trading post and Boston was forest
Nor many miles below Richmond are the
rnips OF the Oldest Christian church whlch
the Saxon race built in America ana the
Peninsula is the scene of the first struggle
.,stween the English race and the forces OIL
wilderness and the savage. Every loot
Ground is more directly associated with
ths settlement of this continent than IS his
toric Plymouth Rock.
thus Virginia is The oldest Of all the States
IN the Union. Since that time she has re-
tanned her historic prestige
The first representative assembly when
s,,or mot on American soil convened at
Jamestown. The last Of the British Domin-
ions which held true to the Crown was VIZ
v;nia. which gained thus the right 10 De
ouartered on British Arms. The first armed
resistance made against yice-regal tyranny
~..m made in Virginia. and was headed by
voune planter who owned the very spo' on
which a portion Of the city OF kichmohu
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 Dc
tween liberty and oppression, and hnaiiy rom
Virginia burst forth that matches galaxy OF
mars which founded this nation and esiab-
iished the American Union.
Along the banks of the james Hrshed
race which has had no parallel in this land
race ofEngli.h gentry who added to traits
,nberited and transferred from their British
.ncestors. 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
oan 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.
II was Virginian. Henry, who first flung
down the gauntlet at the feet of an armed
and mailclad tyranny and declared for lib
erty OF death. II was a Virginan, 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. TWAS
Virginian, Lee, who was selected to draw the
Declaration of independence, and in bis I'M
ayoidable absence, the task deyolyed upon
another Virginian, Jefferson.
Ii was virginisns who first in the worlds
history ordained a written Constitution as
compact between the Governor and the gov
srned. 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 preceded the
launching of nation. 1t was a Virginian
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
AZ the HINt ol blc WAT NlfElnlA nAu ntAQ
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
voiving the welfare and progress of the
country.
In 1861, Virginia after long and painful
deliberation and doubt as to her duty, and
after exhsusting every effort to effect re-
Cancellation between the hostile sections,
upon her peace commissioners being treated
with disdain, aud upon President Lincoln'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 became the battle-ground.
Within three mon'"sone Of the bloodiest