The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-05
YHB SEAT OF THE GREAT EXPOSITION
The Most Interesting Citv IN
the Union.
Historical Sketch.

6oent was on peninsula jutting Out mo
J.mes river short distance below hlch-
mond. The English had already established
themselves in Virginia and had explored
the country far above the site OF richmond.
and had taken it in the name Of Their uou
and their King. and had representative as
sembly when the Pilgrim Fathers sci 100.
ON Plymouth Rock. Powha'an had TRACED
cf,rn with the Virginia settlers. had mace
mare and war with them for years and had
retired from the scene amid bis native iores's
nm the banks of the Powhatan 10y inc
homesick colonists foolishly changed 10 'he
James, long before Massasoit and samose'
MI the Wampanseys made their treaty VIII,
oovernor Carver and taught the half starred
remnant of the pilgrims to raise corn.
James river from Richmond to Ola foih'
Comfort was the highway for Virginia boat
men. and Jamestown, Newport News Der
rrnda Hundreds and Henrico were flourish
,ry colonies. when New York was Dutch
trading post and Boston was forest
Nm many mics below Richmond are the
wins Of The Oldest Christian church when
The Saxon race built in America ana tne
peninsula is the scene Of the first struggle
.,aween the English race and the forces oi
wilderness and the savage. Every foot
ground is more directly associated with
the settlement of this continent than Is Ms
toric Plymouth Rock.
Thus Virginia is the Oldest Of all The states
IN the Union. nee that time she has re-
tanned her historic prestige
The first representative assembly Wnicn
aver met on American soil convened a'
Jamestown. The last Of the British Domih'
ions which held true to the Crown was II
rinia which gained thus the right TO DC
onartered on British Arms. The ilrst ariheu
resistance made against vice-regal tyranny
MAS made in Virginia, and was headed by
vounr planter who owned the very spot on
which portion of the city Of Richmond
now stands. one Of the boundaries OF enc
c;.v being named in incidental commenora-
tion Of the fact Bacon Quarter Branch.
On VIRGINIA soil 'ook place the long strug-
Gle between the colonies and the crown De-
tween liberty and oppression, and finally from
Virginia burst forth that ma'chless galaxy o.
sssrs which founded this nation and eslaD-
iished the American Union.
Along the banks Of the James Trished
race which has had no parallel in this land
q race of Engi gentry who added to trans
Inherited and transferred from their British
ancestors. a love of freedom and a 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 wor..
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 oil
the great Civil War she retained unin'er-
.upted her prestige.
II WIS Virginian, Henry, who first nung
down the gauntlet at the feet OF an arineo
and mailclad tyranny and declared Tor hO-
ertv or death. 1t was Virginian nelson
who first moved in a general assembly, Una,
The Delegates of the colony inthe Colonia,
Conoress he instructed TO declare us free ana
,rdenendent States. II was Nirginian Ma
sop who drafted the great Bill Of Right II was
1. Virginian. Lee. who was selected to ora" 'he
Declaration of Independence ana III No u"
.no;dable absence the task deyolyed upon
another Yirgnian Jefferson
1t was yirginians who first in the wor'o ,
history ordaified written Constitution as ="
.a,,n.ot between the Governor and the gov
srrsd II was virginian who took com,
.rd IF the armies of the Revolution anu
g.. ooronerirg Freedom for the new lshu'
-. 81 held the helm Of State steady
.,.S~unh the rough seas which pre- eeded the
Launching of a nation. 1t was Nirs'n'ah
Who presided for nearly half century owe,
,hs snoreme Bench Of the United states ana
,hsrs espounded the laws and laid down the
ur;nciples upon which the new government
wss founded, with wisdom when was
their yindication and reason which was
their proof.
tthe time Of the war Virginia had held
the Office of President during half the period
which had elapsed since the formation Of lhe
government; virginians had commanded
the armies of the country in the only TWO
WAITS which had taken place and Nirginahs
had taken the lead in nearly every act IN
,olying the welfare and progress OF the
country.
In 1861, Virginia alter long and painiii
elaboration and doubt as 10 her duty ana
sfter exhausting every effort to effect a re-
cancellation between the hostile sections
upon her peace commissioners being treated
with disdain, and upon President Lincoln
cali 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
he Simmediately became the. battle-ground
Within three mont one Of the bloodiest