The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-31
Rich m Ond
The SEAT OF THE GREAT EXPOSITION.
The Most Interesting Citv in
the Union.
Historical Sketch.

The first permanent settlement OF tn
English speaking race on the American Con
tnent was on a peninsula jutting out into
James river a short distance below Ricn
uond. 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 Goo
and their King, and had representative as
rembly when the Pilgrim Fathers set FOO
IN Plymouth Rock. Powhatan had traded
corn with the Virginia settlers, had made
neace and war with them for years and had
retired from the scene amid his native forests
nm the banks of the Powhatan (by the
hmeick colonists foolishly changed to the
James, long before Massasoit and Samose'
of the Wampanseys made their treaty with
Governor Carver and taught the half starved
remnant of the pilgrims 10 raise corn
James river from Richmond to Old Point
Comfort was the highway for Virginia boat
men. and Jamestown, Newport News, Der
mnda Hundreds and Henrco were flourish
inp colonies. when New York was Dutch
trading post and Boston was forest.
Not many miles below Richmond are the
ruins of the old, st Christian church which
the Saxon race built in America, ana the
Peninsula is the scene of the first struggle
between the English race and the forces OF
the wilderness and the savage. Every foo,
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. nee that time she has re-
tanned her historic prestige.
The 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 Vir-
ginis, which gained thus the right TO be
ouartered on British Arms. The first armed
resistance made against vice-r'gai tyranny
was made in Virginia, and was headed by
yonng 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 IacOn'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'chless galaxy OF
stars which founded this nation and estab-
lished the American Union.
Along the banks Of the James tlourished
race which has had no parallel in this land,
q race ofEngli h gentry who added to traits
inherited and transferred from their British
ancestors, 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
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-
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 or death. II was a 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
ndependent States. Ii was Virginian, Ma
BON, who drafted the great Bill CT Right. TWAS
q Viryinian, Lee, who was selected to draw the
Declaration of Independence, and in his I'M
ayoidable absence, the task devolved upon
another Virginian, Jefferson.
It was virginians who first in the worlds
history ordained a written Constitution as a
compact between the Governor and the gov
erned. 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 Virgn'an
who presided for nearly half 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 q wisdom which was
their yindication 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; virgmians had commanded
the armies of the country in the only two
wars which had taken place, and Virginans
had taken the lead in nearly every act in
voiving the welfare and progress Of the
country.
In 1861, Virginia after long and painful
dehberation 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 disdan, and 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 months one Of thel bloodie,t