The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-24
TIKI sgAT OF THE GREAT EXPOSITION.
The Most Interesting City in
the Union.
Historical Sketch.

English speaking race on the American Con-
t;nent was on q peninsula juaing out into
James river short distance below hich'
mond. The English had already established
themselves in Virginia and had explored
the coun try far above the site OF Richmond.
,.nd had taken it in the name OF their Ood
and their King, and had representative as
sembly when the Pilgrim Fathers set loot
IN Plymouth Rock. Powha'an had traced
oorn with the Virginia settlers. had maze
pcaoe and war with them for years and mad
retired from the scene amid his native forests
on the banks Of the Powhatan 10y he
bomesick colonists foolishly changed to the
James) long before Massasoit and Samose'
of the Wampanseys made their treaty WITH
Governor Carver and taughtthe hall starved
remnant of the pilgrims to raise corn
Iamcs river from Richmond TO Old foint
tomfort was the highway for Virginia boat
men. and Jamestown, Newport News Der
mnda Hundreds and HenricO were hounsh-
ING colonies. when New York was Dutch
trading post and Boston was a forest
Not many miles below Richmond are the
r,ins of the Oldest Christian church which
The Saxon race built in America and the
Peninsula is the scene OF the first struggle
between the English race and the forces OF
the wilderness and the savage. Every 1907
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 hor historic prestige.
The first representative assembly when
srsr mo, ON American soil convened at
Jamestown The last of the British DOiIllh'
ions which held true to the Crown was VII
eipia. which gained thus the right to be
ouartered on British Arms. The first armed
resistance made against yice-r'gal tyranny
was made in Virginia, and was headed by
voune planter who owned the very spot on
which q portion Of the city OF Richmond
now stands, one of the boundaries OF the
city being named in incid ntal commemora-
ton of the fact Bacon 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-
hshed the American Union.
Along the banks of the James tiourished a
race which has had no parallel in this land
q race ofEDgli 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 ofthe continent to the end of
the great Civil War she retained uninter-
rupted her prestige.
II was Virginan. 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 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
independent States. II wasa Virginian. Ma
son, who drafted the great Bill CT Right. 1t was
aVirginian, Lee, whowas selected to draw the
Declaration Of Independence and in his un-
avoidable absence the task devolved upon
another Virginian, Jefferson.
1t was yirginians who first in the worlds
history ordained q writ en- Constitution az q
compact between the Governor and the gov
erned. 1t was Virginian who took com
mand Of the armies of the Revolution. and
after eonquerirg Freedom for the new land,
took and held the helm of State steady
through the rough seas which pre- eeded the
launching Of nation. II was Virginlan
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 wisdom which was
their vindication 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 yirginians
had taken the lead in nearly every act in
volving the welfare and progress Of the
country.
In 1861, Virginia after long and painful
elaboration and doubt as to her duty. and
AFTER exhausting every effort to effect re-
Cancellation between the hostile sections,
upon her peace comm ssioners being treated
with disdain, and upon President Lincoln's
call Tor troops, and demand for passage way
through her borders, deeming this a final
violation OF her Constitutional rights, with
ore" from the Union, and prepared for war
she Immediately became the battle-ground.
within three months one Of the bloodie.t