The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-17
Richmond
w wAY OF THg GREAT EXPOSITION
The Most Interesting Civ IN
the Union.
Historical Sketch.

Historical Sketch.
The first permanent settlement oil the
English speaking race on the Amencah ooh'
Hnent was on a peninsula jutting out into
J.mes river short distance below Rich-
mopd. The English had already established
themselves in Virginia and had expiofeo
the country far above the site OF Richmond,
and had taken il in the name OF their uou
and their King, and had a representative as
.embly when the Pilgrim Fathers set 1901
ON Plymouth Rock. Powha'an had tradeo
oorn with the Virginia settlers, had mace
neace and war with them for years and had
ret;red from the scene amid his native forests
nm the banks Of The Powhatan tby the
ho,oeeick colonists foolishly changed to the
y.mes) long before Massasoit and Samose'
of the Wampanseys made their treaty WIN
Governor Carver and taught the half starved
remnant of the pilgrims TO raise corn.
lanes river from Richmond to Old Point
Comfort was the highway for Virginia boat
men. and Jamestown, Newport News, Der
muda Hundreds and Henrco were hourish-
inc colonies when New York was Dutch
trading post and Boston was a forest
Not many miles below Richmond are the
wins ot .be Oldest Christian church which
the Saxon race built in America and the
Peninsula is the scene Of the first struggle
,setyeen the English race and the forces Oh
the wilderness and the savage. Every ioo'
nj ground is more directly associated with
the settlement Of this continent than is ms
toric Plymouth Rock.
Thus Virginia is the Oldest OF oil the States
a, the Union. Snce that time she has re-
tanned her historic prestige.
The first representative assembly when
ever met on American soil convened al
Jamestown. The last Of the British Domin'
Tons which held true TO the Crown was Nir-
xinia. which gained thus the right to be
ouartered on British Arms. The first armed
resistance made against yice-regal tyranny
vas made in Virginia, and was headed by a
Young planter who owned the very spot on
which a portion Of the city of Richmond
now stands, one of the boundaries oil the
city being named in incidental commemora-
ton of the fact Bacon's Quarter Branch.
On Virginia soil took place the long strug-
ole between the colonies and the crown, be
tween liberty and oppression, and finally nom
Virginia burst forth that maj hless galaxy oil
stars which founded this nation and estab-
lsbed the American Union.
Along the banks Of the James ''rlshed a
race which has had no parallel in 'his land
n race of Engli. b 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
sions falling to decay yet dignity and adorn
the banks Of the historic river; their work
can never decay. It's fruit is the American
Union.
Thus Virginia is historically the most in
terestng of The States of the Union. From
the settlement Of the continent to the end OF
the great Civil War she retained uninter-
rppted her prestige.
1t was Virginian, Henry, who first Hung
down the gauntlet at the feet of an armed
and mailclad tyranny and declared for lib
erty or death II was Virgnian, 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 Virgnian Ma
son, who drafted the great Bill Of Right. Ii was
Virginian, Lee, who was selectedtc draw the
Declaration of Independence, and in his I'M
syoidable absence, the task deyolved upon
rnother yirginian. Jefferson.
II was yirginians 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. II was a Virgin'an
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 d wisdom wh;eh was
their yiudication 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 Virginians
had taken the lead in nearly every act in
volving the welfare and progress of the
country.
In 1851, Virginia alter 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 commissioners being treated
with disdain, 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
he Immediately became the, battle-ground.
Within three mon zone Of the bloodiest