Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-10-07
Why Virginlans are Proud

Why Virginlans Are Proud
Froua the carries; Colonial days, &c gears
ago, thei, hlssory has beeu proud and nigh.
Thees people were of higher type than
sny were who csme from England into the
other settlements of America. The origiEsl
grantees OF the charter OF Virginia were
gentlemen Of goc2 birth and standing at
home, and under sheir guidance Virginia
grew and prcspert as no othec colony had
evsr done for near 100 gears.
And when, In 1855, the edict Of Nantes
was revoked the exlled Husueoo'e found
bones aud warm welcome here, and brought
With them the education, the hsndicraft
and the high principles which had msde
them the nobleEs aud oravest Of the sons OF
ErsDce. After the execution OF King
Charles his edherents TO the number of 3d.
00C sought refuge In Virginia.
Thus, this falress OF all the iRnds OF Great
Britain wss pcssessld by higher ciaEs OF
people than had ever bsfore, or hiss since,
caioniz1d and developed any country. From
the besiapirg they were stesdfast IN their
principles, and when their king was fusi.
tive seeking asylum the House OF Bofgtssas
OF Virginia deputed an envoy Colonel Nor
rison) of their body to slek bin and invite
him TO set nis throne up here, snd this stead-
tastness OF character Ia the foundation Of she
high and noble pride OF our people.
Il sustained and developed the colony In
It's remarkable history during the first two
centuries OF its life. until when one hund-
dred years ago the Virginiens would 40
longer endure the encroaohments of the
king, declared their independence ef his
crown anG created this great republic: Vir.
einiars conceived, sustained and accom-
pIished this great soheme Of civil liberty,
which sll mankind to day admire and inai-
tate.
One OF the wieess statesmen of our time
written by New England book-makers are
sill falee. They teach that New England bad
much to do with the creation cfthis govern
ment, whereas it was conceived, sustained
snd mpliehed by about dozen Virgin
Ian gentlemen, and New England had moth
ing to do With it.n The pob!e author OF
this declaration vas Pennsylvenisn OF the
very highest standing. II is unfortunate
thes he has pessed away, for he declared
bis choriehed purpose to be to etndy ard de-
mcnetrese what 'twss that made these men
so gteat.
The great Georgis Senator, Ben Hill. 10 the
last speech he ever made (the hand OF death
was then upon him). declared: II never
enter Virginia that do not feel should
uncover my head ln reverence to her great
iesd nnd In respect to her great living meu,
for tell you that never in the worlds his
tory has any nation produced 30 many men
so great as Virginia has,"
We all know who they were. They we're
horn sno bred right around us here. Gentle
men all Of birth, breeding and education
Their names are household words and their
statues staod upon that noble monument to
Washington, their chief.
While Virginia, then an independent ne
tieD, bore more than her part OF the Rsvo-
lutionery var, she sent her con George Bod
gers Clarke, With troops to strike Great
Britain Ia her northwest territory.
Under unparalleled hsrdsbips that little
Virenisa army enetrased into the heart of
that territory, captured all of its Rsrrisons
and added IL to the territory Of Virginia.
When the war for independence closed the
confederate States coon settled amongst
themselves their respective quotas Of the
COSTS
The little New EDglsDd States plead pov.
erty in bar OF the claims due from them.
Thsreupon Virginia, with grandeur before
upknown in history, gave sll that great do
main which to-day embraces Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois. Michigan and Wisconsin to be the
common property OF ali the States. And
then went iurlher. Having more than twenty
timee protested agaluss the Introduction of
slaves into her own territory, che caused an
enactment by the GoVernment OF the United
Ststes that no slave should ever enter that
ceded land. Ihla prohibition greatly Gis-
Irnlo hn NnS nrfo
y lived and grown rich by stealing negroes
from Africa and selling them so the other
colonies OF England.
When peace was made With England
each one OF the colonies, being an indanerd,
| ent State, made i,s eenarate treaty Of neaca
with Englsnd each being then reccpnizsd
as an independent nation, snd then under
Virgtpi1's guidance formed the government
OF the United States, each State expressing
or understanding its.flght to seoeds from the
new formed confederation Whenever the
powers delegated to it as central govern.
ment should be irjur!ousiy exercised
Thencsic-wsrd Virginia, heEDp orsated
| the United States, guided thei. policy and
expanded their power for more than fftv
years io theis purese to highest period. Ear.
IL in the century Vlrginlan acquired from
France the Louisiana Territory vest OF the
Mississippi, and tbs saue great statesman
sent the Virgins pioneers. Lewis and Clarke,
beyond the Rocky mountains 10 the shores
OF the Pacific.
Her hardy scns-Johnsson and Field end
Seyie.-had yeats before cleared Kentucky
of the Iedisns and made 4. white name
home. snd ell over the great South ycung
Virginians iest their pleasant bomss to COLO
nizs aud organize that vast and fsrtie re-.
eon which to-day produces TIE chief weelth
of this country.
l. wes Vrginian (sam Hcustcn) who
went down iuso Texas and led 1t to inde-
pendence OF Mexico. and few yesrs lister
on Vlrg!nisu Presidsnt annexed Texas to
the United States,
When the wer With Mexico followed two
V,rginian generals led our eonqueriDg ar-
mics and Won Gs New Mexico. Arizona and
California.