The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-11-06
WHY yIKGlSIaSs ARE PROUD.

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WHY yIRGiNIaNs ARE PROUD.
What They Have Done &c Justify Their
From the earliest Colonial days, nearly
300 years ago, their history has been high
and proud. These people were ola high
or type than any were who came from
England into the other settlements OF
America The original grantees OF the
charter Of Virginia were gentlemen CT
good birth and standing at home, and rn-
der their guidance Virginia grew and pros
percd as no other colony had ever done
for near one hundred years.
Aud when, in Gs5, the cdict 81 Nantes
was evoked She cxiied Hugucnois found
homes and warm welcome here. and
brought with them the education. the
handicraGt and the high principles which
had made them the nohest ard The bTav-
est of the sons Of France. After the ex-
ccution Of King Charles his adhercnts to
the numbe- OF thirty thousand sought
refuge in Virginia.
Thus, this fairest OF all the lands Of
Great Britain was possessed by higher
class of people than had ever before, or
has since, colonizcd and developed any
country From the beginning they we're
steadfast in their principles. and when
their King was 8; fugitive seeking asylum
the House Of Burgcsses OF Virginia. dcpn-
ted an envoy, Colonel Morrison OF their
BODY TO seek him and invite him to sci
his throne up here, and this stcadfastness
of character is the foundation Of the high
and noble pride Of cur people. II sas-
tanned and developed the colony in rs re-
markable history during the first two cen
turtles Of its life, until when one hundred
years ago the Vrginians would no longer
endure the cncroachmonts OF the King,
declared their independence Of his crown
and created this great republic. Virgin
ians conceived, sustained and accom-
plishcd this great scheme Of civi! liberty,
which all mar kind to-day admire and i'm
itate.
One Of the wisest statesmen Of our time
declares s'thc histories Of the United
States written by Now England book
makers, are false. They teach that New
England had much TO do with the creation
~ n
ceiyed, sustained and accomplished by
about dozen Virginia gentlemen, and
New England had nothing to do with it,,
The noble author Of this declaration was
a Pennsylvania Of the very highest
standing. 1t is unfortunate that lie has
passed away. For he declared his cher
ished purpose to be to study and demon
strate what twas that made these men so
great.
The great Georgia Senator, Ben Hill, in
the last speech be ever made, the hand Of
death was then upon him, declared: II
| never enter Virginia that do not feel
should uncover my head in reverence ia.
her great dead. and in respect 10 her great
living men, for tell yon that never in the
worlds history has any nation produced
so many men so great as Virginia has. .
I We all know who they we're. They were
tlemen all of birth, breeding, and eduea-
ton Their names are household words
and their statues stand upon that noble
monument to Washington theif chief
While Virginia, thenan independent ma
ton, bore more than her part OF the Rcvo-
lutionary war, she sent her son, George
Rodgers Clarke, with troops to strike
Great Britain in her northwest territory.
| Under unparalleled hardsiips that lit
tie Virginian army penetrated into the
heart of that territory, captured all Of It's
garrisons and added it to the territory OF
Virginia. When the war for independence.
closed the Confoderated States soon settled
amongst themselves their respective quo
tas Of the costs.
The little New England States plead
poverty in bar Of the claims due from
them. Thereupon, Virginia, with grand
eur before unknown in history, gave al
that great domain which to-day embraces
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and
Wisconsin, to be the common property Of.
all the States. And tRen went further.
Having more than twenty times protested
against the introduction of slaves into
her own own territory, she caused an ex-
aftment by the Government Of the United
States, that no slave should ever enter
that coded land. This prohibition greatly
displcascd New Engianders, who had |
mainly liyed and grown rich By stealing I
negroes from Africa and selling them to +
the other colonies of England.
When peace was made with England. I
eaclsone OF the colonies being an indc
pendent State, made its separate treaty old
peace with England, each being ttllap reel
Dgnixed as an independent nation, mud
then under Virginia's guidance formed {
The Government Of the United States,
Zach State ex pressing or understanding
Is right to seceda from, the new formed
whenever the powers dele
gated to it "a central government shogtfll
je iujnfieusfy axercised, Is