Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-20

ing this to him most desirable information,
and these spies most fortunately were
prisoners in Virginia when Smiths tracts
were published OF Oxford purporting 70
give to the public the very information 80
greatly desired by the King OF spain--tne
description and location Of the colony. an
engraved map OF the same, and the account
OF the past and present state Oh auairs
therein.
sarTa's NARRATIVES.
A moments consideration of the actual
surroundings of the movement will make
IL evident that secrecy was essential 70
success. IL was necessary 20 keep tine
business from the public as far as practic,ss-
bic. Every official was sworn not 10 al
vulge or 10 publish the affairs OF the colo
ny without the authority of the Council,
and the circulation and publication OF
maps. descriptions. and accounts OF the
colony at that time, whether by Smith,
Purchas, or others, without the requisite
authority. illustrate tho importance OF
having u official positions only such men
as would respect their oaths and not AZ
tempt TO make public such things. Inc
inaccuracy of Smiths Narratives FUR
nish the only apology for their pub
lication. But whether inaccurate or
UNFORTUNATELY accurate they were apt
toehaye an influence which they did not
deserve, from the fact that the Council
could not reply by making public their
side Of the issue. Yet the Council alone
premises. They had ample evidence on
which TO base their actions, and they were
the only real judges as TO the value OF the
services of Archer. Martin, Newport, Hat.
cliife. Smith, and their other agents and
servants in Virginia, and as to the condl-
ton and conduct of affairs there. Their
discharged agents were not DISTINGUISHED,
and the critics of their management
(whether friendly or otherwise) were not
judges Of these matters.
THE AUTHORS POSITION.
In brief my position on the issue be-
tween Smith and the managers of the
movement during the formative period IS
different from any hitherto expressed.
Some have taken the side OF Smith in toto.
Others. while questioning Smiths veracity.
have not sustained the managers; none
have had a really good word for them. j
take my position squarely on their side
and on the side of their faithful agents
aud in doing so, | believe that l am sus-
tanned by all authorized publications. by
all official documents. by all dislnterested
evidence. and by much other evidence OF
the period, foreign and domestic.
Smiths side of the issue rests entirely on
his own works and on the evidence Of some
of those who had the questionable use OF
his writings. etc. His position in our earliest
history is entirely the result of an untor-
tunate chain of circumstances. No other
evidence than his was accessible to our
early historians. In fact, the evidence fol
the managers has never been accessible to
the public-neither during 1906. 1916, moi
since. (See the Genesis. pages 43-t5.) Sc
far as know | am the fret 10 make a sys
tematic attempt to collect and collatt
ell the evidence, historical and blographi
cal. bearing on the movement, for the pur
pose OF giving full and fair idea of the men
and motives of our first foundation.
have about five hundred documents. which
may be classed as official, written be
tween 1905 and 1880, relative to our earliest
history, and they do not contain o single
really favorable reference TO Smith. To the
contrary, they make it perfectly certain
that his story is incomplete, inaccurate
and unjust, and that our earliest history
will have TO be rewritten.
TIE TRUE Issue.
II is q very great mistake TO suppose
that not to take the side of Smith is TO re
fleet on Virginia, for it is just the othel
way. No one could love the old Mother o
the States. of the colonies. and of thi
country more than do. and hope that II
due time all patriotic Virginians will tax
especial pride in The Genesis" becaus,
it proves the grandeur of her birth anC
yindicates the integrity of her founders.
ALEXANDER Brown.