Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-25
JOHN SMITH---AGA
o.,rs supsRoUe 4" tMR. ALEXANDER
GOWN REPLIES TO "AU REvolR."
TIE latter Hero Described a. " Paper
Tiger aud wbei.tone for
WITS
., riror Of ne Disoa'eh'

not desire q impose on a suffering
-. 81 Int am contendine for justice
a.. real founders Of this nation aud for
..-,.,b If history. and when those who
-. f,,loa 10 appreciate these facts attack
I'D mi,rcpreseut ne IN tho press of Nir-
o., fsol obliged 10 reply. do not wish
..,,,,,so on any one Tor nv own sake. but
"a, homo that Vircinlans will bear with me
t.o sakc Of nv cause. And for the
" =, this cause | think that An Re
"a. - attack on me in the DISPATCH of
n.-,-,l,or 18th should oc replied TO.
5-n NOT object TO the admirers Of John
.tb erecting monument 10 him and
.-,qvinc their own names thereon * they
- ARC object or NV article IN the
.,-,---4 Of November 27th was chiefly to
-. Nircluiaus on thor guard. J did not
l..st any one 70 subscribe thor money
,.-.S. .pssiv and regret II afterwards.
mot attempt to defend every MEM
- N Inc Virginia COMPANY of London,
.-s DO not pretend that al we're worthy
90 About one third OF them towing
ID 10 thr fact that the vessels which
,..Iht back John Smith from virginia
'.- brought nothing hut bad reports
,o.trrs Of Encouragement OF the con-
- of the cpiony when no lett)
r..-el 10 pay 80" AZ
Another third only paid IN
o.. and many If them became critics
.,1lt-fndors: but so far as know only
Pa. y them devoted tho last sixteen wears
5-.- ffs Cd blowing his own horn and
,-..--lrc others. However, | do defend
,..t earnestly those constant adventurers
a. p. luaCcr- who continued, IN the taca Of
s.s-, disaster opposition, and criticism, to
,....4r.aai the Virginia Council Board at
-. g,yfH f,,r
e.. ..rulso of uphold ug the plantation
A.. ,.s.- faithful agents IN Virginia who
-..l.ta % give their time. their talents.
..s.r i1yes 10 the task until "by the
'...--y, az God they secured the first
..- nor, .1u ia the New World for "a Pro
....,-t nation. And ! .J.om that Pro
.r~ts prejudice themselves and the
..... whom they nudge Those men on such
49,. r..-.., o. SMITHS, or ON any other un-
.- s.. partisan evidence whatever. /
.. propose % deity any one; but | be-
lis. .hat these men are more deserving OF
-...r 's John smith.
- a.. Tr,5' -ays: "ltis q fact known %
l....-.r,rs Ir Virginia history that
.....v.-e violent discussions and bitter
..--.i. hrtl 10 the London company and
b.. colony 90 Jamestown. &c, &c.
rrr FACTIONS IL TEE COLONY.
r.,-e we're factions in Virginia under
Oh. -m q government for which John
b.. ts run.crgai during ifl7'09, and John
.-... wss one of tho leaders in them, but
..fr tie charter to the Virginia Com
..-r Of London. against which Smith
1.enlc3. after the removal Of Smith
.-- tao Council and from Virginia, and
-- tie establishment ia Virginia
% tic new form 90 government IN
no. affairs went on cutie smoothly
.--I about 1919, when two par
... arse VI the company and
..-.. Uut tins question mas little or
..rc 90 10 with the Smith controversy.
Ed 70 ls too long % discuss here. Al
' a-l Ic1n1oi attempt to repyln a news
.-.rti. Gee t' " 1T HsrDr's various at
...- 20 o., Virginia Company. / can as
.r those 20 whom the honor Of our
..-E.l- and The truth Of orr history IL
Pap than e John Smith and ms story
-... tae. Wall be fully replied to IN due
40 Eror" ssvs that could not
v-.. .r sarly Virginia history without
Il. Ing INTO bora;ng Smith aud suOordl-
.4,--- o.. aiso % my auti-Smltn passion, W
...tair John smith wrote the earliest
history % Virginia from 1916 10 1929, and
f-.-. tltie- page 90 fms ho gives himself
t..srue poslt on ~ his history. pushing
himself and hIs misleading statements
constantly 20 tie front. in season and
..t of season These facts bave
Obliged mo 20 say moro about smith
"a. 't~ controversy than ! desired OF ne
....-vci. and my "2nu-Smlth passion
.. ' '. Usr7r ~ calls II. is mainly against
s-'th's story and smith gs the responsible
WAR. author or eIlt0r Ot n. OUTSIDE OF
g.. indications known Us Captain John
--.....- works he was not an important
..-..-ln the case. and l doubt If l should
.- justified ~ mentioning him at
I DO write Il history II Virginia
.t..r October. 1879 tas be- never really lad
lining more to do with that colony
a'nr that datel unless II De In reference
p. come II hls publications: but as have
.r. originals of most things from which
III. eonpiled his historv after 1910, with
.u.. EXCEPTIONS. | shall los able 10 reier
.- tho originals and not 20 his garbled
COMP 'auous thereirom.
" IA. R.r1ir" SAYS: Ia bis lmyi infamed
a.a tne incidents IN SMITHS life become
.,r.1celv perverted. When Smiths term
rs Tr, s.dent Of the Virginia Council had
elpr>i and presidents were no longer
elected ia Virginia. but governors were APP
pointed in England he n claims that
Smith wa. removed from ONCE.
rrr FIusT PORN OF GOVERNMENT.
The first form OF government was, under
tt =
himself. II could only he revoked by
royal decree. and one or the two special
rsaso1stor organizing the Virginia COM
..a, 0f London was 10 obtain the autnor-
%. TO change TINS form Of government.
.,Gsr tho original form smiths term as
Pre-. dent 3id NOT expire until September
IN. 1909, and ha would have renamed a
member Of the Council. The cOmmlsSlon'
Changing the form OF government and re-
= E... A. aaVs al
ne Council also, was issued ia England IN
sumo. l6l9. and u could not have been
sued before, but the resolve to DO this
Was made on the return OF Newport hNe
months before. IN January. 1909.
tsto my reference 10 Smiths adVer-
t.a,4cnts," have been accused by the
t.llyWers Of Smith Of writing about Smltn
under Northern training, etc, ana one OF
PLY motives for this reference was 10 snow
t.a' they had erred Ia their attempts 10
make o sectional issue Of that kind OF John
smith whose writings are more friendly
90 those who were especially interested IN
Aow England than they are 10 those VINO
W-ro engaged IN planting uglnla. nave
-..t.l before that we could not make "a
,.et.onal issue OF John Smith, and that
Sor,hsrners had az much night TO protest
against the John Smith superstition as
Nlrguiaus had.
.|tL Itf fN ~hN0s t0'llihA = Wilma
HoIu3ur his histories based upon cited
authorities. he ID describes as laudlng
.,-rselt. which ~ always his first motive
and % disparaSing others, which Is always
A.s secoud.'' -,
Nv special reference was 10 tract whlch
Smith saws was written with his own mana,
Uut be- wrote much else ~ the same sort
with his own hand, including some things
W.irh be pretends 20 have taken from
-.teI authorities. As rule smith magnl;
l,t he Owuaets and dlspara2ed or ignored
90. acts Of others. 4 reference 70 SmltA :
vrturs will show that / have described
them correctly.
A PAPTB 1IGFE.
il IS true that Smith had been an oincial
On Virginia under the first Virginia Com
.arg IN lU17-03: in the service Of several
.rion merchants on the New England
coasts "a 1914: IN the service Ot the North
}.IIua Company in lob. and that ne was
endorsed. 10 some extent no least. IN h!S
.an time bg some PTotcstauts, especially
l.l,r TO lGlG. ana by some Catholics AT q
Ter dsfe. But II IS equally True
tlat th..e was great deal more
ODD the directions 10 Smith by ms ioF'
..uc.telcGs." as ne calls them. tnan mas
been supposed. that be did not carry the
tr.; cOlonlsts % Virginia; tina, ne was
.araed there himself as prisoner etc'
that be failed 90 give satisfaction IN VIZ;
.luIa 1G17-'0jl; that be Vas not an ONE al
q f,. lnHnn IlAt