Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-23
HISTORIC BIG TREES.
Celebrated Giants Of the Forest Still
In The Old Dominion.
ADOPTION OF TIE CONSTITUTION.
=, Was Insured Under the branches OF
sfadisons osk-rwo Notable zines ana
the Cumberland OAK.
written for the Dispatcn.l

Written for the Dispatchl
N the lower end Of the county OF
Orange. on the side OF the old turnpike,
..,re stands an oak tree. which was lett as
- ,,mely saphng by the original settlers,
IA snared from tho clearing for the yearly |
.,,bscco ground" 1t has. therefore. un-
.h.,,ucted by neiGhbonng trees. grown |
,-,aa round and spherical shape, with It's |
,r.bs reaching 10 tho ground and its top |
.....,-,rg over the surrounding country, |
.r,a,v landmark. II stands OF the edge |
OK" Wilderness. and during the battles |
Mt on that historic ground. Its leaves |
"a branches we're shaken bY the roar OF !
! ieraI and Confederate cannon. Under
,s tree the adoption Of the Federal Con- !
,.tuti.u was Insured.
While the state of New Hampshire was
ninth state which voted for the
r,.ou 81 the Constitution. the terms OF
.~h mt II INTO effect when nine States
.rfel 10. n Il great error 20 give that
.t.ta fle credit Of settling the question
'r..f-utb Is that Virginia was the pivotal
-...r which adopted the Constitution by
.t.rmai vote seven DAYS later. Ar. Ban
90 tolle Il. that after New Hampshire
,..rullei her convention II ADJOURNED
Until she should see how the next
o..+.. Virginia aud New York; should
"a. olicn were considered very doubt
Indeed. when her delegates were
.tsi q majority, then dominated by
..-..E Hrurv. were opposed to ratlfica-
.r. When Governor Randolph changed
D. po-!tion IN the early days OF
o.. contention II was thon known
,..t Virginia would ratify the instrument,
..l -lrn Sew Hampshire recalled her
= .yr.tIon and ratified the Constitution
seven DAYS before the formal vote was
i..,u 10 the Virginia convention. which
,.. u,ly majority IN favor OF ratlhca-
49,. She decided the question. AT that
. She was the most influential STATE,
,..I have the largest representation IN
g.. rcw government. and her sons had
. most 10 the council and the field In
t.... rclsstul struggle for independence;
...,eu Do New Hampshire had by her
raufod the Constitution ana virginia
l..t.e,tci, her action would have bcen
..rtriuri ~ the refusal OF New } ork, ior
...r.. ratified the Constitution by ma
.-..t Of votes after Virginia had set
-..,r.upIe and the creation OF the new
....r.w,uf was an accomplished tact,
'.I thus the Constitution, although IN
l..ra.ou, could not have been successtui.
RATIFICATION.
TIE friends Of the Constitution all over
tr.r.a and Europe looked with great III
'.-.-, l, O. the election OF hr. Madison 10
o.. Ntrr..Ia convention. which was 70
...... ,Ur question Of ratification. He had
.., ,r. most Influential member OF the
Convention which framed the COustitu-
,.,.a aud bv hIs skiliul compromises his
'..fu.h familiarity was every part OF u.
f.. clear comprehensive. and elective
f.l.r- f cluc latl-g and enforcing ms
v4,rtitled hm % be called tho father
.t... Constitution, 20 the confirmation on
..... l.- presence IN the Virginia conven-
,.l. sos considered absolutely lndispensa-
I..l.l with Lis cain, clear, ana persua-
60. manner 10 Qucnch the merry
....r.. of Henry and GraysOn, VINO
I.. -l- majority Of the conyen-
'.t with them when It convened;
ST. Madison and Mr.. Gordon, father OF
o.. .tuuu. General William /. Gordon.
I..lrg member IN the next Virginia con-
,..t.u. were the candidates IN Orange
rf, Ia favor OF ratification and GOV
,r.r james Barbour and Moore "a relative
Nr. MADISON. against IT. AS Mr. Madi-
..r u4, the most popular man III the
....ty he AZ first considered his election
a.. certain. Tut soon heard that he would
..-. OH. vote Of the lower end OF the coun-
o. then the most pOpuious part OF H.
....a was absolutely necessary 10 his sue
... Iallgh this section IS now 50 poor
t.t % s. called the poison heldS OF
,r.r-.." It was then thickly settled 10y
f.......lllls the vegetable mould made
,. I'll. showers of leaves dropped an-
r.l.y from the primeyal forest.
HrMAREADLE Man.
They we've oil Baptists and were under
o.. absolute control Of Their preacher,
f.lr Leland lie was remarkable man,
., strong and vigorous although uncul-
tured intellect. dcyout and enthusiastic IN
L- religions matters as any Of CromweiTs
Iraa..d.- He was o SOLDIER IN the Revo-
Iu'uu II had suffered for MS religion
Aal had been Iuc-rccrated Ia Culpeper
.4. f.r prrarliU. the Gospel IN ms own
vuy. AZ vu, known that he was violently
opposed t. the adoption of the Constltu-
t.u.tLat his pe. plr would sOlidly follow
.I- lead md Nugl vote against Madison
.,l Gordon aul tor Barbour and Moore.
Mr. Madison determined 20 have per-
sofia! interview with tins formidable oppO-
l..t Hy mounted his horse very early IN
r..u.iuirE al Montpelier and had gone
l. noon 90 uearl, the lower end OF the
county. when he met Leland, also on
.ol-.ta,A. coming up the turnpike, near
tt.- remarkable Oah. Leland frankly tO!u
N. Nail-1u the ground of bis opposition
I.. that he had fought IN almost hll
.t th. battle. Of the Revolution. was nj
f.. surrender at Yorktown 10 cast on tue
l.., - Great l}ritain's strong govern
-.,. rurg up her rights 10 another
..,rrum,ut which would IN time absorb
HI the ullts and powers OF the States
r ID. people: that AS he had lam In
tl.l,yer Jall for cOnsclences SAKE and tor
t a. the duty to which he had been
gt.cj, be- feared that this government
f..ht interfere Tlth the freedom OF
..tlou lu religion among the people
So 1920. with the power Of the purse ana
t. sword, n had degraded 10 mere sub
I..t4 Mr.. Madlsou's task 10 reply was 10
.r'.E into use the most remarkable and
-...r~stul traits OF his mind ana charac-
.r Nut coutradlotIng but seeming 10
,r.. with Leland, he calmly and almost
...-l-Ib.y answered one by one the strong
point, # the preacher. which were more
rEed by passion than by reason.
SETTLED.
They bad first commenced talking on
'-.back They tired, and aIghting
.r.n their horses tied their brides 10 ID =
.u.,riLe limbs Of the oak. They talked
tl-iiLs. They sat down, talking III the
l..- If the tree from UoVn until evening;
10 rev late The sun had disappeared
u.d.r the blue line of the southwest
utain. when Leland rose and said,
" SIP. Madison. 1 will vote for YOU" Mr..
" .nsan replied. Then will be elected. y
fi, polls OF the people of Orange de-
..L.tln a few DAYS that james Madison
....,d have a place and exert hIs immense
. f.rlce ia a deliberatlve body, whose
aeon has moulded the destinleS OF this
great repablic Of America; whose progress
. without example. aud whose great
t.f.rc no one can fOretel.
THE PARSONS PINE.
o., passengers on the Farmyille and
loNlatau railway soon after leaving Cum
itr.ud Courthouse NAV observe pear the
tack u the right gong up "A small cot
.,.. ~ one story and Gofmer windows.
.I and dilapidaied.- tms vas the resi-
O are ol the parspn IN the DAYS OF the Is
Hhl-hment, erected upon the glehe land
.. IItteton Parish. Cumberland county.
~.,.ral hundred yards IN front OF tho
..u,e before TIE war there stood plno
wee. then SO much clipped on the side for
lakewood that it, fall could be ant'ci-
pa',i ia few years. II has fallen now
atIItis difficult 70 ind the stump. Ihls
wa toe once famous Parsons Pine.
iu the commencement Of our reEoi n
..lUry struggle ~ i776, the parson OF the
iaIlsn aud incumbent of the glehe, wis
i.s Koy. Christopher McRae. He was a
N..FrItYau eAurafaI at E1ln luTgn