Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1894-03-08

pdtEiots WHO otkE7@ 1<tt utuou lOf
rights and princir ubich we now
enjoy; so engroe ii deed, are
we in the pursuit. gain that we
can not turn our j DDS to them for
a moment, nor We particular
whether the gro AZ generation
know of such herr men as Bacon,
Washington and others that the
whole world, much les these United
States, look upon with reverence.
Bacon great! win exclaim the
neglected youth Of to-day with blank
amazement. Who is he? Where
was he born? In which period did
he live? These and many other
such questions would be asked in
one breath.
To forget the deeds Of chivalry,
the enthusiastic energy, the elegant
oratory of "the Cromwell Of Vir-
ginia," show our fraternal love for
those who laid down their lives in
upholding freedom and righteous
ness, and by thus doing, opposing
tyranical rule. Was it not Nathan
iel Bacon who over hundred years
ago set the wheel Of revolution re-
volving? Was it not he whom we
seem to hear ia 1876 agitating the
elements which sounded like the
distant roll of thunder that was to
grow louder and louder until at
length it burst upon the country
with terrific and fearful noise that
Jared the very earth by its fury.
1t has been said, and truly so,
that no man is great except by COM
p4rison. Let us take short BIO
graphical sketch of the life Of Bacon
with Washington, "the Father of
Our Country" constantly before
us and see il this young Rebel is
not worthy of the name of good and
galeant soldier. This done, we will
be the better able to judge whether
he was prompted by ambition or
guided by love Of country to such
acts of hostilifies as he committed.
Bacon was born in England, but
having spent his fortune there de-
termined to come to Virginia to re-
cuperate. With the assistance of
Nathaniel Bacon, ST., his cousin,
but called by some historians uncle,
Bacon was enable to purchase a
plantation called the "Curles. At
this place he lived in quietude for
about four years, steadily gaining
the love and respect of all around
him. Nor were the leading men of
the Commonwealth blind to his
abilities; this is shown by his being
appointed member of the Kings
Council, an honor only conferred
upon men Of mature age and large
estates.
Sir Williarn Berkeley was govern
or of Virginia at this time and mo-
nopolized the Indian beaver-skin
trade, thereby making himself very
unpopular; to add to this dissatis-
faction, the people were suffering
greatly from the heavy taxes i'm
posed upon them by England.
These were unsurportable of them
selves. but to make bad worse, the
Indians began to commit outrages
and brutality on the border set
tiers. These settlers turned to
Berkeley for protection, but he fail
ed to give help, and what was still
worse, continued to trade with the
savages. Such proceedings were
calculated to raise storm of indig-
nation and contempt for the old
Cavalier. Bacon, the impetuous
youth Of twenty-eight, threatens
that if the Indians attack his plan
tation, near whore the present city
of Richmond now stands, he will
make war on them, commission or
no commission. An opportunity
soon arrived for him to put his
threats into practice, as the Indians
not only rayished his place. but
killed the over-seer and one servant.
He, true to his word, raised his
flag and friends soon gathered
around his standard, but, before
starting. he asked Berkeley for a
commission, which was promised
but delayed. After waiting until all
patience was exhausted he address
ed bis followers with enthusiastic
words, telling them that he intend
ed to march Immediately against the
Indians. He met aud defeated
them at place called Bloody Run.
rarra6 f~axr 41.n hlns a.