The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-02

| sands OF virginia's dearest sons. you vii
unite with me In the fervent ejaculation
! Would to God those first twenty negroes
| had been the last
But In nothing is Virginia's glorious rec
ord more unassailabc than In her course
toward the negro slaves. The subject
Is one which some day and by some wor-
thier hand than mine will be explored
and lad bare. but, by whomsoever. Nir-
| ginia's place is fixed; If he is just TO her
he shall bring forth her righteousness as
the light and her judgment as the noon
Day"
AGAINST sLAvK-TRADING.
Mr.. Bryan showed that Virginia at a
very early day tried to suppress the slave
trade. In discussing this question, he re-
ferred to a singular fact as follows:
1t should be noted right here that II II
is not capable of demonstration it is 10
the highest degree probable that the
very Mayfower which brought over the
Pilgrim fathers was subsequently devoted
TO the piOus purpose OF saving negro
souls by bringing them from Africa TO be
S, ID as slaves TO Christian masters.
There was certainly ship Maynower. Of
the same tonnage. soon after the pilgrims
landed, sailing as an African SLAYER.
But this Is not material. All Christen-
dem was then In this business, and the
only point we should note IS that the
first TO get out of it was Virginia.
Two years after the Declaration OF
Independence. in us Virginia led the
world in passing the first law 10 crush
forever so pernicious and Infamous Z
commerce; and thus nearly thirty years
before 1t was done by England.
We have seen how it was imposed on
her by England. and kept on her by the
alliance of New England slave
traders with southern planta-
ton owners the latter hav-
ing infinitely the more honorable and
meritorious cause. And when. a last. the
Commonwealth acquired the power 10 di-
rect her policy. the number Of slaves
had so increased within her boundaries
and the institution had become 50 woven
into the warp and wool Of the very
existence of the State. that 1t was impos-
sible to remove them In any way with
out so rending her social and industrial
organization that no man could predict
the result, and some Of the truest friends
of liberty dared not face the conse-
queEces. And so. when the great trial
of battle came. Virginia stood before
those southern States--her beloved sis
ters-who had thwarted the wise plans OF
her far-seeing sons, and barred her arms
10 defend them. and interposed her bosom
10 receive the mortal stabs OF those very
freedom shreekers who had shackled her
to the slave-the most splendid picture
in this book of time.
LiNCoLN
Whatever merit belongs to those who
a last set the negroes free has been
idealized and personiiied in Abraham
Lincoln man, who in my opinion. VIII
continue to grow I'm the love and admira-
ton Of coming generations. Those or us
who remember our feelings during the
war must be astonished at the change
which has come over them in regard 10
Mr. Lincoln. His wisdom, his sense OF
justice, his tenderness. and MS nrm-
ness. his simple devotion to the Great
Cause. in which his life was sacrificed. all
bespeak for him from impartial minds
high place among the towering sons or
America.
This Lincoln, though born in Kentucky,
was the child of parents which were
born in Virginia, of undistinguished tam-
iies His law partner and faithful DO
grapher Herndon. relates that IN con-
versation. while travelling together, Lin
coin told him that his mother Nancy
Hanks. was the natural child of Lucy
Hanks, and of a well-bred. but unknown
Virginia planter. and enumerated the
qualities he thought he inherited from
her. and said that he believed that his
better nature and inner qualities came
from this broad minded, but unknown.
Virginia. The revelation, says Herndon,
painful as II was, called up the recollec-
ton of his mother and AS the buggy
ioted over the road. he added ruefully.
God bless my mother; all that | am or
ever hope to be | owe TO her AMI Inn
medis tely lapsed into silence. And so, at
last, was reserved for a Nirginian in
blood-however obscure it waste re-
ceive the applause for an act done In
violence and blood. which Virginia, OF
the nOblest ancestry. nearly hundred
years before had striven to do in peace
.lnnA III a