The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-01

Il
to speak this night with voices as free
as the winds that blow from the blue
/ mountains OF Virginia. as free as the
| voice OF the waters OF the rivers as they
roll on to the ocean. forever speaking Of
| the struggles for freedom has upon their
shores.
II is natural that Virginia should take
| the deepest interest In such an associa-
/ ton, and on her behalf. he said we we've
proud 10 have so many distinguished rep
resentative men here from a distance.
and felt ourselves highly honored i'm hav-
ing the meeting OF the national congress
at this place. The gentlemen having the
management OF this affair had deemed
II not at all improper or amiss under
the circumstances that special toast
should be given to Virginia. and that ne
had been appointed TO respond TO this
toast.
STATE PRIDE.
Virginia speakers and orators have been
frequently severely criticised for their
cxtravagant encOmiums on their State, in
season and out of season, and there can
be no doubt that there is just ground for
such criticism. one thing, however,
may be said that the people Of Virginia
are never reluctant TO bestow praise
where 1t is justly deserved. However
extravagant our laudatlons OF our
own State may be. we are always ready
to pay just tribute 20 the citizens and
people OF other States.
We justly boast. said Judge Staples that
George Washington was born and reared
and died on the soil of Virginia. but we
never forget that his appointment as Com
manderin-Chief of the American forces
was made by the nomination and on the
recommendation Of the distinguished son
of Massachusetts.
II is a source OF just pride to US that
Thomas Jefferson, the great apostle OF
liberty. whose splendid statue adorns this
magnificent building was the author oil
the Declaration Of Independence but we
do not fan 10 remember that John
Adams, his great coadiutor declared that
sink or swim, live or die survive or
perish" he would stand by the Declara-
ton.
a man frequenting the precincts or 81.
Johns church on yOnder hill, almost
sees the presence OF the immortal spirit
lowering around him there. lie can
catch the echoes Of Henry's immortal
eloquence when he aroused tho country
to the declaration Of war against the
British Government.
While we feel an honest pride in these
efforts Of the great statesman and ora
tor. we DO not lose sight OF the fact that
James Otis. OF Massachusetts. as far
back as 1850. took ground against the
writs Of assistance, as they were termed.
and delivered speech in defence OF the
constitutional rights OF the colonies which
will live as long "a the Declaration OF
Independence viii stand.
But said he. Jealous as we are or the
fair fame and honor Of the old Mother
state, we must ever maintain that the
first General Assembly, composed or the
representatives OF the people. that ever
met on American soil, convened at James
town on the 3Oth of July, 1913, to enact
laws for tee people OF Virginia. This
has been well declared by my honored
friend the Hon. William WHIT Henry
10 have been the beginning or the Tree
institutions I'm America.
ANOTHER REASON FOR PRIDE.
There is another fact which we as Viz
cinians can never recur 20 without
re.ding of lust pride. The celebrated
Stamp Act. passed by the British Pariia-
ment i'm July 1865. encountered the hISt
opposition from the state OF virginia
This was all the more remarkable ne
cause Virginia formed into a colony al
the beginning Of the reign OF James -
and. being an agricultural state or aris-
tocr-atic habits and tastes, strongly sym
natbized in all her movements win the
a
for its LOYAL and constant allegiance 10
,bo King 10 the established Church' ana
-, ,be british Constitution; and yet these
mon reared in principles OF allegiance 20
tho british Government, dld not h'sl-
tate 70 yindicate their rights as lItrenl''
~, aver,, occasion when those rights were
threatened with violation. $50,
II was upon the occasion or the HldIP
Act that Patrick Henry, then gouns
LAWYER. and member OF me 49,,
- Iurgesses. introduced his ceieo'a1cu
u.ai,,t,or i'm which ne declared thal
49, Caneral Assembly had the exclusive
III, ond mower TO lay taxes ana lhpos'-
.iens on the inhabitants Of virginia.
eri,o sneaker said he could not refrain
-. ,,,ar,ionine another fact-that VI"
- bad very little pecuniary lhiereS.
- s'' ,ha question which led 20 the war VI
so hut no sooner did the ts'sih SCUM
ord the alarm given, thah 80
eetnned into the arena'reau! " ,o'. No
I'm the great struggle ia ~ povo-
',reat principles established D9 '''e
luton. NO SUPPRESSION.
10 -ot hesitate 20 sLy thai Wynn
torcs majority OF her people were
49,. onnosed 10 the doctrine ~
le.,,,S VirEiria was devoted Z ule
Tnion. as established by her ia'hels "'.e
,~,,sad tho dissolution with feelings ot
.eo,,,,a4st regret AMI sorrow ""i
''e ~ the crisis cane. Wen II -
Ss,tdent that war was ineU. ao.e' AUu '''"'
49, must mite with the FEEDER "oN'''-
mt ", coercing the scced 81 states
l,ond nv them in the great stTrSh -
Virginia never hesitatcd 'or a. n.y..
she sided with them, 10 p"' w. -,
rioht as she understood H. lot ~ ~"
oe nor uubic statesmen wen hn'"'
y-o,,id be 10 make her terrier. w
tb.atre of the great condi;t "i armits 10
hloet her work Of civilization ana peace
~ uran her towns and cities H. h"FF''
ord 70 cover the fertile iieius WI iui"'
of deserted dwellings. -,...-..a
There were extraordinary 1tti sioha AFRO AFRO
nreiudices on both sides Of the M
neople of the North had been taught 10
believo that the South had been so emo
waited and demoraized by the INSTITUTION
- eIoverv bv vicious and mNurio l5
bobtts mat they were Incapable OF con-
d,ctinp a protracted struggle, ana thti
they could readily suppress ="
beilion within thirty or Sixty Gay 's
an army marching TO Richmond.
wears of war have removed these delu-
sions. the sons Of the planters. the ioN
bunting descendants of the eneie ans
tocracv. showed a power OF heroic az
durance never surpassed. They rode iHto
hattie amid the storm Of shot and snsli
with as gay and gallant demtdnor'
with as perfect abandon as knight
ever entered the lists OF y modern tour
nament and went down on the sd