The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-12


of any young man until he had served
long enough IN the patriot army TO de-
monstrate by his yIlor that nc was
worthy OF their love.
INTRODUCTION OF SLAVERY.
The meeting OF the first legislative as
sembly on the Goth OF July 1913, was fol-
lowed a month later by another event of
far-reaching consequences refer TO the
arrival at jamestown Of n Dutch man-of-
war with twenty negroes on board. That
were sold To the colonists. This was the
first introduction OF African slavery into
virginia. She protested from time TO time
against any increase In the number OF
slaves by direct importation ana enacted
many laws for the prevention OF the slave
trade. which were vetoed by the sovereign
power OF England. When the Federal
Constitution was formed in l'S5. the slave
trade was permitted TO continue until 1905
Notwithstanding the earnest protest OF the
Virginia delegates in the convention. ana
as result OF a combination between the
New England States and some OF the cot
ton States. This peculiar institution mas
persisted amid the throes OF mighty re-
volution. While our people generally re-
Joice on account of its abolition. ana none
OF them desire its restoration. ! am one
of those who believe it was not an UNI
mixed evil. As far as the African was
concerned, 1t lifted him from the depths OF
barbarism and ignorance, and elevated
him to such "A high state OF civilization
and intelligence that after the termination
of the Civil War he was deemed by those
I'm authority worthy to be clothed with all
the rights OF American citizenship, and
to participate in the delicate ana respon-
sible functions of government. So far as
effects OF the institution was to create
a race OF men who have never been sur
passed In any age Of the worlds history
for lofty independence Of character. and
all those high qualities that constitute
true manhood. Edmund Burke. the great
English statesman. in his speech on con-
ciliation with America, delivered in the
British Parliament attributed the de-
velopment OF the. spirit OF liberty among
the masters of slaves to the fact that
they were accustomed 10 command. He
said the people Of the Southern colonies
are much more strongly and with high
CT and much more stubborn spirit at
tached To liberty than those northward."
From the earliest days OF the colony,
tho Virginians have been especially dis
tinguished for their strong love Of liberty.
and their sturdy spirit of independence.
In 1924 their house Of Burgesses declared
that the Governor shall not lay any
taxes or imposts on the colony their
lands or commodities. otherwise than by
the authority Of the General Assembly.
TO be levied and employed as SAID as
scmbly snail appoint"
BACON'S REBELLION.
In 1851 Cromwell sent Commissioners.
accompanied by a fleet and clothed with
full power. 10 bring Virginia into subjec
ton TO the Commonwealth. But she was
prepared 10 resist. until articles OF agree
ment were entered into. which provided.
among other things that the General
Assembly as formerly shall convene and
transact the affairs Of Virginia. and Viz
ginia shall be free from all taxes. imposts
and customs whatsoever. and none TO be
imposed without the consent Of the Cen
crai Assembly"
In 1916 a volunteer organization Of Viz
ginians. under the leadership OF Nathaniel
Bacon defied the Royal authority on ac-
count of the manner in which Gov.
Berkeley abused ii in his commercial rela-
tions with The Indians. Bacon having
been proclaimed a rebel. drove Berklev
out OF the capital and burned jamestown.
such was the tyrannical and overbearlng
spirit manifested by Berkeley towards the
colonists. that he was cordially hated and
u'0plSeu bg tnen. lie Wreaked his ven
geance upon those who had driven him
from the capital. In the language Of an
ancient Burgess. be- would have hanged
one-half the country if he had been LET
alone. and Charles IT, declared THAT old
Tool has hanged more men I'm that naked
country than ! have done here for the
murder of my father" An insight into
ms real character may be had from his
olhclal correspondence. In f67i ne wrot.
10 the Lords Commissioners Of Foreign
Plantations as follows: We have forty
eight parishes and our ministers are wen
paid. and by my consent should be better
If they would pray oftener and preach
less. thank God there are no free
schools nor printing. and hope we shall
nol nave these hundred years. for learn
ing mas brought disobedience and heresv
INTO the world. ana printing has divulged
thehl' ana llbels against the best govern
ment. God help rs from both"
Notwithstanding that Virginia was
prlnclapply settled by Englishmen ana
was the most loyal Of all the colonies
she took the lead I'm resisting the ever
else or arbitrary power by the mother
country ana IN inaugurating the Ameri-
can revolution. On the 18th OF MAY Ia,
her House Of Burgcsscs adopted Tho
memorable resolutions offered by Patrick
Henry which claimed for the General A.
seinDy the exclusive power to Law faxes
ana lnlposts upon the inhabitants Of the
colony ana denounced the Stamp act
which had just then been passed by
Parliament. as Illegal. unconstitutional
unjust and having manifest tendency
10 destroy British as well as American
liberty Ia l1Gy Virginia induced tho
ether colonies To stand by Massachusetts,.
when she was singled out for punishment
on account OF her assertion Of the rights
of the colonies. The historian Bancroft
I'm referring 70 her resolution adopted on
that occasion and her address To- the king
says OF them: They were calm i'm man
ncr. concise. simple. effective. so perfect
In substance and In form that time finds
no omission 10 regret no Improvement to
suggest"
The British Ministry having refused 10
abandon their arbitrary measures. not