The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-08-01
The Lancaster Unveilinr

The Lancaster snVelNng.
At the Lancaster unveiling Of por-
traits last month"; Rev. DR.. T. 5
Dunaway, a native Of Lancaster, made
the prin ncipal speech
DR.. D., after expressing his high ap.
probation Of the honor conferred on
him by the invitation 10 be present
and take part in the unique and ap.
propiate memorial exercises Of this
hour, and saying the occasion with all
its environments was one Of deep and
thrilling interest to him, and saying,
that IN inaugurating the plan Of pro-
curing the pictures Of the deceased Of
licers Of th5 courts in the various coun.
ties Of the judicial circuit, and hanging
them in the various court rooms. Judge
T. r b Wright had shown an appre-
citation Of merit, a knowledge Of hu
man nature, and the means Of its i'm
proment. love Of justice. tact and
a wisdom which reflect great credit
on the Judge. then said
when Moses, Israel's distinguished
leader. law -giver, statesman. and war-
rior, came to Horeb and witnessed the
strange spectacle of the burning, yet
unconsnmed bush, he heard voice
saying to him. pat off thy shoes
from of thy feet. for the place whereon
thou standest is holy grounds. "
And so after a residentiary absence Of
nearly third Of century, coming
ta3k to my birthplace and the scenes
Of my boyhOod and early manhood, and
standing in this temple Of justice. to
participate with my fellow-citizens in
these exercises. memorial Of the hon
ored dead / seem to hear voice whis.
pering to me, put off thy shoes from
off thy feet for the place whereon thou
standest is holy ground. "
Impartial history shows that the
most renowned spot on the American
continent is the little peninsular on
which we stand today, lying between
the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers.
Of this peninsular. which the gifted.
but eccentric John Randolph, Of ROa-
noke, called the ''Outside row, Bis
hop Meade says in his Old Churches
and Families of Virginia, by reason
Of the worth. talents and patriotism
which once adorned the Northern Neck
it was called the Athens of Virginia "
This little district of country which is
still noted for its intelligence. refine
ment, hospitality, patriotism and love of
law and order, furnished three of the
most distinguished presidents of the
United States, Washington, Madison
and Monroe, who together filled that
high office for twenty-four years, or
nearly one-fourth of the time from the
foundation of the government, to the
present day.
1t also gave to the country Light
Horse Harry Lee, Of glorious Revolu.
tionary memory Richard Henry Lee,
the mover OF the Declaration of Inde.
psndence; Charles Lee. Washington's
Attorney General; Francis LightfoOt
Lee, the signer of the Declaration of
Independence Arthur Lee, the accom-
plished negotiator Of the treaty of COM
merce and alliance between this coun-
try and France in IT'S; and primus
interpares the peerless Robert E Lee
of glorious Confederate fame
In the Northern Neck the first pub
lie association formed in America for
resistance to the "Stamp Act" was
organized on the 9th Of February,
1776. The address and resolutions
signed by more than 100 persons were
drawn up by Richard Henry Lee, whose
name headed the list. The 3rd reso-
luton reads, I'VE do determine at
every hazard. and paying no regard to
danger or death, we will exert every
faculty to prevent the execution of the
Stamp Act in every instance whatever
in this Colony.
My limited time does not permit me
to mention by name many other dis
tinguished citizens, soldiers. patriots,
statesmen and jurists born and reared
in the Northern Neck. some Of whom
"haye fallen on sleep, while others re-
main unto this present." all Of them
worthy sons Of illustrious sires
Narrowing the field Of my vision and
confning my thoughts to some OF the
noted persons born and reared in the
little county of Lancaster, l mention
Mary Ball, who gave birth to and rear
ed the immortal Washington, a woman
more honored in her offspring than the
famous mother of the Gracchi. Besides
other distinguished citizens and minis
ters this little county gave to the Meth
odist Church two honored Bishops |
-Enoch George and David s. Doggett
But I must now confine my remarks
to the distinguished citizsns, whose
portraits it is my duty and privilege |
now to present to the court to be hung |
in this temple Of Justice. mention
with laudabIe pride and sincere vene.
ration the names of Dol John Chow
ming, Col Addison Hall, Judge A. B.