The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-22

were laws that We're 20 be enforced III lhs
time Of the American Revolution. Dlu
Lord Chatham 20 for enforcing those
laws? No. he gloried IN me ueleiIuo Oh
the liberties of America.
Here was an imperial empire, four times
as large as either Germany or france,
peoplcd by a se.f-reii1nt race, the de-
gcoudants Of men who d es ,abiished tne
great principle that the power To- ue-
terrnine their form of government SIS III
hereu, in the people. and avoacnine .hese
fac.. they demanded II theii sister COM
mouweaths OF The Union and me W0lid,
what they regarded was "a b.rshHghl De-
oueath,d them by The falhers.IO maintain
This principle the Confederate soldier
fought. and sealed with his lie his de-
votion 10 the cause. The country at
whose call he went forth 90 battle. now
aupeals 10 the world for "a recognition OF
tbe high motives which impeled his con-
duct. and an aclInow iodgmont of the great
avowal that he died Tor principle.
N1RGINIAs LOVE FOR THE UNION.
But while Virginia VS. foremost among
the states in her efforts 10 maintain their
rights. she was none the less conspicuous
In her efforts 10 preserve the Union.
While Jealous of the rights of local self
government. as the surcst guarantee of
The liberties Of the citizen. she none the
less loved the Union. In every stage of
The coutry's history. and AZ no time more
earnestly than in the fateful days of letv-
81 the dominant element OF The Virginia
people stood as well for the Union Of the
states az for the rights OF the States.
The part which Virginia played in tho
formation of the government ana ln
augmenting the glory and power 81 the
Union. may he found on every page Of our
l.
Patrick Henry. who as far back as ti65.
prepared the resolutions d nOuncing the
Stamp Act. and supported them with his
thrilling arraignment of British tyranny.
Il was Virginia who proposed the Com
mittee Of Correspondence between the
colonies. from which sprung The Continen-
tai Congress. She gave 10 that body lis
President In the person OF Peyton Ran
doph and fired the representatives, Of the
several colonies with the spirit OF CO.
operation and nationalism in the words
OF her Henry, who declared:
british oppression has effaced the
boundaries of the several colonies. The
distinctions between Nreinians, Penn
sylvanlans. New Workers and New Eng
landcrs are no more. ! am not Nir-
ginian, but an American
WAsHINGToN's WORDS.
And in the brave words of her Wash
ington before the convention
II will raise Loo men; suDsist them at
my own expense. and march myself at
their head for the relief Of Boston,
words Of patriotism breathing a love for
the whole coun;ry-qu.ckly 10 be followed
by the march Of Nirginians under Daniel
Morgan, 10 the succ0r OF that besieged
city.
1t was her Legislature that passed the
resolution calling upon Congress TO de-
clare that the colonies were free and indie
pendent States. II was Richard Henry
Lee who submitted this brave motion.
and Thomas Jef rson who penned the
Declaration. IL was her great son who
took command Of the Continental Armies.
and under his matohless leadership
brought victory to cause which. but for
him. would undoubtedly have suffered
overwhelming defeat
While bearing hr part IN maintaining
lie cause OF The colonies in their great
struggle With the mother country. shs