The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-15
VIRGINIA'S DEEDS FOR
AMERICAN EXPANSION
Interesting Paper Bearing Upon the Ter
Centenary Jamestown Celebration.
HER SONS HAVE OPENED THE WAY

strucl, to that of Virginia. that vast
territory which Virginia later yielded iol
the sake of the Union, and out OF "h'ch
have been carved Ohio. Indiana, LIMOS
! Wisconsin and Michigan.
/ JEFFERSON AND EXPANSION.
4 That piece of voluntary contraction did
not check the eNpansionist tendencies OF
/ Virginia, for Thomas Jefferson. suEordi-
/ mating political theories to common sense
] in dealing with nlomentous matters. added
! Louisiana to the United States. and snort
lily sent two other Eirsinians-Meri-
wethcr Lewis and William Clark-on
their great overland tour through that
! territory TO the Pacific coast, CARRYING
! the trail of Spotswood's knights 4'co
| miles nearer CathaI and paving the way
I for the settlement of Oregon WITHIN our
domain forty years later
The Constitution, which James Madl-
son helped to frame and of which he
was one of the ahlest expounders. re-
CURED Interpretation. This task fell TO
the lot of John Marshall, who, as Chlef
Justice. gave decisions equallng in their
power for Strengthening the Union the
deeds of Eirg:nians il the field and IN
the forum.
The rise of democracy consequent upon
the wonderful growth Of this Western
republic was n menace to European apso-
lutism. The cndeavor to check the
growth of the idea of constitutional gov
crnment resulted in the formation of the
| Holy Alliance with despotic Russia, as
the Prime mover. This alliance propos-
ed not merely to be resistant. but also,
! it was thought to become an active prop
agandist Of its decadent theory. To
meet this. James Monroe enunciated his
;oy, No ,f,-n m
influential for America than ever before
lis immediate effect was seen in the linn
itation of Russian power in the West
ern continent. in that nation combining
/ itself to Alaska which subsequently was
/ TO become part of United States terri
! tory-the first of any Importance acquired
! without the influence or the active work
Of a Eirginian.
FLORIDA AND TEXAS
Under Monroe's administration, Florida
j became United States territory. Vir-
ginian of pioneer stock was active in
/ Florida but his restlessness carried him
from Tennessee, his adopted State, where
he had been Governor. to the land beyond
the Sabine which. at the Eattle Of San
Jacinto, he seized from Mexico, and set
it upon the career of an Independent
State. 1t was impossible for it to re-
! 1liIl! III llldl cpIlui llbii. anu Vel ScCii
Sam Houston was found working with
John Tyler and his virginian Secretary
of State Upshur, for adding the Lone
Star to the Union.
The expected struggle shortly followed
land the armies of Winfield Scott and
Zachary Taylor, two Virginians born,
carried the light TO the walls of Mexico
and brought about the peace which adj
ded another vast region TO the United
States.
Not only were Virginians prominent il
feat at arms and in diplomacy for en-
larging the borders of this country, bu
they eXerted wonderful influence in tn
quieter, though none the less effective
line Of endeavo., The most notable. per
haps, OF this litter class was Matthew I
MaurE, tn Pathfinder Of the Seas" II
a marvf otis degree he combined a. know
ed"" vi the twin necessities of the coun
y, the navy and the merchant marine
He was the generator of the Naval Acad
envy and practically created the Nava
Observatory. lie suggested the feasibil
ity of the Atlantic cable laid upon The
ocean bed His Wind and Current
Charts and his Sailing Directions" en-.
larged the possibilities of American com
merce, as we'll as that of other nations
and his arguments in favor of direc
communication between Southern ports
and those Of South America, and Europe
and OF the construction of an Isthmial
Canal, opening the Pacific lands to tn.
trade of the United States, are as poten
now as when they were first advanced
half u century ago.
SAVED NEW ENGLAND.
If it had not been for Virginia, New
England may have starved to death 26
years ago. In Virginia was set the ex
ample of local government in this coun
try in the Assembly Of 1919. Governor
Berkeley. with all his reputed narrow.
ness, was Interested in extending thu
power Of the English beyond the foothill
Of the Alleshanies; Alexander Spots
wood gave 4 spur to the settlement o
the Virginia valley, in which was borr
an aggressive race of lovers OF freedom
and pioneer stock which pushed the
boundaries of this country farther an,
farther west 10 the shores of the Pacific
and it was not by accident that the leaC
er Of. American forces on the march Il
!, Tien-Tsin in the summer of 1900 wa:
the TirGiHian, Major Waller.
For three hundred years Virginia ha
given her sons and her daughters to be
come State-lruilders. Their descendant
by the millions have comminSleti with tn
descendants of pioneers III other parts Q
the country. In remembrance of Vir
ginia's achievements for the country
they should unite to make the James
! TOWN crIphT1 finn Of 1907 fha -rcatoc+ y