The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-06-23
ROOSEyELT'S SPEECH AT CHAR
Louisville.

ROOSEA Ellis SftEjH Al NuAh
Louisville.
In his speech at Charlottesville
Tuesday. President Roosevelt re
ferred to the vast territory which
had become a part Of our country,
and the larger part, as the work oil "A
virginian or the descendant OF "a Nlr-
giniau. He said he had just finished
a trip across the continent, and
Coming back from across the Aueghan-
ies in the path across the mountains
which men OF Virginia first crossed e.
found the Commonwealth OF Kentucky
ON the other side OF that, across the
Ohio, which was crossed 10y y militar!
force carrying the American dag Tor I'd,
first time when son OF Virginia, GeOrge
Rodgers Clark led his little band OF back
woods rifiemen TO conquer what Is nov
the heart OF this republic and that IN tho
middle OF the Revolutionary war; thei
across the Mississippi and going through
that region OF prairie, plain and noun
tain. now dotted with cities each tillec
with fruits OF our material civilization
cities placed upon spots which were IN.
known to any map maker but centur!
ago, going through that region to the
Pacific ocean. | have gone through the
regions which marx the two Creates
territorial expansions of this nation. the
greatest OF all which in it's acquisition is
in itself a tribute TO all men, but most to
that man who founded this university
President Thomas Jefferson lapplause r.
and which was explored again by two.
virginians born not far from this neigh
borhood-Lewis and Clark. And when
| got south of the limits OF the old Louis
lana purchase, came into that region
acquired as the result OF the Mexican wa
the region in territorial extent next 10
the Louisiana purchsse-and Ia that " ~
the two foremost figures were the inquire
Of two men, likewise born in Virginia
Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott
Applause
But the President might have gone
further and stated, what is true that
every foot OF territory acquired by
and coded TO the territory of the
United States, from the Confederation
TO the purchase OF Alaska, was ac-
quired directly through the agency
of a Virginian.
1t was Thomas Gilmer, OF Abe
marie. who in 1850 explored the Wild
West, discovered the Cumberland
mountains and the beautiful stream
flowing at it's foot and named them
in honor OF the Duke of Cumberland
He also explored and named the
great State of Kentucky.
In1775 when the great Northwest
territory was involved and Colonial
troops could not be spared to defend
it, Gov. Henry commissioned George
Rodgers Clark, a Fredericksburg
man, then living in Albemarle coun-
ty, to raise troops and recovered 1t.
The success OF Clark is we'll known,
and he saved to Virginia, which she
afterwards transferred to the United
States. all of that territory out OF
which the great States OF Ohio, lndl-
ana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan
and Minnesota were carved. And IN
1904. after Mr. Jefferson had made
many futile attempts to have that
great country explored, he was sue
cessiul only when he procured the ser
vices OF Meriwether Lewis, a descen-
dant OF the Fredericksburg Lewises,
and VIM. Clark, a Fredericksburg
man. The account OF their expedi-
ton through that wild country reads
more like a romance than a reality,
vet they returned without loss, save
the death OF one man from fever.
The great Louisiana purchase,
which so incensed Massachusetts, that
she threatened to secede from the
Union secession being a constitu-
tional right atthat time for herr was
made by the great Virginian, Thomas
Jefferson. In that purchase We got
what are now Louisiana, Arkansas,
Missouri, Nebraska. Iowa, Indian
Territory, North Dakota, South Da-
Montana and parts OF Wyoming and
Colorado.
B James Monroe, the author OF the
Monroe doctrine, " purchased Flor
Ida, which gave us hundreds OF miles
OF sea coast and a land that is laden
ed all the year round with fruits and
flowers.
Sam Houston. a Virginian, wrested
Texas. that great empire, from Mex
leo, and turned it over to the Gov
ment OF the United States, President
John Tyler, another Virginian, sign
ing the bill admitting it as part Of
this country.
Gems. Scott and Taylor, two Vir-
ginians, fought the war with Mexico
TO a finish, which brought to our
possessions the States of California,
Arizona and New Mexico. These are
the acquisitions up to the purchase
OF the Territory of Alaska So it
will be seen that all the territory we
have outside of the original thirteen
States up to the Civil war, was ac-
quired by Virginians, of which fact
we have a right to be proud.
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