The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-10

llCCGSSaTy Ill Tic tTB1LlSe OI llllS
The critic next goes OH to say that the
author Undertakes to say without war
rant of authority from the deed of ees-
sion of Virginia. or her legislative action,
that she asserted no claim beyond The
flst parallel and limited her grant by
claims any such assertion nowhere
state that Virginia. asserted no claim
beyond the list parallel. But as the oth-
er States cedcd the territory north OF list
degree and Congress accepted their ces-
stons did not deem 1t necessary to en-
ter into the details of these counter
claims.
Now, beg permission to say that.
though was born in New England and
all my ancestors back to 1Gif we're born IN
that section Of our country. claim not
to have knowingly or Willingly any sec
tional twang." Moreover, | have the
greatest respect for the grand old State
OF Virginia, the Mother OF Presidential.
though may perhaps offend our good
sister Ohio, that modest little State which
lies on both sides of the 4lst parallel. by
continuing that appellation TO the Oid
Dominion. She Is still entitled to ~ Pos-
sibly Ohio, II she keeps on as she mas be-
gun, may In tirno outstrip her competitor,
vet that day is clearly In the future 1
would not do wrong to Virginia or to
any one Of the states. am pleased to
zee state pride. 1t exists everywhere.
1t is found alike in Little Rhode, the
smallest In area, and In Texas. the broad
est Of all the States. VIrginians are war
ranted in being Jealous OF the good name
of their State. They may well be proud
Of t. whether they regard It's present or.
It's past. lJ2 81.
Virginia is noble State, with great
deeds In her history. and she has pro-
duced many mon Of whom wo are Justly
proud. all OF us-Yankees. Southerners
and Westerners alike. Let us not be
jealous Let us not be SO much Massa-
chusetts men and Tirgnians. but A1neri-
cans all. Our great Republic was never
forging ahead with like speed and power
as at tho present time. For one. I re-
joice In being an American. citizen OF
tho greatest Of Anglo-Saxon nations, pro-
tected by that glorious old banner. the
stars and Stripes. God bless virginia
and long-live America, ,,ox
Hyde Park. Mass.
THE CRITICS REPLY.
To the Editor OF The Times-Dispatch:
DR.. Alowry takes two exceptions to the
review OF his book.
We will consider first the smaller which
no places second and Is really subordinate
to the other. Flo objects to the criticism
that In his narrative OF the Northwest
Territory he does injustice to virginia a
full discussion Of this matter would In
VOlSc Time ana space, Which 10 uuheSco-
snry to vindicatc the criticism Of the re-
viewer. a brief statement of historic
facts, contemporaneou with the State
grants to facilitate harmonious and per-
manent Union and which Is essential 10
any fair consideration OF tho Virginia
grant Will suffice.
This Northwest Territory, out Of
which has been carved the now great
states OF Ohio Indiana. Illinois. Michigan
and Wisconsin, was. during the colonial
era. dominated by nomadic Indian tribes.
While France retained possession OF Cana
da sho had, through her pioneers Ito
large extent Jesuit missionarieD and
through her adroit manipulation of the In
dans, and establishment of forts along
the Lakes and the Mississippi acquired
plausible right to claim the whole OF this
territory as part OF her Canadian do
main.
When her possession OF Canada WAS
ousted by the capture OF Quebec, and the
custer fully recognized in her treaty with
Great Britain in ,17G3, all British Cana
dang. sustained by the publicists Of Great
Britain. claimed this territory as n part
Of. the Quebec conquest and OF the ter
| ritory OF Canada. AS such the old French
forts on tina Lakes and the Mississippi
| were manned with British and Canadian
troops and quasi allegiance Of the sur
! rounding Indians was courted, and to g.
very great extent secured.
l LII tIllS DOSllOU Oh SIIdlIS Inc JkcNolu.s
| ton broke out in 1775. and the colonies
declared their Independence In 1916. II
| Great Britain had acquiesced In this
| claim, no coIonst could have then asked or
| expected the recognition of n western
boundary which would have embraced an
acre OF this Northwest territory. During
the Revolutionary War the Continental
Congress and the Continental Army con-
tributed nothing to the acquisition Of any
portion of this territory. The State OF
New York, In the protection OF her border
people against Indians, occupants OF tho
adjacent territory. did expend no little in
men and money. but Connecticut and
Massachusetts, removed In their extreme
western settlements hundreds OF miles,
did not turn a hand In men or money to
win this territory or to change In one
single degree of longitude the possessory
rights of the States when they declared
their Independence.
3ut Virginia assumed the laborlns oar,
and by her own troops and treasury cap
tured from Great Britain the Cis- Missls-
sippl forts, expelled British soldiery and
sympathIzIng British camp followers and
people, conquered possession, secured the
recognition by the then settlers OF her
sovereign jurisdiction and organized her
county OF Illinois. When. therefore, Great
Britain, abandoning her efforts TO SUB ,.
due the American States consented
to treat with them as Independent ma
lions In the adjustment of boundaries.
she was confronted with the fact that
Virginia was then In actual possession
end occupancy Of the s-Mssissippt
shore. That actual possession by VIZ
ginla was the pivotal consideration which
constrained the recognition OF the Mis-
sissippi as the western and the Lakes as
our northern boundary. And, as in the
Treaty Of Peace, Great Britain did not
and could not recognize the independence
OF the United States as unit but only
as the plural name of an aggregate OF
designated states her recognition of
the Independence of Virginia carried with
it. in the concession of boundary lines, all
her original or pendented bello acquired
title. It Is true. however. that Virginia,