Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1907-06-19

ginia preserve the sacred fire entrust-
ed to their keeping. In 1924 without a
dissenting voice the House of Bur
gesses enacted, that no taxes should
be levied within the colony and no
money appropriated except by its au-
thority. This bold declaration was
made years before the same was as
serted by the British Parliament
against Charles the First. This prin-
ciple that taxation is gift of the
citizens, dependent on their consent,
and not prerogative to be exercised
by rulers, is the very foundation f
all free government. This is the right
for which we contended a century
and half later in the Revolutionary
war. The germ of free institutions
was first planted and nourished in the
soil Of Virginia. Protected by brave,
loving hands, refreshed by hreoie
blood, it was strengthened, has
grown and fructifed until now it over
spreads the world. The people Of
Virginia, through their election rep
resentatives, levied and appropriated
all taxes, declared war or made peace,
guarded. their. own >forts, furnished
and commanded thein own troops and
practically exercised all the functions
of government. In 1929 Virginia
made another firm assertion Of her
privileges and rights. Charles the First
presented fattering offer to the col
ouy to give him monopoly Of their
tobacco. The assembly vigorously
protested against the monopoly, and
decisively rejected the proposal.
Charles acquiesced in this refusal,
and this King, who had ruthlessly
monopoIzed the trades and industries
of England to obtain money, dared
not to extend his despoiling hand TO
Virginia. Later Charles received a
bolder and more dangerous defiance.
He sent his Commissioners to inquire
into the affairs Of Virginia and de-
manded the public records of the
colony. The Assembly refused, in
sisting that the records were not for
the sight of the King or his Com
misioners. The Commissioners final
ly induced Sharpless, the, clerk, 10
furnish them copy of the records,
whereupon the Assembly condemned
Sharpless to stand in the pillory and
have the half of one of his ears cut
off. Here was the legislative Assem-
bly, of an infant colony, that knew It's
privileges and rights, and dared 10
maintain them against all aggressors
and at all hazards. Even this early
the torch of liberty iIlumined the
woods Of Virginia. On the 2Sth o.
April, 1856, the people of Virginia,
still more resolutely asserted their
rights. On that day the House of
Burgesses removed the Royal Cover
nor, Sir Henry Harvey, from his of.
fee on account of misconduct and
exercise of illegal powers, and elect
ed Captain John West as Governor
in his place. This preceded by years
the deposition of Charles the First by
the British Parliament. The colony Of
Virginia led the mother country in
opposition to tyranny and oppression.
and in bold maintenance of the rights
and liberty of Englishmen. This was
the first revolutionary act in Ameri-
ca; the first warning given to the
kings of the old world that their un-
worthy and arbitrary deputies in the
new world would encounter resistance
and receive decapitation.
The year 1876 was a notable one in
the annals of Virginia and marked
an important epoch in the history Of
America. Then for the first time
America with sword in hand rose 10
redress their wrongs, assert their
rights and reform government. Berk-
ley, the royal governor of Virginia,
Lad arrogated to himself all authority
and power. Having secured service
House of Burgesses, he continued its
existence from year to year and re-
fused the people the right to elect
another. He assmed the right to ap-
point all officers. The trade with the
Indians, the taxes and public lands
were corluptly appropriated by him
and his favorites. For fear of losing
the profits of the Indian trade, lie
would not protect the people from The
tomahawk of the merciless savages.
He stubbornly resisted every effort to
correct these abuses. Infamed by the
eloquence and animated by the cour-
age of Nathaniel Bacon, the people
rose in arms, drove Berkley and his
adherents from Jamestown, forced
them to seek refuge in their ships
and remote places, seized the reins OF
government and held them until the
death of Bacon. History cannot fur
n;sh more dramatic and inspiring
scene than that at the Middle Plan
tation, now Williamsburg, where On
the 3rd Of August, 1876, the cavaliers
of Virginia assembled and in stormy
session, extending from noon to mid
night, finally, under the Pickering
light Of torches, signed an agreement
that they would never lay down their
arms until their wrongs were redress
sed, though the King of Great Britain
should send troops and try to sup.
,ncss them. This was the boldest,
bravest act of the century. While
England submitted 10 the corrupt and
wicked Charles, Virginia resisted the
tyrannical Berkeley, and obtained the
reforms demanded. Thus a century
before were sown in the soil of lVir-
einia the seed that afterwards ripen-
ed into the Revolution and brought
independence to the colonies.
Here Governor Swanson told of the
famous men of Virginia during these
stirring times; of how they labored
to keep ahame the fires of patriotism;