Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1907-06-14

| spreads the world. Inc people OF IT
ginia, through their elected representa-
tives, levied and appropriated all taxes,
declared war or made peace, guarded
their own forts, furnished and com
manded their own troops and practi-
cally exercised all the functions of gov
ernment In 1929 Virginia made another
firm assertion of her privileges and
rights. Charles the First presented a
flattering offer to the colony 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 monopolized 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 demanded
the public records of the colony. The
Assembly refused, insisting that the
records were not for the sight of the
King or his Commissioners. The Com
missi0ners finally induced Sharpless,
| the clerk, to furnish them a 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
Assembly of an infant colony, that
knew its privileges and rights. and
dared to maintain them against all ag-
gressors and at all hazards. Even this
early the torch of liberty illumined the
woods of Virginia. On the 28th of
April, 1885, the people of Virginia, still
more resolutely asserted their rights
On that day the House of Burgesses
removed the Royal Governor, Sir John
Harvey, from his Office on account of
misconduct and exercise of illegal
powers, and elected 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 America; the
first warning given TO the kings of the
old world that their unworthy and
arbitrary deputies in the new would
encounter resistance and receive decapi-
tation. The Virginians did not confine
their opposition to the oppressive meas
ures of the weak and vacillating Charles
They were equally as defiant of Crom-
well, the most masterful and resolute
character Of the century. After Crom-
well had made himself absolute ruler of
Britain, and his iron hand had DESTROYED
parliament itself, he sent his ships and
Commissioners to subdue the colony of
Virginia, which still Loyalty adhered to
the fortunes of the ill-starred House OF
Stuart. Virginia armed to resist, and
the Commissioners could only prevent
war by making solemn treaty, con-
ceding to the people of Virginia free
dom of trade, equal to that of the peo-
pie of England, the right that taxes
should be levied and appropriated, af-
fairs conducted and the governor and
all their officers elected, forts guarded,
troops raised and commanded as the
House of Burgesses should direct.
Until Cromwell's death these rights
were enjoyed and vast power thus exer-
cised by the people of Virginia Thus
virtually it amounted to independence.
When we reflect that these privileges
were obtained from the most forceful
and despotic ruler of his age, before
whose power Europe trembled, we can
form some conception of the resolute
courage and ardent love of liberty pos
sessed by the cavaliers of Virginia.
The year 1876 was notable one in
the annals of Virginia and marked ar
important epoch in the history OF
America. Then for the first time
America, with sword in hand, rose to re-
dress their wrongs, assert their rights
and reform government. Berkeley, the
royal governor of Virginia, had AFRO.
gated to himself all authority and power.
| Having secured a service House of Bur.
gesses, he continued its existence from
year to year and refused the people the
right to elect another. He assumed
the right to appoint all officers. The
trade with Indians, the taxes and public
lands were corruptly appropriated by
him and his favorites. For fear of los
ing the profits of the Indian trade, he
would not protect the people from tn,
tomahawk of the merciless savages
He stubbornly resisted every effort t.
correct these abuses. Infiamed by The
eloquence and animated by the courag,
OF Nathaniel Bacon, the people rose il
arms, drove Berkeley and his adherent:
from jamestown, forced them to seel
refuge in their ships and remote places
seized the reins of government and helt
them until the death of Bacon. Histor,
cannot furnish more dramatic and in
spring scene than that at the Middle
Plantation, now Williamsburg, where OF
the 3rd of August, 1916, the cavalier
of Virginia assembled and in storm
session, extended from noon to mid
night, finally, under the Pickering ligh
of torches, signed an agreement tha
they would never lay down their arm
until their wrongs were redressed
E though the King of Great Britia
should send troops and try to suppress
them. This was the boldest, braves
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