Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1907-06-19
VIRGINIA DAY AT
THE EXPOSITION
Able and Patriotic Address By
Old Dominlon's Governor
MUCH HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Address of Governor Swanson on
virginia Day." at the jamestown
Exposition, Wednesday, june IL,
1907.

Day was observed at the Jomesto"h
Exposition on Wednesday. Immense
crowds were present from all parts of
the State to participate in the excr-
cises of possibly the greatest of all
the special days. Governor Swanson
was the principal speaker and the
main part of his able address is given
here:
Governor swanson's Speech.
virginians, Descendants Of Virgin
ians, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Commonwealth of Virginia and
the Republic, the United States of
America, have united to celebrate
this the third century of their be-
ginning. jamestown is the joint
cradle of this State and this nation.
Thus, as we participate in these COM
memoratiye exercises, our hearts
fame alike with State and national
patriotism.
This day of the Exposition has
been designated as Virginia Day."
To-day the children and the descen-
dants Of the children Of Virginia
gather at this birthday party to pay
loyal, loving devotion to their glori-
Gus mother for her three hundred
years of brdvc ei.ueavor and splendid
achievement. Virginia extends to all
of you a cordial, warm and loving
welcome. To her children who have
come from afar she gives her bless
ings and benedictions. She places
her loving hands on their heads and
wishes them all measures Of prosper
ity and happiness. She salutes her
many fair daughters in statehood
with maternal pride and joy; she re-
joices at their career and feels that
their glories add to her deeper ma
jesty. To her sister states, who 50
generously rejoice and celebrate with
her, she gives an affectionate greet
ing, while she thrills anew with that
love which cements them and her into
perpetual union. To her foreign
friends and nations who have graced
this occasion by their presence and
approval she extends the hand Of true
friendship and hospitality. To this
nation to whose growth and power
she has made such vast contributions,
her heart goes out in an abounding
and abiding love.
Virginia! thy very name Like that
of Scotland, England, France, Greece
! and Rome has distinct and indivi-
dual meaning, bringing to the mind
scenes of natural loveliness and Yis-
ions Of sacrifice, suffering, heroism
and glory which will encircle thee
with deathless renown. Bounded
by high mountains and majestic
ocean, decorated with hill, plain and
valley, threatened by beautiful broad
rivers, kissed by sunshine and radiant
with warmth, nature designed thee
as the fit abode of joyous and chiv-
alric, courageous and lofty people.
Virginia furnished magnificent and
suitable stage, for the cavalier to un-
fold the drama of his new destiny.
Here man and nature were found in
perfect harmony. Here brave pco-
Pile and beautiful country combined
to create a history so resplendent' with
genius and grandeur as to make this
Commonwealth illustrious the world
over. Soft and sweet as the memories
of buried love will ever lie in our
hearts the old colonial homes and
plantations of Virginia, embowered
in forests, shrlbbery and flowers,
bright with joyous romantic life, ral-
ed by superb women and noble men.
The history of the old Virginia from
jamestown to Appomsttox is the his
tory Of great and glorious people, lo
civilization. in the same length of
time ever accomplished so much for
the betterment of mankind, or. pro-
duced so many eminent men, who will
be numbered forever among the i'm
mortals.: Her history IS replete with
great deeds and great names.
The two most important rights CT
modern times are the trial by jury,
and legislative government. Within
Virginia was empannelled the first
jury that ever administered justice in
the Western Hemisphere. Here in
the new world was first exercised and
firmly established that precious heri-
tage Of the Anglo Saxon, which has
been the chief source of his liberty
and his main protection against op-
preston and despotism. At James
town, on the 3oth of July, 1910, as
sembled the House of Burgesses OF
Virginia, the first legislative body
that ever sat or enacted laws in Am
erica. This was the first parliament
ary BODY Of the world composed Of
members from designated boroughs
and elected by universal suffrage. In
the modest wooden church at James
town was first exercised the great
principle shat government should De
the expression Of the will of the mass
es'of the people. The birth of free rep