Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1907-06-14
ADDRESS OF
GOV. SWANSON
on Virginia Day." June II, 1907,
at the Jamestown Exposition.


The Commonwealth of Virginia anC
the Republic, the United States of Amer
lea, have united to celebrate this the
third century of their beginning. James
town is the joint cradle of this State
and this nation. Thus, as we partici
pate in these commemorative exercises,
our hearts flame alike with state and
with national patriotism.
This day Of the Exposition has beer
designated as Virginia Day." Today
the children and the descendants of the
children of Virginia gather ut this birth
day party to pay loyal, loving devotion
to their glorious mother for her three
hundred years of brave endeavor and
splendid achievement. Virginia extends
to all of you cordial, warm and loving
welcome. To her children, who have
come from afar, she gives her blessings
and benedictions. She places her loving
hands on their heads and wishes them
all measure of prosperity and happiness.
She salutes her many fair daughters in
statehood with maternal pride and joy;
she rejoices at their bright career and
feels that their glories add to her a
deeper majesty. To her sister states,
who so generously rejoice and celebrate
with her. she gives an affectionate
greeting, 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 APP
proval. 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.
Virginial thy very name like that of
Scotland, England, France, Greece and
Rome, has a distinct and individual
meaning, bringing to the mind scenes
of natural loveliness and visions of
sacrifice, suffering, heroism and glory,
which will encircle thee with a death
less renown. Bounded by high noun
tains and majestic ocean, decorated with
hill, plain and valley, threaded by
beautiful broad rivers, kissed by sun
shine and radiant with warmth, nature
designed thee as the fit abode of a JOY
Gus and chivalric, courageous and lofty
people. Virginia furnished magnif-
cent and suitable stage for the cavalier
to unfold the drama of his new destiny.
Here man and nature were found in
perfect harmony. Here brave people
and beautiful country combined to Gre
ate history soresplendent so with genius
and grandeur as to make this Common
wealth illustrious the world over. Soft
and sweet as the memories of buried
love will ever lie in our hearts the Ole
colonial homes and plantations of Vir-
ginia, embowered in forests, shrubbery
and flowers, bright with joyous roman
tic life, ruled by superb women and
noble men. The history of the old Vir-
ginia, from jamestown to Appomattox,
is the history of great and glorious
people, ever to be noted in story and in
song. No people, no civilization in the
same length of time ever accomplished
so much for the betterment of mankind,
or produced so many eminent men, who
will be numbered forever among the
immortals. Her history is replete with
great deeds and great names.
The two most important rights OF
modern times are the trial by jury, and
legislative government. Within Vir-
ginia 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 heritage OF
the Anglo-Saxon, which has been the
chief source of his liberty and his main
protection against oppression and des-
potism. At jamestown, on the Both of
July, 1919, assembled the House OF
Burgesses of Virginia, the first legisla-
tive body that ever sat or enacted laws
In America. This was the first parlia.
mentary body of the world composed OF
members from designated boroughs anc
elected by universal suffrage. In thC
modest wooden church at jamestown
was first exercised the great principle
that government should be the expires.
sion of the will of the masses of the
people. The birth of free representa-
tive government in Virginia was coeva
with its destruction elsewhere. Jane,
the First had deprived Parliament o.
its power and privileges, dissolved it
not to be convened for seven years
The Spanish King had destroyed the
National Cortez and his will was tn,
supreme law of Spain. The States Gen
eral of France was dissolved, not to b,
called until 1889, on the eve of tn
French Revolution. The only place fre
from arbitrary power and despotisn
was the small colony of Virginia firing
ing the Atlantic coast. Liberty had n
refuge save in the forests of Virginia
Right valiantly did the brave cavalier
of Virginia preserve the sacred fire en-
trusted to their keeping. In 1924 with
out dissenting voice the House o
Burgesses enacted that no taxes shoul
be levied within the colony and n
money appropriated except by its au
thority. This bold declaration was mad
years before the same was asserted b.
the British Parliament against Charlie
the First. This principle that taxatio
is gift of the citizens, dependent O
their consent, and not a prerogative I
be exercised by rulers, is the yer
foundation of all free government