The Washington herald., 1907-06-26
Virginia, Mother of States
By FREDERIC j. HASKIN.
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

BY a majority of only ten votes the
convention of Virginia, on June IS, 11&
ratified the Constitution of the United
States and proposed the amepdments
which incorporated the bill Of rights
into the fundamental law Of the country.
The debate was long and earnest, and
no more important vote has been record
ed in the history Of the United states
Men Of the highest patriotism fought IL
earnestly. because they believed the new
constitution threatened the liberties of
the psople Without the approval Of Viz
GINA, the ratification by New York
would have been impossible. and without
New York and Virginia the Union would
not have been consummated.
The Commonwealth Of Virginia was
once a greater and more powerful gov
eminent than the United States Of Amer
lea. even after the adoption OF the Fed
eral Constitution. When there were no
funds TO build a capitol at Washington
the rich State Of Virginia loaned the i'm
poverished Federal government the
money to build it, Strange to say. cur
great government, now rolling in wealth,
has never paid this debt. Virginia gave
TO the Federal government the territory
from which the States Of Ohio Indiana,
and Illinois were carved. and the States
Of Kentucky and West Virginia We're also
set up directly from Virginia. The ma
ton probably never will be able 10 pay
the debt Of gratitude it owes TO Viz
ginia for many features Of our national
system. but Yirginians hope that the gov
eminent will some day pay the money 1t.
borrowed over a century ago 10 build the
very house in which Congress sits.
June is the month Of State anniver-
saries in Virginia II was on June q,
1T6. that the Commonwealth Of Virginia
formally declared herself an indepe Bdent
State and elected Patrick Henry governor.
On that day the Virginia delegates to
the Continental Congress We're formally
instructed 10 vote for a declaration Of in
dependence OF the thirteen American
colonies. Virginia sent Jefferson 10 write
that famous paper and gave Washington
10 lead the army that was 10 make it
effective. on June %. 1861 tie people OF
the western counties Of Virginia, who did
not believe in secession, formed a sepa-
rate government, and on June 49, 1853, the
State Of West Virginia was admitted 20
the Union. Kentucky, another State
which Virginia gave of her free will from
her territory, came into the Union on
June /, 1872
The Virginia convention which decided
for the Federal government under the
Constitution by a vote Of 50 to ~ was a
forum for masterful debate by giant
minds James Madison. the father of the
Constitution, was its principal advocate,
backed by John Marshall and Richard
Henry Lee. Opposed 70 him were the
mighty Patrick Henry, the frebrand of
the Revolution; George Mason. who wrote
Virginia's bill of rights. and James Mon
roc. who was one day TO be President
under the very Constitution which he
fouglij SO bitterly Henry, who had said
Give me liberty or give me death. 20 de-
clared that the new Constitution gave too
much power 20 the President; that it
"squinted al a monarchy He demanded
To know 10y what right the national con-
ventiou had said I'VE, the people in
stead of I'VE, the States"
Madison and Marshall met every argu-
ment and Counseled union and harmony.
Their views prevailed. q month later New
York also ratified the new plan of gov
erameut. North Carolina and Rhode
Island dropped into lire within the next
two WARS. making the union of the
thirteen States complete. Virginia gave
Washington 90 be the first President. in
fact. four. of the first five Presidents
were Virginians elected from Virginia.
two others afterward elected from other
States were natives of Virginia. and one
Vice President who succeeded 10 the
Presidency was a ViTEinign
Virginia is the oldest Of the American
States in point of settlement. the eXposi-
ton now going on at jamestown cele-
brating the completion Of three centuries.
Virginia. Massachusetts,. and South Car
DINA were the leaders in the movement
which brought about the separation from
England. In the struggle that ensued
Virginia furnished more troops and
money than any other state. Later on.
in the Mexican war. Virginia gave Zach
AIRY Taylor and other leaders 90 the
American army Her native-b0Tn SONS.
Houston and Austin, had led the fight
fer the liberation OF Texas.
In the war between the States Virginia
maintained her fame The principal bat
ties Of that war were fought On virginia
soil To the Southern army Virginia
gave its great commander. Robert +. Lee.
The leader Of a defeated host. he is rec
oguized by the world as one Of the
greatest generals Of history, while his
character as man is admired by men
of every section Of the country, and of
every shade of political belief. The moth
er Of States and statesmen also gave
Stouewall Jackson. J. Z. 3. Stuart, and
many other commanders to the COnfed-
crate army. To the Union cause Vir-
ginia gave George II. Thomas. one Of
the ablest and brayest generals who wore
the blue
The fortunes Of war and politics lost to
Virginia the western portion Of the State,
but the Old Dominion. after weathering
the storms Of reconstruction and the re-
adjustment Of the State debt has been
devoting herself for the last thirty years
10 the arts Of peace Her mines are rich.
her valleys fertile her streams ana bays
abound with fish and oysters, and her
cities are becoming important manufac-
turing centers. Her ancient seats Of
learning are still instructing the youth Of
the land. and her history inspires her
children TO work for the fullest measure
of human success.
These are but few Of the facts that
stand out in Virginia's rich history. The
early story Of the American nation is told
in the biography of Virginia's sons. and a
review OF the politics of the State would
be d review of the politics of the nation