Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24

~ INSIDE of its association with
the decoration of the graves of
the soldier dead. the 30th OF
May is memorable in American
history On this date in 1865 the
Virginia house of burgesses adopted the
famous resolution which declared that the
colony had the sole right to levy taxes
All through the revolutionary movement
and the war of 1872 as we'll as In the
DAYS of the civil war, the day has re-
corded many critical developments in the
country's progress 1t has been a day
OF interest in the most crucial stages OF
the struggle for liberty, and it is hitting
that it should be the one set apart for
the honoring of the heroic dead
On a Sunday and Monday in May in the
year of 1916 a large party of planters and
householders was entertained by MIR.
Nathaniel Bacon. jr, at his plantation at
CurIes Landing on the James river They
had been invited To meet Mr.. Lawrence. a
wealthy householder of jamestown. and
Mr.. Drummond. lately governor of the
colony of North Carolina. for a confer
ence on the probable result of Gov.
Berkeley's refusal TO commission a force
that had volunteered to go TO the protec-
ton of the frontier from the too frequent
Indian raids. well to consider many
A Famous Consultation.
Unexpectedly the party had been joined
by the conservative Mr. and Mrs. Nathan
lei Bacon SIR. who were on their way
down the river from Henricus. Both the
Bacons were councillors of the colony.
while the guests were members of that
long house of burgesses which had been
elected in 1861
The youthful host is one of the most
interesting figures on the stage of Ameri-
can history. He is described in the racy
literature of the epoch as "a man of
quality and merit, brave and eloquent, but
a young man, Yet he was master and
owner of those inducements which con-
stttute Compleat man (as to intrinsic
Callsl wisdom To apprehend and discre-
ton 10 chuSe.2 Eston Cooke adds: This
Is the portrait, if not of a compleat
man., a least of complete, popular
leader. Young. ardent. violent when ac-
cused, but amiable and cordial at other
times. recklessly brave extremely polite.
of remarkable eloquence as a public
speaker, this was man fitted by his very
faults TO become the head of popular
movement. which always demands that its
leader shall not be a person of negative
traits"
The Indian question was most urgent
FRONTIER depredations We're of daily occur
renee, yet the governor. who was inter-
ested in the beaver skin traffic refused
to permit the cha stisement of the saw
ages. preferring to rely upon the protec-
ton afforded the frontiersmen by the lily
manned border forts. The discussion at
Curles was heated. the planters were very
impatient, would be pleased to take mat
ters into their own hands. the senior
Bacon rounseled patience and prudence"
Handling Weighty Problem.
Mr.. Lawrence. in the quiet, persuasive
way he had suggested that at times
patience ceased TO be a virtue" the i'm
petuous host. who was "a gentleman with
perfect antipathy to Indians" referred
10 the latest reports that 1.-The savages
meant to renew their outrages on the up
per waters of the river he had at the
falls another plantation, and added-"if
they assail him he will make war on Them
commission or no commission" The dis
cussion continued long. the tail of the
great comet of direful portent had disap-
peared. the mocking bird had ceased his
serenade before the anxious men sought
their beds TO arise early to resume their
arguments for and against Independent
action. Still. undecided as to the wisest
course, after the midday dinner the
jamestown travellers sailed down the river
in their barges and the neighboring house
holders mounted their horses for the home
ward ride,
Before me next morning Bacon was
aroused by the furious barking of his
dogs and violent pounding upon the outer
gate; when II was opened by the sleepy
porter man Sprang from a dropping
horse to tell his breathless tale of an at
tack early in the night upon the house at
the upper plantation. its destruction and
the death of the manager and a servant
Bacon's rage knew no bounds, prudent