Virginia

the ‘Old Dominion,” was one of the original thirteen States. Its shores were perhaps explored by Sebastian Cabot (1498) and Verrazano (1524), and certainly by Sir Walter Raleigh, who attempted to colonize the territory which he named Virginia in honor of Queen Elizabeth. In 1606 the London Company was chartered and obtained a grant of the land between the thirty-fourth and forty-first degrees of latitude. Three years later new boundaries were given to Virginia. Starting from Old Point Comfort it was to extend two hundred miles north and south, and ‘‘ west and northwest ” to the South Sea or Pacific Ocean. The London Company were to have the profits of the colony for twenty-one years, after which they were to pa to the crown. The government of the colony was placed in the hands of the two councils, one of which was resident in the colony. All settlers were guaranteed all rights as if living in England. One hundred and forty three colonists set sail for Virginia and in 1607 founded James town, the first permanent English settlement in America. For the first years the colonists were too largely ‘‘ gentlemen,’’ who were totally unfit to endure the hardships of pioneer life, and the colony was saved only by the exertions of John Smith. In accordance with royal instructions the colonists were burdened by the communal system until 1612. Samuel Argall as Governor in 1617 exercised all the tyranny of martial law until recalled the following year. Under his succe or, Yeardley, the first representative a embly in the history of America convened (1619) at James town. This encouraged immigration, and in the same year some women appeared in Virginia. Slavery was introduced (1619) by the sale of twenty African slaves from a Dutch man-of-war. Factions having appeared in the London Company, a writ of guo warran to was i ued against the charter, and in 1624 Virginia became a royal colony. Virginia remained loyal to Charles I. during his struggle with Parliament, and became the home of many royalist fugitives who were the ancestors of many of the most famous men in the history of the State. Charles II. repaid the loyalty of the people by granting the entire territory to Lord Arlington and Culpepper, and by the enforcement of the Navigation Act, which compelled the colonists to sell all their products in English markets. The discontent was increased by the tyranny of. Governor Berkeley and an uprising of the Indians, and Bacon’s Rebellion followed in 1676. Upon the death of Bacon his followers were defeated and many hanged. From this time until the Revolution the colony increased in population, wealth and influence, and was recognized as the leading power in the struggle against England. Her militia, under Washington, did good service in Braddock’s campaign in the French and Indian War. The a embly was di olved in 1774 by Governor Dunmore, when a protest was being drawn up against the Boston Port Bill, but the members immediately rea embled in convention. In May, 1776, another convention adopted the first constitution of the State. The delegates in Congre from Virginia proposed the declaration of the independence of the colonies. Virginia took a prominent part in the struggles of the Revolution, which closed on her soil by the capture of York town and Cornwall is, October 19, 1781. Much opposition was made to the Federal Constitution, which threatened to prevent its adoption, but it was finally ratified by a State convention on January 25, 3788. The boundaries have caused much dispute because of the exten- P| sive claims made by Virginia. Her western territory was surrendered to the general Government because of the reluctance of Maryland to ratify the Articles of Confederation until that should be done. Kentucky became a separate State in 1792. Virginia has been jealous of all encroachments by the national Government and has uniformly supported the Democratic party. Until 1825, the influence of Virginia in national politics was pre-eminent. In 1798 a protest was made to the centralizing policy of Hamilton and the Federalist party by the famous Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. From 1806 to 1808, the ‘‘ Quids,’’ under John Randolph, strenuously opposed the nomination of Madison to the Presidency. The more rapid growth of the western part of the State caused injustice from the old apportionment of representation. A convention a embled in 1829, and a readjustment was accomplished in the constitution of 1830. In 1831 a negro insurrection broke out under Nat Turner, which taught the danger of all agitation of the slavery question. (John Brown and other abolitionists attempted to free the slaves at Harper's Ferry, 1859.) Virginia did her utmost to avoid war in 1860 and 1861, and called a peace convention of all the States, The people of Virginia knew that in case of war their State would be the battle-ground. An ordinance of sece ion was pa ed by a State convention April 17, 1861, and ratified by a popular vote May 23, 1861. During the war Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy, and Virginia the scene of many of the greatest battles. The State was readmitted January 26, 1870. The State was Democratic until the union of the Republicans and Readjusters under Mahone, who was elected U. S. Senator in 1879. There have been long-continued agitations respecting the payment of the State debt of $30,000,000, contracted before the war. In 1891 a settlement was made, the debt being scaled down to $19,000,000, to bear two and subsequently three per cent. interest. The population of the State in 1790 was 747,610; in 1890, 1,655,950. History by Cooke and by How is on and Maury. 342