Life and events

Front matter

Qass.

Book

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT

Contents

The Colonization of North America:

The Revolution and Independence of the Colonies :

The Constitution of the United States:

Preface

In observing the historical map of the worhl, we see a few great facts as prominent above the rest, as the bold mountains of the globe. Among these are the discovery and colonization of America ; the Independence and Union of the States ; the subsequent addition of new States, and the vast extension of the blessings of freedom.

To us, the most important portion of the history of our race is the history of our own country. That history is strikingly composed of individual and united struggles and achievements. Although able and extensive American histories and biographies have been written, some of their great and important truths have been given in the abstract only; others erroneously given, whereby some persons have received more and others less than their share of honor.

It is the object of this humble effort to place those great truths in their true connection ; to record others that have been omitted ; to show how great events have been produced by individual efforts ; to render a just tribute to the memories and services of some of our Fathers ; to show the injustice that has been done, and to indicate further attempts that have been made and committed upon some of their children ;

viii Preface.

to show how National growth, and wealth, and gloiy have cost, in some instances, individnal life and family prosperity ; yet to discover the direction which the great and glorious hand of the past points out as the only trne course of that grand destiny for which our country seems to have been designed, and which she will certainh' attain, if she prove faithful to herself and the sacred causes committed to her hands.

LIFE AND EVENTS.

CHAPTER I. "History is Pliilosophy teaching by example."

When this continent was a -wilderness, Sir Walter Raleigh, under the auspices of Queen Elizabeth, sent two ships to America for purposes of discovery. On their arrival, they were cordially welcomed by the natives, and were treated throughout their stay with the most affectionate hospitality. When they returned to England, the accounts they gave of the country produced great sensations among the classes, and the Queen named it Virginia in honor of herself. The next year. Sir Richard Grenville, Sir Walter's associate, sailed from Plymouth with seven ships, well provided with arms and stores, and a company of volunteers to form a colony in Virginia. The principal motive of this adventure was the discovery of gold and the precious metals. Shortly after their arrival on the coast, for a trivial offence. Sir Richard burnt the town and cornfields of a native tribe. After locating his colony at Roanoak, he returned to England. His colony thus embroiled in war with the natives, became so disheartened that they soon left the country forever. Soon after this, Sir Richard arrived with three ships and plenty of provisions. Being unwilling to lose possession of the country, he left another colony on the Island of Roanoak, and built houses for their protection. But the destiny of his colony seems to have been fixed. They were all destroyed by the natives — not one was left to tell the sad story of their fate.

A kind Providence had endowed Elizabeth of England with faculties given to but few of her sex, and permitted her to wear the crown of the great kingdom of the earth, but she so lived and died as to be called the Virgin Queen ; so it seems ordered that this prolific nation of ours should not receive its birth from her hands.

The next colony was sent over by a London company, under the patronage of James I. They sailed under sealed instructions, to be opened atter their arrival in Virginia. They landed 13th of May, 1607, and located their colony at Jamestown, on James River — so named by themselves in honor of their patron King. The sealed packages were opened, the names of his majesty's council proclaimed, and a President appointed by the council. During their voyage, the superior qualities of the renowned Capt. John Smith, brought upon him the hatred of the council. They imprisoned him under the charge of an intention to murder the council, and make himself king of Virginia. After their arrival, they urged him to return under this charge, to England; but refusing to go, he demanded his trial, and was triumphantly acquitted. In a short time the odious conduct of the President aroused the indignation of the colony. Besides his previous indifference to their sufferings, when they were reduced by famine and sickness, and were threatened with destruction by the natives, they detected him in attempting to escape with the only vessel left for their safety. He was deposed and his successor appointed by the council. The inefficiency of the second soon became known, when the colony rose in the majesty of their rights, declared Capt. John Smith their President, and clothed him with full authority. Possessed of every noble qualification for the position assigned to him, Capt. Smith soon proved himself worthy to be the first American — the first democratic President, elected by the people, on the continent of America. After his election, while exploring the neighboring country. President Smith was taken prisoner by a large body of Indians. They marched him in triumph lo the palace of Powhatan, the great King of the country. He was condemned to suffer death ! His head was placed upon the block ! the death blow was raised above him, when the young and beautiful Pocahontas sprang to his side, folded her arms about his neck, and placed her head upon his to receive the fatal bluw! The arm of the executioner was paralyzed. The blow fell harmless to the ground. She was the Princess daughter of King Powhatan. President Smith, thus saved, was pardoned by the King. He returned to his colony, just in time to save it. He found them reduced to thirty-eight persons, and in the act of leaving the country forever. A few years afterward, Pocahontas was united, by affection and by marriage, with Mr. Rolf, an English citizen of the colony. Their marriage was blessed with happiness and with children.

From these important circumstances, we may learn lessons of wisdom applicable to all times and countries. Whenever a great undertaking is actuated by bad or impure motives, it is almost sure to fail. Whenever generous and affectionate hospitality is outraged by the ruthless hand of ingratitude, the perpetrators of the crime are almost sure to be punished. While Providence seems to have defeated the fruitless Virgin Queen in her efforts to become the mother of America; while He seems to have chastised the mercenary motives of Sir Walter Raleigh, and the outrageous conduct of Grenville against the natives; while He seems also to have frowned upon the efforts of the London company to tyranize the first colony through odious and dastardly officers, He seems to have smiled, graciously, upon the first fruits, the first offering of American democracy, and upon the virgin Princess who saved it at its birth, and thus became its mother. Thus united by heroic deed, by affection, and by blood, the children of the first colony of the United States, and the children of the noblest Princess of the continent, struggled together for liberty through every trial and every peril, until the priceless boon was won. Their fame and their lives shall forever mingle in its joys.

The spirit of liberty that burst into life in Virginia, was first responded to by her only congenial companion on the globe, the United Republic of Germany. In 1614, a colony from that confederacy commenced the present city and State of New York. It was not until 1620, that the Pilgrim Fathers landed on Plymouth Rock, and founded New England. Thus the great State of the south and the great State of the north — thus "liberty and union'"' began.

The Pilgrim Fathers next founded the colony of Massachusetts Bay. Driven by religious persecution from all the endearments of their native land, they landed on the inhospitable shores of the north, in a cold and stormy December night. Thoy had sailed from the same Plymouth Sir Richard Grenville sailed from, though moved by a vastly different motive. How equally diiferent their destiny ?

Before leaving the little barque that had borne them safely across the Atlantic's boisterous waves, they solemnly declared they had undertaken to establish a colony for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith ! No one acquainted with their suiferings and persecutions, can doubt the truth of their solemn declaration. No one who has read their history, can doubt that in every good effort, they received the smiles of Him they came to worship and in whom they placed their trust". Through every danger and every trial, they and their children struggled with Christian fortitude and heroic courage, until their efforts were crowned with freedom and success. Although the bones of the fathers have long since mouldered into dust, their sons and their daughters, and the truths ihey supported, "still live," and will live " forevermore."

The colony of Delaware was founded by the Swedes. Their courage, too, and their devotion to their rights, were soon tried and fully established. It is by no means strange that the land which then furnished a colony for American Liberty, though far away in the frozen regions of the north, should have since produced the matchless songstress of the age — the plaintive nightingale whose soft and sweetly thrilling notes have given transported thousands a taste of heavenly joys.

Maryland was settled chiefly by Catholics. True to their mission in the new world, they have fully proved their devotion to freedom. The colony that produced Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, must ever have cherished in her bosom the living germ — tlie true spirit of the Goddess of Liberty !

Pennsylvania was commenced by the Quakers. Driven by persecution from England, they first sought an asylum in the land of the Pilgrim fathers. The legislature of that colony, in a dark and evil hour, in violation of their own history and most sacred obligations, in violation of their own solemn declaration of purpose, not only passed laws for their banishment, but provided, if any Quaker should return to the colony and renew his practices, he should be put to death ! Under this law, four persons suffered death ! This shocking violation of their most sacred obligations and principles, Providence seems to have chastised afterwards. The horrible consequences of their insane delusions in regard to the work of the devil, through the instrumentality of witches, seem to be the punishment. After this persecution, the Quakers resolved to form a colony where religious opinion and worship might be fully enjoyed. They accordingly sailed from England in 1681, and landed where the Quaker city stands. In the following year, William Penn arrived with a large number of emigrants, and founded the city of Philadelphia and colony of Pennsylvania. Thus doubly persecuted, first driven from their native land, then from the land of the Pilgrim Fathers, they founded the city and colony that have been doubly blest and honored — the city that gave birth to the independence of the American colonies, and to the Constitution of the United States of America. Considering their origin, viewing the grand events that will honor them forever, we are admonished of evil, but then look with delight at the greatness and happiness of a people, clothed with a fall share of the honors of a glorious history and union of States, and with the smiles of a benignant Providence. This is the keystone of the American arch of States — an arch as beautiful among the various kingdoms of the earth, as the rainbow in the cloudy sky — as durable, we hope, as the covenant of Him who placed it there.

In 1765, Mr. George Grenville introduced into Parliament the notorious stamp act, to tax all the colonies. When in advocating its passage, Mr. Charles Townsend used the following language: "and now will these Americans, children planted by our care, nourished by our indulgence of them, until they have grown to a degree of strength and opulence; and protected by our arms ; will they grudge to contribute their mite to relieve us ? " He was replied to thiis by the eloquent and chivalric Barre : " They planted by your care — no — your oppression planted them in America ; * * * They nourished by your indulgence ! They grew up by your negligence of them! * * * They protected by your arms J * * * They have nobly taken up arms in your defense, have exerted a valor amidst their constant and laborious industry, for the defence of a country Avhose frontier was drenched in blood. " The passage of this act, aimed equally at the liberties of all the colonies, aroused and united them. In this important move, Virginia again took the lead. On the 28th May, 1765, the illustrious Henry introduced his celebrated resolutions in the house of Burgesses. The resolutions declared in substance that the colonies were not bound to obey the act ; that they alone had always possessed the right to tax themselves. It was in the defense of these resolutions that he gave utterance to that equally celebrated burst of eloquence : " Caesar had his Brutus, Charles the First his Cromwell, and George the Third" — Treason ! Treason ! cried the speaker and many members of the house — "may profit by their example" — thundered the dauntless Henry!

These resolutions were communicated to the other colonies. They all passed similar ones through their respective assemblies, and a convention of colonial deputies met the same year in the city of New York. In this coincidence we again see liberty and Union hand in hand.

From the memoir of Jefferson,

" The next event which excited our sympathies for Massachusetts was the Boston port-bill, by which that port w^as to be shut up from the 1st June, 1774. This arrived while we were in session in the Spring of that year. The lead in the house, on these subjects, being no longer left to the old members, Mr, Henry, R. H. Lee, Mr. L. Lee, three or four others and myself, agreeing that wc must boldly take an unequivocal stand in the line with Massachusetts, determined to meet and consult on the proper measures in Council Chamber, for the benefit of the library in that room. We were under the conviction of the necessity of arousing our people from the lethargy into which they had fallen, as to passing events ; and thought that the appointment of a day of general fasting and prayer would be most likely to call up and alarm their attention ; no example of such a solemnity had existed since the days of our distress in the war of '55, since which a new generation had grown up. With the help of Rushforth whom we rumaged over for the revolutionary precedents, and forms of the puritans of that day, preserved by him, we cooked up a resolution somewhat modernizing their phrases, for appointing the 1st day of June on which the port-bill was to commence for a day of fasting and prayer, to implore Heaven to avert from us the evils of civil war, to inspire us with firmness in support of our rights, and to turn the hearts of the king and parliament to moderation and justice. To give greater emphasis to our proposition, we agreed to wait on Mr. Nicholas, (Robert Carter Nicholas,) whose grave and religious character, was more in unison with tl;ke tone of our resolution, and to solicit him to move it. We accordingly went to him in the morning. He moved it the same day; 1st June was proposed and it passed without opposition.

The Governor dissolved us as usual. We retired to the Apollo as before, agreed to appoint deputies to meet in Congress at such place annually, as should be determined, to direct from time to time the measures required by the general interest; and we declared that an attack on any one colony, should be considered as an attack on the whole. This was in May, We further recommended the several counties, to elect deputies to meet at Williamsburgh the 1st August ensuing, to consider the state of the colony, and particularly to appoint delegates to a general Congress, should that measure be acceded to by the committee of correspondence generally. It was acceded to and Philadelphia Avas appointed for the place, and the fifth of September the time of meeting. We returned home, and in our several counties, invited the clergy to meet assemblies of the people on the 1st June, to perform the ceremonies of the day, and to address them discourses suited to the occasion. The people met o-enerally with anxiety and alarm on their countenances, and the eflFcctof the day through the whole colony was like a shock of electricity, arousing every man and placing him erect and solidly on his center.

The religious sentiment of a country has always been the strongest feeling of society, and has always exerted the most powerful influence over the destiny of every people. While Robert

C Nicholas was not at first, owing to his reh'gious aversion to war, as active as Henry and JejQferson, yet in the hour of need he thus aroused the religious sentiment of the colonies in behalf of the cause ; this gave it the highest sanction and aided in placing it and the people " erect and solidly on their centers." According to the appointment of these resolutions, and the impulse thus given to the cause, the Congress of the colonies met for the first time, in Philadelphia. Of this Congress Mr. Webster thus spoke :

"The proceedings of this Congress are well known and have been universally admired. It is in vain that we look for superior proofs of wisdom, talent, or patriotism. Lord Chatham said that for himself he must declare, that he had studied and admired the free states of antiquity, the master states of the world, but that for solidity of reasoning, force of sagacity, and wisdom of conclusion, no body of men could stand in preference to this Congress." Mr. Webster adds " there is indeed nothing superior to them in the range of political disquisition. They not only embrace, illustrate and enforce everything which political philosophy, the love of liberty and the spirit of free inquiry had antecedently produced, but they add new and striking vicAvs of their own, and apply the whole with irresistible force in support of the cause which had drawn them together."

Thus the prjminent part and influence, performed and exerted by Mr. Nicholas, in connection with his illustrious compatriots, led directly to the greatest of acliievements, American Independence.

From these additional testimonials it is easy to understand how and why it was, that Mr. Nicholas exerted such an influence upon his country, in these her most trying struggles.

Bishop Mead, in his work on old churches, ministers and families in Virginia, in giving a history of Williamsburgh, Bruton Parish, gives the names and sketches of some of the vestry-men of that Parish. Among these he adds, " there appears George Nicholas and his son Robert Carter Nicholas. The former came to this country a physician, doubtless duly qualified. His son Robert Carter Nicholas, was distinguished at the bar in Williamsburgh, in the House of Burgesses, in the Council, as treasurer of the State, and as a patriot in the Revolutionary war. But he had higher praise than all these offices could give him ; for he was a sincere Christian and a zealous defender of the church of his fathers, when he believed her rights were assailed."

Mr. Hugh Blair Griggsby, in his early description of the Burgesses of 1776, thus describes him : " He loved indeed a particular form of religian, but he loved more religion itself. In peace or war, at the fireside or on the floor of the House of Burgesses, a strong sense of moral responsibility was seen through all his actions. If a resolution appointing a day of fasting and prayer, or acknowledging the providence of God in crowning our arms with victory, though drawn by men of worldly views was to be, it was from his hands it was to be presented to the House, and from his lips came the persuasive words that fell not in vain on the coldest ears. Indeed such was the impression which his sincere piety, embellishing as it did the sterling virtues of his character, made upon his own generation, that influence was felt upon that which succeeded it."

Nor was his piety less conspicuous in a private sphere. Visiting on one occasion Lord Bottetourt with whom he lived in the strictest friendship, he observed to that nobleman, "my Lord, I think you will be very unwilling to die ;" and when asked what gave rise to that remark, " because said he you are so social in your nature, and so much beloved, and have so many good things around you, that you must be loath to leave them.'' Ilis worship made no reply, but a short time after, being on his death-bed, he sent in haste for Colonel Nicholas, who lived near the palace, and who instantly repaired thither, to receive the last sighs of his dying friend. On entering his chamber he asked his commands. Nothing replied his Lordship, but to let you see that I resign the good things of which you formerly spoke, with as much composure as I enjoyed them ; after which he grasped his hand with warmth and instantly expired."

" The children of R. C. Nicholas were blessed with a mother of equal worth. She was the daughter of Col. Wilson Gary of Hampton, a descendant of one of tlie first families Avho settled in the lower part of Virginia."

Let the following letter to her son Wilson Gary Nicholas, on entering public life bear witness :

'•'■ Dear Wilson: — I congratulate you on the honor your country has conferred on you, in choosing you their representative with so large a vote. I hope you are come into the Assembly without those trammels which some people submit to wear for a seat in the House.

I think from observation, T can venture to assert that the man of integrity, Avho observes one equal tenor in his conduct, who deviates neither to the one side nor the other from the proper line — has more of the confidence of the people, than the compliant time-server. I flatter myself too, you will act on a more liberal plan, than some members have done, in matters in which the honor and interest of this State are concerned ; that you will not to save a few pence for your constituents, discourage the progress of the arts and sciences, nor pay with a scanty hand persons who are eminent in cither. This parsimonious plan of late adopted, will throw us behind the other States in all valuable improvements, and chill like a frost, the spring of learning and the spirit of enterprise. I have insensibly extended what I had to say beyond m}^ first design, but will not quit the subject without giving you a hint from a very good friend of yours.

that your weight in the House will be much greater if you do not take up the attention of the Assembly on trifling matters, nor too often demand a hearing. To this I must add a hint of my own, that temper and decorum is of infinite advantage to a public speaker ; and a modest diffidence to a young man just entering the stage of public life. The neglect of the former throws him off his guard, breaks the chain of reasoning, and has often produced in England, duels that have terminated fatally. The natural effect of the latter will ever be procuring a favorable hearing, and all those advantages that a prepossession in favor of the speaker produces.

You see my son, that I take the privilege of a mother in advising you, and be assured, that you have no friend so solicitous for your welfare, temporal and eternal, as your mother.

AxNE Nicholas."

" Tradition says, that Mrs. Nicholas after the death of her husband, K. C. Nicholas, at his seat in Hanover, w^as visited by some British officers and received them with great dignity. Her daughter-in-law, wife of her son George, and sister to Governor Samuel Smith of Baltimore, being recognized by one of the officers as an old acquaintin Carlisle Pennsylvania, secured polite treatment for the family ; but the officers, on discovering jewels and other valuables in the house, seized upon them and carried them off."

" Col. Nicholas died at his seat in Hanover leaving five sons, among these were George who afterwards removed to Kentucky, and Wilson Gary, who was a member of the House of Representatives and Senate of the United States, and Governor of Virginia."

It is one of the remarkable facts of history that the best native blood of the new world has been mingled Avith the blood of the old, and with the great events of American history. One of the descendants of Pocahontas, Mr. Randolph, b "came united by marriage and blood with Thomas Jefferson, the father of Independence ; his grand-child, uniting the blood of himself and Pocahontas, the mother of the first colony, became united by marriage and blood with the grand-daughter of Robert Carter Nicholas, who co-operated with Mr. Jefierson in the immediate steps to independence, and engrafted into the cause the religious element.

Chapter II

"History is philosophy teaching by example." Beautiful definition — beautiful because true. There is in every people a sort of sacred regard for history ; a readiness to believe its records and pay grateful homage to its heroes. This lojal sentiment, this grateful feeling deserves the truth, because it is always ready to believe it, and to learn from the experience of fathers, brothers, or from distant or ancient peoples. One of the highest incentives, to chivalric or patriotic efforts, is that a grateful country will honor and a faithful historian record those efforts. What greater meanness than ingratitude ? No people have been so blessed as ours — have received a heritage so ample and so rich. The greater the debt we owe to them who gave it ; the greater the obligation to render at least justice to their memories. What is history ? It is a Avritten statement of the acts of its characters. A historian is a witness, a witness not sworn — not sworn to tell the truth the ■whole truth and nothing but the truth. Personal and political preferences and prejudices, sometimes bitter recollections and rancorous animosities are left free to suppress, distort or falsify the truth. Hence the o-reat number and diflTerence in hi'stories.

This is so fully known to be the case that it is often said, the true history of an event or generation can not be written until all such causes shall have passed away ; then a faithful pen may record the truth. When a man takes pen in hand to write history, he should say to himself, this pen shall aspire to no higlier achievement than to record the truth. What, falsify history ! Defame great patriots; let their great deeds die forgotten; suppress or distort them ; pervert and mislend a people ! Rather let this pen refuse to write, this hand refuse to move !

Whatever a man undertnkes to do, he ought faitlifully to perform. With these motives and objects, tlie writer of this book resumes his subject. He does not propose to write a full history ; but only to place great achievements in their true connection, and to record great truths that have been omitted.

The next great events in the history of our country were the Declaration of Independence, the achievement of that independence, and the consummation of the revolution by the formation and adoption of the Constitution of the United States. From the beginning to the consummation of this, the grandest effort and achievement of men, Virginia and Massachusetts and their sons, chiefly maintained the lead. Thomas Jefferson, the inspired author of the " unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America," was A^irginia's son. John Adams the boldest and ablest advocate of that declaration was Massachusetts' son. He who maintained that dechiration and achieved that independence, through the long and bloody struggle as the great chief of war — George Washington ! " first in peace, first in war, and first in the hearts of his countrymen," was Virginia's son ! James Madison too, the mover, the principal author, the father of the Constitution of his country, was Virginia's son.

Through the trying scenes of the revolution and the following years of peace, the articles of confederation had proved wholly inadequate to the great objects of the Union of the States. The Constitution Avas framed and submitted to the people of the several States, for their adoption or rejection. True, as it must have been, to its origin and history, that constitution did not propose to violate any of the rights, principles or liberties that produced it. It not only left with the people of the States, all the great rights of life, liberty, and property they possessed before, but it proposed to sanction, secure and guarantee them forever. In the fullness of its wisdom, looking through the vicissitudes of time upon the millions to come, it provided for its own expansion and improvement, commensurate with every measure, and the discovery of every truth calculated to perpetuate the rights and liberties, to alleviate the wants and sufferings, and to advance the happiness, and greatness of its people. When the Constitution was submitted, Virginia Avith her Washington, her Jefferson, her Henry, her Madison, and a host of great statesmen and orators besides, then stood among her sister States pre-eminent. Her adoption or rejection of that Constitution, must have been with her sister States, great, perhaps decisive, for good or for evil. Notwithstanding her great statesmen had been united as a family of brothers, in the great cause of independence, their liberties achieved, they differed widely in forming a government and Union of the States.