USA > Virginia > Historical collections of Virginia : containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c. relating to its history and antiquities ; together with geographical and statistical descriptions ; to which is appended, an historical and descriptive sketch of the District of Columbia. > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83
* Ex-presidents Madison and Monroe, and Chief Justice Marshall, were mem. bers of both conventions. Among the conspicuous leaders in the last, may be men- tioned the names of B. W. Leigh, and his brother, Judge laigh, John Randolph of Roanoke, Gov. Giles, Chapman Johnson, Judge Philip P. Barbour, Judge Stanard, Charles F. Mereer, Jno. R. Cooke, Richard Morris, Judge Suminers, Judge Scott. Philip Dodridge, Judge Green, Littleton W. Tazewell, Gen. Robert B. Taylor, Gov. Pleas ants, Judge Abel P. Upshur, and many others.
127
OUTLINE HISTORY.
warfare, assembled by preconcert, in the night, about six miles from Richmond, and resolved to attack the town before daybreak. No suspicion having been excited, the police was feeble and inert ; the inhabitants were Inlled into perfect security, and nothing. it is believed, saved them from massacre and pillage, but a sudden and violent storm, accompanied by heavy rains, which rendered impas- sable a stream lying between the insurgents and the city. A young negro, attached to his master and family, was seized with compunction for his criminal designs, and swam the stream, at the hazard of life, to give information of the plot. The whole city was roused-troops were ordered out -- the insurrection was sup- pressed, and the ringleaders expiated their offence on the gallows. The severity of the punishment inflicted upon these unhappy suf- ferers. it was supposed, for a long period of time, would prevent any similar disturbance in the state ; but unhappily, in the year 1831, during the administration of Gov. Floyd, a still more alarm- ing insurrection occurred in the county of Southampton, which was attended by the most tragical results. A fanatical slave by the name of Nat Turner, with his brother, who was still more fa- natical, and who styled himself the prophet, rallied a band of des- perate followers, and, in open day, carried death and desolation into all the surrounding neighborhoods. Whole families of men, women, and children, were slaughtered without merey, under cir- cumstances of peculiar barbarity ; and the insurrection was only suppressed by the prompt interference of the military authority. After the fullest investigation, the conduct of these sanguinary wretches could not be accounted for upon any of the usual mo- tives which govern men in a servile condition. As slaves, they were not treated with particular unkindness or severity; and the only plausible solution of the problem is to be found in the sug- gestions of a wild superstition, excited by the unnatural and extra- ordinary appearance of the sun at that particular period -- a phe nomenon which was recorded at the time, and is still well recol- lected.
This painful and startling event made a deep impression upon the public mind. Men began to think and reason about the evils and insecurity of slavery ; the subject of emancipation was dis- cussed both publicly and privately, and was prominently introduced into the popular branch of the legislature at the ensuing session of 1831-32. The House of Delegates contained, at that time, many young members of shining abilities, besides others of ma- turer years and more established reputation ; and the debate which sprang up, upon the abstract proposition declaring it expe- dient to abolish slavery, was characterized by all the powers of argument and all the graces of eloquence. It was a topic emi- nentiy fitted to arouse the strongest passions of our nature, and to enlist the long-cherished prejudices of a portion of the Virginia people. After an animated contest, the question was settled by a kind of compromise, in wlach the evils of slavery were distinctly
128
MISCELLANIES.
recognised, but that views of expediency required that further action on the subject should be postponed. That a question so vitally important would have been renewed with more success at an early subsequent period, seems more than probable, if the cur- rent opinions of the day can be relied on ; but there were obvious causes in operation which paralyzed the friends of abolition, and have had the effect of silencing all agitation on the subject. The abolitionists in the northern and eastern states, gradually increas- ing their strength as a party, became louder in their denunciations of slavery, and more and more reckless in the means adopted for assailing the constitutional rights of the south. The open and avowed security given to fugitive slaves, not only by the efforts of private societies, but by public official acts in some of the free states, together with the constant circulation of incendiary tracts, calculated to endanger the safety of slave-holding communities, have awakened a spirit of proud and determined resistance ; and it is now almost impossible to tell when the passions shall have sufficiently cooled for a calm consideration of the subject.
If Virginia has not successfully rivalled some of the more wealthy and populous states in the cause of general education, and in works of internal improvement, she has at least devoted to those important objects all the resources she could command with- out impairing her credit by too great a pecuniary responsibility, It is an honorable trait, that she has been careful to fulfil her en- gagements in the most embarrassing times.
MISCELLANIES,
HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL, AND DESCRIPTIVE.
THE annexed concise geographical and statistical description of Virginia, is abridged from Sherman & Smith's Gazetteer of the United States, and contains the results of the statistics and census of 1840, published by the general government.
Virginia is 370 miles long, and 200 broad at its greatest width, containing 64,000 square miles. or 40,960,000 acres. The population in 1790, was 747,610 in 1800, 886,149 ; in 1810, 971,62; in 1820, 1,065,366; in 1830, 1,211,272 ; in 1840, 1,239,797. of which 443.987 were slaves. Of the free white population, 371,223 were white males; 369,745 ditto, females; 23,814 were colored males; 26,020 ditto, females. Employed in agriculture, 318,771; in commerce. 6.361 ; in manufactures and trades, 54,147 ; navigating the ocean, 582 ; ditto, canals, rivers, and lakes, 2,952; learned pro- fessions, &c., 3,865.
The state is divided into 123 counties and 2 districts-Eastern and Western. The Eastern district comprises that part of the state east of the Blue Ridge, and has G? counties. Population in 1810: whites, 369,398 ; free colored, 42,294; slaves, 395,250 ; total, 806,942. The Western district comprises that part of the state west of the Blue Ridge, and has 56 counties. Population : whites, 371,570 ; free colored, 7,548 ; slaves, 53,737 ; total. 432,855.
Richmond is the capital of the state, situated on the north side of James River, at the head of tidewater, and just below its lower falls. This state has a great variety
129
MISCELLANIES.
of surface and soil. From the Atlantic to the lower falls on the river, which includes a tract of from 110 to 130 miles in width, the country is low and flat, in some places marshy, but extensively sandy, covered with the pitch-pine. On the margin of the rivers, the soil is often rich. This is denominated the low country, and is uuhealthy from August to October. Between the head of tidewater and the Blue Ridge, the country becomes uneven and hilly, and more so as it approaches the mountains. The soil in this region is some of it sandy and poor ; some of it is fertile, particularly on the margins of the rivers. Towards the mountains the country is stony and broken, though the soil is often rich. The first ridge of mountains in this state is generally about 150 miles from the ocean. Beyond this the country is mountainous, traversed by successive ridges of the Alleghany, which occupies a greater breadth of country in Virginia than in any other state. Between the various ridges, however, there are long valleys or table- lands, parallel with them, often of considerable breadth, and containing some of the best and most pleasant land in Virginia. The farms are here smaller than in other parts of the state, better cultivated, and there are fewer slaves. The climate in this region is very healthy. -
The soil in the tidewater country is generally poor, producing Indian corn, oats, and peas. Wheat is raised in some parts of it, and a little rice in the swamps in its southern part. Between tidewater and the mountains is the tobacco-country ; but in the northern upland counties wheat has extensively superseded tobacco ; and south of James River, sufficient cotton is raised for home consumption. The southeastern counties produce apples and peaches in great abundance. Among the mountains, the farmers raise large numbers of cattle and hogs. Indian corn is cultivated throughout the state. Thc country west of the mountains, towards the Ohio, is rough and wild-sometimes, but not generally, fertile ; but very rich as a mineral region.
'There were in this state in 1840, 326,438 horses and mules ; 1,024,148 neat cattle; 1.293.772 sheep; 1.902.155 swine ; poultry to the value of $754.698. There were produced 10,109.716 busbels of wheat ; 87,430 of barley ; 13.151,062 of oats ; 1,182,799 of rve: 243.522 of buckwheat; 34.577,591 of Indian corn; 2,538,374 pounds of wool; 10,597 of hops ; 65.020 of wax ; 2,944,600 bushels of potatoes ; 364,708 tons of hay ; 25.594 of hemp and flax ; 75,347.100 pounds of tobacco ; 2,956 of rice ; 3,494,483 of cotton ; 3.191 of silk cocoons; 1.511,833 of sugar. The products of the dairy were valued at $1,480,458; of the orchard $:05,765; value of lumber produced $538,092; 13,911 gallons of wine were made.
The mineral wealth of Virginia is very great. Gold, copper, lead, iron, coal, salt, lime- stone, and marble are found, together with a number of valuable mineral springs. An atten- tion to the business of mining has recently been excited, and in 1540, 2,000 persons were employed in it. The belt of country in which gold is found, extends through Spotsylvania county and the. adjacent country, and in a southwest direction passes into North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. The gold in this state is not sufficiently concentrated to render it profitable, excepting in a few places, to engage in mining it. The coal fields in Virginia are very extensive, and afford both the bitumin- ous and anthracite. Large quantities have been obtained and exported from the vicinity of Richmond. Salt springs have been found in various places, and salt has been ex. tensively manufactured on the Great Kanawha River, near Charleston. The state abounds in mineral springs, which are much resorted to; the principal are, the White and Blue Sulphor, in Greenbriar; the Salt and Red Sulphur, and Sweet, in Monroe ; Hot and Warm, in Bath ; Berkeley, in Morgan ; Fauquier White Sulphur, in Fauquier ; Shannondale, in Frederick ; Alum, in Rockbridge : Jordan's White Sulphur, in Freder- ick ; Red, in Alleghany ; Grayson, in Carroll ; Bottetourt, in Roanoke; Holston, in Scott; Augusta Springs ; and Daggers Springs, in Bottetourt.
The staple productions of the state are wheat and tobacco. The Potomac River separates this state from Maryland. James River is the largest which belongs to this state. It is 500 miles in length, and flows from the mountains in the interior, behind the Blue Ridge, through which it passes. It is navigable for sloops 120 miles, and for boats much further, and enters into Chesapeake Bay .~ The Appomattox is 130 miles long, and enters James River 100 miles above Hampton Band., and is masigable 12 miles, to Petersburg. The Rappahannock rises in the Blue Ridge, is 130 miles long, is nay- igable 110 miles for sloops. and enters into the Chesapeake. York River enters the Chesapeake 30 miles below the Rappahannock, and is navigable 40 miles for ships. The Shenandoah entery the Potomac just before its passage through the Blue Ridge, Of the rivers west of the mountains, the Great Kanawha rises in North Carolina, passes through this state, and enters the Ohio. The Little Kanawha also enters the Ohio. The Mo nougahela rises in this state, though it runs chiefly in Pennsylvania.
17
عبد
130
MISCELLANIES.
The lower part of Chesapeake Bay lies wholly in this state, is 15 miles wide at its mouth, and enters the Atlantic between Cape Charles and Cape Henry. Norfolk, 8 miles from Hampton Roads, has a fine harbor, much the best in the state, spacious, safe, and well defended ; and it is the most commercial place in Virginia ; but Richmond and Petersburg are more populous, and have an extensive trade. Besides these, Wheeling, Lynchburg, Fredericksburg, and Winchester, are the principal places.
The exports of this state, in 1840, amounted to $4,775,220 ; and the imports to $545,685. There were 31 commercial and 64 commission houses engaged in foreign trade, with a capital of 84,999,500 ; 2,736 retail drygoods and other stores, with a cap- ital of $16,684,413 ; 1,454 persons employed in the lumber trade, with a capital of $113,210: 931 persons engaged in internal transportation, who, with 103 butchers, packers, &c., employed a capital of $100,680; 556 persons employed in the fisheries, with a capital of $28,383.
The manufactures of Virginia are not so extensive as those of some states inferior to it in territory and population. There were, in 1840, domestic or family manufactures to the amount of $2,441,672 ; 41 woollen manufactories and 47 fulling-mills, employing 222 persons, producing articles to the amount of $147,792, with a capital of $112,350 ; 22 cotton manufactories, with 42,262 spindles, employing 1,816 persons, producing arti- cles to the amount of $446,063, with a capital of $1,299,020; 42 furnaces producing 18,810 tons of cast-iron, and 52 forges &c., producing 5,886 tons of bar-iron, the whole employing 1,742 persons, and a capital of $1,246,650 ; 11 smelting houses employed 131 persons, and produced gold to the amount of 851,758, employing a capital of $100,050; 5 amelting houses employed 73 pomone, and produced 878 648 pounds of lead. employing a capital of $21,500 ; 12 paper manufactories, producing articles to the amount of $216,245, and cther paper manufactories producing $1,260, the whole em- ploying 181 persons, and a capital of $287,750 ; 3,342 persons manufactured tobacco to the amount of 82.406,671, employing a capital of $1,526,080 ; hats and caps were manufactured to the amount of $155,718, and straw bonnets to the amount of $14,700, the whole employing 340 persons, and a capital of $-5,640 ; 660 tanneries employed 1,422 persons, and a capital of $838,141 ; 982 other leather manufactories, assaddleries, &c., produced articles to the amount of $$26,597, and employed a capital of $341.957 ; 4 glass-houses and 2 glass-cutting establishments employed 164 persons, producing ar- ticles to the value of $146,500, with a capital of $132,000; 33 potteries employed 64 persons, producing articles to the amount of $31,380, with a capital of $10,225; 36 persons produced drugs, paints, &c., to the amount of $66,633, with a capital of $61,727 ; 445 persons produced machinery to the amount of $429,858; 150 persons produced hardware and cutlery to the amount of $50,504; 262 persons manufactured 9,330 small-arms ; 40 persons manufactured granite and marble to the amount of $16,652 ; 1,004 persons produced bricks and lime to the amount of $393.253 ; car- riages and wagons were manufactured to the amount of $647.815. employing 1.592 persons, and a capital of 8011,625 ; 1,454 distillerics produced 865,725 gallons, and 5 breweries produced 32,960 gallons, employing 1,631 persons, and a capital of $1-7,212 ; 764 flouring-mills produced 1,041,526 barrels of flour, and with other mills employed 3.964 persons, producing articles to the, amount of $7,855,490, with a capital of $5,184,669 ; ships were built to the amount of $136,807 ; 675 persons manufactured furniture to the amount of $289,391; 402 brick or stone, and 2,604 wooden houses were built, employing 4,694 persons, and cost 81,367,393 ; 50 printing offices, and 13 binderies, 4 daily, 12 semi-weekly, and 35 weekly newspapers, and 5 periodicals, em- ployed 310 persons, and a capital of $168.850. The whole amount of capital employed in manufactures in the state was $11,360,861.
William and Mary College, at Williamsburg, is the oldest in the state, and one of the oldest in the country, and was founded in 1691. Hampden Sidney College, in Prince Edward county, was founded in 1783, and is flourishing. Washington College, at Lexington, was founded in 1919. Randolph Macon College, was founded at Boydton in 1:32. Emory and Henry College, Washington county, was founded in 1.530. Rec- tor College, Prunty Town, Taylor county, was founded in 1839. Bethany College, Brooke county. was founded in 1>il. There are theological schools at Richmond, in Prince Edward county, and in Fairfax county. But the most important literary institu- tion in the state, is the University of Virginia, at Charlottesville, founded in 1819. Its plan is extensive, its endowment has been munificent, and it is a prosperous institution. in all these, with a few smaller institutions, there were in 1810, 1,000 students ; there were in the state, also, 382 academics, with 11,083 students ; 1,561 common and primary schools, with 35,331 scholars; and 58,787 white persons over 20 years of age who could neither read nor write.
131
MISCELLANIES.
The Baptists, the most numerous religious denomination, have about 437 churches ; the Presbyterians 120; the Episcopalians, 65 ministers ; the Methodists 170. There are also a few Lutherans, Catholics, Unitarians, Friends, and Jews.
In January, 1840, there were in this state o banks and branches, with a capital of $3,637,400, and a circulation of $2,513,412. At the close of the same year the pub- lic debt amounted to 86.257,161. There is a state penitentiary located at Richmond.
The first constitution of Virginia was formed in 1776. This was altered and amroded by a convention assembled for that porpose, in 1830. The executive power is vested in a governor, elected by the joint vote of the two houses of the General Assembly. He is chosen for three years, but is ineligible for the next three. There is a council of state, elected in like manner for three years, the seat of one being vacated every year. The senior councillor is lieutenant-governor. The senators can never be more than 36, and the delegates than 150; and both are apportioned anew among the counties every 10 years, commencing with 1811. The senators were elected for 4 years, and the seats of' one fourth of them are vacated every year. The delegates are chosen annually. All appointments to any office of trust, honor. or profit, by the legislature, are given openly, or vitu roce, and not by ballot. The judges of the supreme court of appeals, and of the superior courts, are elected by the joint vote of both houses of the general assembly, and hold their offices during good behavior, or until removed by a joint vote of two- thirds of the legislature.
The right of suffrage is extended to every resident white male citizen of 21 years of age, entitled to vote by the former constitution ; or who owns a freehold valued at $25; or a joint interest in a freehold to that amount ; or who has a life-estate, or a reversionary title to land valued at $50, having been so possessed for 6 months ; or who shall own, or be in occupation of, a leaschold estate, having been recorded 2 months, for a term not less than 5 years, to the annual value or rent of $200; or who for 12 months shall have been a housekeeper and head of a family, and paid the taxes assessed by the common- wealth.
Virginia has undertaken several important works of internal improvement, by char- tering private companies, several of which have been liberally aided by the state. The Dismal Swamp Canal connects Chesapeake Bay with Albemarle Sound, extending from Deep Creek to Joyce's Creek, 23 iniles, at a cost of 8879,861. It has branches of 11 miles. The Alexandria Canal extends 74 miles, from Georgetown to Alexandria. The James River and Kanawha Canal extends 146 miles, from Richmond to Lynch- burg. The Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad extends 75 miles, to Aquia Creek. Louisa branch, 25 miles from Rielnoend, proceeds 49 miles, to Gordons- ville. Richmond and Petersburg Railroad, from Richmond, extends 23 miles, to Peters- burg. Petersburg and Roanoke Railroad extends from Petersburg, 59 miles, to Weldon. Greensville Railroad extends from near Hicksford, for 18 miles, to Gaston, N. C. City Point Railroad extends from Petersburg, 12 miles, to City Point. Chesterfield Railroad extends from Coal Mines, 132 miles, to Richmond. Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad extends from Portsmouth, 8 miles, to Weldon, N. C. Winchester and Poto. mac Railroad extends from Harper's Ferry, 32 miles, to Winchester.
ORIGIN OF THE APPELLATION "OLD DOMINION."*
There is in the possession of the Massachusetts Historical Society, a coin of the fol- lowing description : on one side is a head, and the words " Georgius III. Rex. ; " on the other side is a shield, on which are quartered the arms of England. Scotland, Ireland, and Virgin'a. The whole surmounted by a crown, and encircled with the word, " Vir- ginia, 1773."
A similar coin was dug up a few years since, and the following statement was pub- lished with the description of it : During the usurpation of Cromwill. the colony of Vir- ginia refused to acknowledge his authority, and declared itself independent. Shortly after, finding that Cromwell threatened to send a fleet and an army to reduce Virginia to subjection. and fearing the ability of this feeble stete to withstand this force, she sent, in a small ship, a messenger to Charles II., then an exile in Breda, Flanders Charles accepted the invitation to come over, and be king of Virginia, and was on the eve of embarking when he was recalled to the throne of England. As soon as he was restored to the crown of England, in gratitude for the loyalty of Virginia, he caused her coat of arms to be quartered with those of England, Scotland, and Ireland, as an inde- pendent member of the empire.
From the Savannah Georgian.
.
132
MISCELLANIES.
The above coin is clearly confirmatory of these facts. Hence the origin of the phrase " Old Dominion," frequently applied to Virginia.
History does not confirm all these statements, though it establishes some, and suil- ciently discloses, in the conduct of Virginia during the Protectorate of Cromwell, a cause for the origin of the name Old Dominion, frequently applied to Virginia. The facts, as gathered from a variety of creditable historians, appear to be these :
After the death of king Charles I., and the installation of Oliver Cromwell as Protec- tor, the colony of Virginia refused to acknowledge his authority ; and Parliament having subdued opposition elsewhere, were not disposed to submit to such a resistance of its authority by the 20,000 inhabitants of Virginia. It issued an ordinance declaring them notorious robbers and traitors ; prohibited all intercourse with the refractory colonists, cither by the people of England, the inhabitants of the other American settlements, or with foreign nations ; and finally, sent over a fleet, under Sir George Ayscue, to over- power the provincial royalists, and extinguish the last traces of monarchial authority that still lingered in extremities. of the empire. The commissioners appointed to ac. company this expedition were empowered to try, in the first instance, the efficacy of par- dons and other conciliatory propositions, in reducing the colonists to obedience ; but if their pacific overtures should prove ineffectual, they were then to employ every species of hostile operations.
From Barbadoes, Captain Ayscue dispatched Capt. Dennis with a small squadron to the Chesapeake, to land his forces, and drive Sir William Berkeley out of Virginia ; for during the whole preceding struggle of Charles I. and the Parliament, the Virginians were firm on the side of their king, and enacted a declaration, " that they were born un. det a monaichy, and would never degenerate foiu the condition of their birth, by being subject to any other government." After the king was beheaded, they acknowledged the authority of the fugitive prince, and actually continued the provincial government under a commission which he sent to Sir William Berkeley from his retreat at Breda. The young prince was not, however, actually invited over to establish a kingdom in Virginia ; though, according to Clarendon, Sir William Berkeley was so assured of the loyalty of the inhabitants, and so impressed with confidence of ultimate success, that he wrote to him, " almost inviting him to America !" In these acts consisted the enmity of the Parliament to the governor ; and for this open defiance of its power, Virginia was to be ravaged by a fleet in her waters, and insidious assassins on her soil. Histo- rians differ greatly as to the proceedings of Sir William, after the arrival of the fleet within the Capes of Virginia. Several, as Beverly, (p. 45 ;) Oldmixon, (i. 375 :) Burke, (European Settlements, il. 223 ;) Graham, (i. 99,) have asserted that he made a great show of resistance, assisted by the Dutch ships in the harbor, and the royalists, who were a majority of the population.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.