The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. II., No. 4, March, 1836Various
History
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. II., No. 4, March, 1836
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
2. The question, being one of _fact_, a mistake could hardly have
been made originally--or, if so made, could not have been
perpetuated. Now all the early historians call Virginia loyal.
3. The cavaliers in England (as we learn from British authorities)
looked upon Virginia as a place of refuge.
4. Holmes' Annals make the population of the state, at the
commencement of the civil wars in England, about 20,000. Of these let
us suppose only 10,000 loyal. At the Restoration the same Annals make
the population 30,000. Here is an increase of 10,000, which {285}
increase consisted altogether, or nearly so, of loyalists, _for few
others had reason for coming over_. The loyalists are now therefore
double the republicans, and Virginia must be loyal.
5. Cromwell was always suspicious of Virginia. Of this there are many
proofs. One of them may be found in the fact that when the state,
sympathizing with the victims of Claiborne's oppression, (a felon
employed by Cromwell to "root out popery in Maryland") afforded them
a refuge, she was sternly reprimanded by the Protector, and
admonished to keep a guard on her actions.
6. A pamphlet called "Virginia's Cure, an Advisive Narrative
concerning Virginia," printed in 1661, speaks of the people as "men
which generally bear a great love to the stated constitutions of the
Church of England in her government and public worship; which gave us
the advantage of liberty to use it constantly among them, after the
naval force had reduced the colony under the power (_but never to the
obedience_) of the usurpers."
7. John Hammond, in a book entitled "Leah and Rachell, or the two
fruitful Sisters of Virginia and Maryland," printed in 1656, speaking
of the State during the Protectorate, has the words "_Virginia being
whole for monarchy_."
8. Immediately after the fall of Charles I, Virginia passed an Act
making it _high treason_ to justify his murder, or to acknowledge the
Parliament. The Act is not so much as the terms of the Act.
Lastly. The distinguishing features of Virginian character at
present--features of a marked nature--not elsewhere to be met with in
America--and evidently akin to that chivalry which denoted the
Cavalier--can be in no manner so well accounted for as by considering
them the _debris_ of a devoted loyalty.
At page 122 of the work before us, Dr. Hawks has entered into a
somewhat detailed statement (involving much information to us
entirely new) concerning the celebrated "Parson's cause"--the
church's controversy with the laity on the subject of payments in
money substituted for payments in tobacco. It was this controversy
which first elicited the oratorical powers of Patrick Henry, and our
author dwells with much emphasis, and no little candor, upon the
fascinating abilities which proved so unexpectedly fatal to the
clerical interest.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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