[clxxii. 70]

1821 Aug. 12

From Miss Wright

Cessions of Power

Miss Wright's Testimony

Testimony of Miss Wright to the probity and generosity manifested by various States of

the Anglo-American on the occasion of the various cessions made of territory and power.

Fron the book intituled Views of Society and Manners in the 1 st

edition 8 o 1821 London. pages 381, 382, 392, 393 394, 395

Page 381 No state in the Union can point to a longer line of public services that

Virginia: she rung the first alarum of the Revolution by the mouth of her Patrick Henry;

she led the army of Patriots in the person of her Washington; she issued the declaration

of independence from the pen of her Jefferson; she bound the first link of the federal

Union by the hand of her Madison;- she has given to the republic four of the purest

patriots and wisest statesmen that ever steered the vessel of a state.

The policy of this mother of the Union has always been peculiarly magnanimous. She set

the example to her sister states in those cessions of territory which have so richly

endowed the general government, and out of which have arisen such a host of young

republics. The cession made by Virginia comprises the presnt states of Ohio, Indiana,

and Illinois, with the territory of Michigan. For the thousandth part of such an empire

as was here bestowed in free gift, men have deluged the earth with blood. We find the

liberality of Virginia yet further evinced in her conduct towards a neighbouring state,

first peopled by her citizens, and subject to her laws. The manner in wich she released

Kentucky from her jurisdiction, pointing out the inconveniences arising to her people

from their remoteness from the Virginia capital, and encouraging her to erect an

independent government, afford a beautiful example of national generosity.