University of Virginia Library

APPENDIX.

NOTE A.

On a bust in the Capitol at Rome is this inscription:

Christopher Columbus was the eldest son of Domenico Colombo, a
wool comber, and Susanna Fontanarossa Colombo, and was born in
Genoa, Italy, 1442. He early evinced an inclination for the sea, and his
education was mainly directed to fit him for maritime pursuits. Besides
ordinary branches, he studied Latin and Drawing, and for a time devoted
himself to Geometry, Geography, Astronomy and Navigation, at the University
of Pavia. When about fourteen years old he began his nautical
career, and spent many years at sea, but of his experiences at this period
history is silent. About 1470 he went to Lisbon, and supported himself
by making maps and charts. Here he married Doña Felipa, daughter of
Bartolommeo Moñis de Perestrello, an Italian Cavalier and distinguished
Navigator, who had colonized and governed the Island of Porto Santo.
On this island Columbus now resided, where his wife had inherited some
property, and here his son Diego was born. At this time Columbus
devoted his life to study, and the papers, charts and journals which had
been left by his father-in-law, were his daily companions. He also was
brought into constant contact with persons interested in maritime discovery,
and upon the Island of Porto Santo, he determined upon sailing
West, hoping to reach India by a new passage. We will pass over his
long period of discipline in waiting, until we see him under the auspices
of Spain setting sail from the roads of Saltez, near Palos, on Friday
morning, August 3, 1492, in the Santa Maria, carrying with him also the
Pinta and the Nina. On Friday, October 12, 1492, the New World was
discovered.

Columbus made three voyages to the New World, and on the last
went to Hispaniola to recruit his enfeebled health. His great distinction
had excited the jealousy of many enemies, and his pathway ever since
"The Discovery" had been strewn with thorns. Now, at Hispaniola, in his
efforts to re-organize the unsettled Colony which he had previously planted,
he was actively misrepresented by envy and malice.

A commissioner sent by Spain to inquire into the difficulties, put

Columbus in chains and sent him to his sovereign a manacled, insulted
invalid. "Are you taking me to death?" inquired Columbus, when they
led him from his cell to put him on the ship which was to carry him to
Spain; saying further:

"If twelve years' hardship and fatigue; if continued dangers and
frequent famine; if the ocean first opened, and five times passed and
repassed to add a New World abounding: with wealth to the Spanish
monarchy; and if an infirm and premature old age brought on by those
services, deserve these chains as a reward, it is very fit I should wear them
to Spain and keep them by me as memorials to the end of my life."

"I always saw those irons in his room," says his son Ferdinand,
"which he ordered to be buried with his body."

Columbus is described as of good figure, of tall, commanding stature;
of a long visage and majestic aspect. He was greatly skilled in Navigation,
was a man of undaunted courage and fond of hazardous undertakings. A
distinguished Spanish historian says that "if in ancient times he had performed
such an enterprise as the discovery of a New World, not only
would temples and statues have been erected in his honor, but some star
would have been dedicated to him as there was to Hercules."

Exhausted by age, fatigues and disappointments, Columbus died at
Valladolid in the sixty-fifth year of his age, on Ascension Day, May 20th,
1506, saying with his last breath, "Lord, into Thy hands I commend my
spirit." His corpse was removed to Seville and buried in the Cathedral of
that city with great funeral pomp, and by order of King Ferdinand,
"whose jealousy his death had extinguished," he was honored with a marble
monument upon which was engraven the following:

"To Castille and to Leon Columbus gave a New World."

But, death did not end the voyages of the great Navigator. It is said
that he had requested to have his remains taken to Santo Domingo, and
accordingly in 1536, they were deposited in the Cathedral of that island;
thence they were conveyed with great ceremony in 1796 to the Cathedral
of Havana, where they now repose.

NOTE B.

In the early part of the 15th century of our Lord, Venice was at the
climax of her power. For long years she had been the centre of trade
between Asia and Europe, and by conquest, by voluntary submission and
by cession, the fairest portions of the Eastern Empire were under her
sway. Most of the carrying trade of the world was in her hands.

So with pride, no doubt, Cabot now unfurled the flag of this Republic,

looking back to the wealth, population and greatness of his adopted
home; and remembering in this forest-clad realm of Nature the magnificent
palaces and noble works of Art which enriched the superb City of Venice,
with prophetic arm he raised the Republican banner of St. Mark beside
the royal standard of St. George.

NOTE C.

No book bearing "Virginia" upon its title-page should fail in tribute
to two of her noble sons, whose names, though glittering on the roll of
honor, do not find place among her Chief Executives—Robert E. Lee and
"Stonewall Jackson"—those bright, resplendent forms, who, standing by
their Mother State, her garments crimson with the blood of battle, have
linked their fame imperishably with her history.

ROBERT EDWARD LEE,
BORN
At "Stratford," Westmoreland County, Virginia,
January 19, 1807,
DIED
At Lexington, Rockbridge County, Virginia,
October 12, 1870.

THOMAS JONATHAN JACKSON,
BORN
At Clarksburg, Harrison County, Virginia,
January 21, 1824,
DIED
Of wounds received at Chancellorsville, Virginia,
May 10, 1863.

Eloquence, rhetoric, poetry, sculpture, painting, tears—every avenue
through which the mind and heart can give expression, has been exhausted
in paying honor to these renowned men. Great in war were both—great
in a soldier's death the one, and great in conquering fate, the other.
Enshrined forever are they in the faithful hearts of the devoted people
each loved and served "unto life's end."

NOTE D.

During Governor Walker's term the following Act was also passed, viz.:
"An Act to provide for the Publication of the New Edition of the Code of
Virginia. In force, March 25, 1873."

This new edition of the Code of Virginia in 1873 was rendered necessary
by causes which may be briefly enumerated here in the language of
another. They refer to the situation in Virginia after the year 1860:

"The entire change in the organic law since that period; the revolution
through which the Commonwealth has passed; the dissolution of the
connection with the government of the United States by the ordinance of
the secession convention; her independent existence prior to her union
with the government of the Confederate States; her subsequent union
with that government, and the adoption of its Constitution; the continuation
of the State Government at Richmond during the whole war; the
successful establishment of the restored government for the State, at
Wheeling; the action of its legislative and executive authorities there;
the Ordinances and Acts of the convention at Wheeling; the organization
of the State of West Virginia within the established boundaries of this
State; the assent of the restored government to the formation of the new
State, and its final reception into the Union by the Congress of the United
States, recognizing the dismemberment of the State, and authorizing the
representation of the new State in the Senate and House of Representatives;
the removal of the restored government from Wheeling to Alexandria;
the Acts of the Legislature there; the assembling of a convention,
which adopted a new Constitution for the government of the State under
these auspices; the resumption of the powers and functions of the restored
government at the close of hostilities in the City of Richmond, sustained
and supported by the Federal troops; the subsequent destruction of that
government under the Reconstruction Acts of Congress, subjecting the
State to military rule and authority as Military District No. 1; the permission
given by Congress to the State to form again a new Constitution, and
the authority granted to elect members to a convention for that purpose;
the action of that convention by its ordinances and resolutions; the submission
of that Constitution for approval to Congress; the proclamation of
the President of the United States extending to the people the right to
ratify or reject the Constitution itself, or specified clauses in that Constitution;
the ratification of the Constitution by the people, and the rejection
of the two clauses submitted to them; the approval of the Constitution
afterwards by Congress, upon condition of the adoption of the fourteenth
and fifteenth amendments to the Federal Constitution, and of certain
other provisions; the final reception of Senators and Representatives
from this State in Congress, and the action of the General Assembly since,
to adapt the laws of the State to the new Constitution, fundamentally
changing the political and civil structure of the government."

As special interest will always attach to the "Reconstruction Period,"
reference is herewith made to Code of Virginia, 1873, Vol. 1., where an
historical synopsis of much valuable information connected with that era
may be found.