The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-02-27

possession of the islands in the nu.
mcrous seas about, them, or to the
more distant shores Of Africa /; nor
were they sent by The pareut country
TO extend her-Connerce, or 10 gain
a footing on or near the territories
of other nations. ~
They did not come 10 this country
as the Spanish and French colonists
to the summer isles." allured by
the golden dreams of avarice, or by
the glowing description Of the luxu-
rance Of The soil, abounding in per
petuai fruits aud.aoweis I; am earthly
paradise, iceming with all that could
Salty the appetite or regale the sen
SEES; which for centuries have been
the abode Of luxury, superstition,
profigacy, and crime. No; the so
ber calculations Of forming a thrifty
settlement, which would make a good
home for themselves and their de-
scendants, operated upon some of
he early COl0nists of this country.
"A spilit OF enterprise natural to en-
lightencd men, induced others to
come and see. and in doing this they
became attached and fixed TO these
shor,s which their pos.crity now in.
habit. Others had different motives
for emigration ; "a love of freedom in
thought aud speech. They were
fully sensible of their situation.-
They could not anticipate all the oc-
currences which might happen in
their destinies, but they were deter
miued TO commence upon the broad
principle, that knowledge and virtue
arc the pillars Of power and security
IN every national code. They saw
physical means about them for an al
most intcrminablc increase of popuIa
ton. The sea vas on one side and
bOundless iursels on the other. Nav
igablc rivers were flowing into the
oceans. Nothing but thinIv scatter
ed race OF rude men stood in their
way TO the founding OF an empire
larger than the world had ever seen.
Nature seemed to have waited from
her birth until this hour for theii
coming. to give them possession Of
her bounties. This was the place
for contemplation, aud place to o.
riginate new course of thoughts up
on political aud civil liberty. There
were, in these retreats, no shouts OF
the C0nquerOr, no mOaDs Of the con-
querred the time resembled the c. oil
oI the evening, and the place the a.
bOde Of innocence, when and where
other beings were at rest, and God
walked with man in his primev al
state. Every thing. in America,
was to be begun, and every thing
seemed to depend upon themselves |;
with this happy difference. however,
between us and those in paradise,
for our safety and happiness were
to depend upon eating freely of the
tree of knowledge, which was forbid
den to him who first sprans from
the dust of the earth. Here was of
lercd the opportunity TO cultivate the
mind without the trammcls and let
ters which enbarrass and bind lbose
borne in aged aud decay ing commun
ilies. He'e plains. and pales. and
hills, offered opportunities for all the
experiments of agriculture. No a
grarian law WAS needed to give men
an equality there VAS one passed
by nature without stint. The
sites for cities were unOccupied and
they exercised their judgments upon
the subject ola proper place TO build
them, without statutes or restraints.
The political compact was to be for
med aud altered as the coyenanters
could agree for there was no other
laMgi,er than their own understand
ings, no Solons but their own wis
dom. 10 Lycurguses but the severe
discussion of their own judgments.
There was no syrcn Ia allure them
from their duties to The rucks on
wIirhTu'ey might sleep until their
locks 1f strength we're shorn.-I
There were no beds of flowers be.
meath which the serpenl's flattery
and fashion might glide to wound
their naked feet with sharp stings.-
Incidence to them would have been
death and labour, that supposed
curse on man, was blessing. Thus
,trippeG of every shackle. thev bepan