Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1841-08-24
INDIANA STATE SENTINEL.
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
ny GEORGE BAScRoFT.

iicia duty to complete another volume of work
which takes rank among those Of the abcs and Most
accomplished historians Of modern times. The (
number and variety Of the topics discussed IN this
volume, are proofs Of intense intellectual labor and
ndefatigable industry.
This volume contains six chapters the first OF
which commences with discussion OF the absolute
power Of the british Parliament, and the effect OF
the Revolution oil 1853, on the colonies well az on
the parent country. The epitomzed titles Of the I
other five chapters are, France and the Valley oil
the Mississippi :" France contends for the fisheries
and the Great Vest" The Aborigincs east OF the
Mississippi - "The Colonies of France and Eng
land encrcach more and more on the Red Men"
English entertainments on the colonial monopoly
Of Spain prepare American Independence. The
historical, narrative is brought down 10 lI4S when,
10 quote the language Of the author. 'After long
years OF strife OF repOse, and strife renewed, Eng
land aud France solemnly agreed TO be AT peace.
The treaties of AK La Chapelle, had been nego-
tated BY the ablost statesman IN Europe, in the
splendid forms Of monarchica diplomacy. They
believed themselves the arbters Of mankind the pa
cIfcators of the worldrecOnstructIngt the colonial
system on a basis which should endure for ages
confirming the peace of Europe by the nice adjust
ment Of material forces. At the very time OF the
Congress of AK La Chadele, the wood of Virginia
sheltered the youthful George Washington, the son
of a widow. Born by the side of the Potomac, be-
meath the roof of a Westmoreland farmer, almost
from infancy his lot had been the lot of orphan.
No academy had welcomed him TO its shades no
college crowned him with It's honors: TO read, to
write, to cipher - these had been his degrees in
knowledge. And now, at sixteen years OF age, In
quest OF an honest maintenance encOunterng intol-
cradle toll chcered onward by being able write
10 school boy friend, Dear Richard doubloon
~ my constant gain every day, and sometimes SIX
pstoles himself his own cook having no spit but
a fOrked stick, no plate but large chip :" roaming
over spurs of the Aeghanies and along the banks
OF the Shenandoah alive To nature, and sometimes
depending the best of the day in admirng the trees
and richness of the land - among skn-clad savages,
with their scalps and rattles or unccuth emigrans
that ''vouid never speak English - rarely sleeping
in a bed holding a bear skin splendid couch
glad Of 4 resting place for the night, upon little
hay straw, fodder, and often camping in the for
ests, where the place nearest the fire happy
luxury-this stripping surveyor in the woods, with
companion but his unlettered associates, and
implements of science but his compass and chain,
rontrasted strangely with the magniicence of the
Congress Of AK La Chapelle And yet God had
selected, not Kaunitz nor Newcastle, not monarch
of the house of Hapsburg nor of Hanover, bet the
Virginia stripping, TO give an impulse to human al
fairs and, as far events can depend on an indl-
vldual had placed the rights and destinies of count
less millions in keeping of the widows son.
This beautiful extract, expressivey shadowing
forth the character of HIM, who has been appropr.
ately termed ''the Father Of his Country" is the
closing paragraph of the volume before us and
to indicate what may be the subject of the opening
chapter of the next volume
Is there any portion of this volume which we
read with interest than another, it the chap
ter 'the Aborgnes of the Mississippi :"
which presents a living picture Of the numerous
tribes which once inhabited that vast region their
languages, their manners their political institutions
their religion, their natural endowments, and their
origin. 'The picture of the unequal contest be-
tween the Indians and the Europeans, for the pos
session of the continentI inspires compassion that
is honorable to humanity. The weak demand sym
pathy. If melancholy interest attaches to the
fall of hero who is overpowered by superior force,
shall not drop tear at the fate of nations, whose
defeat foreboded the exile if did not indeed shad-
forth the decline and ultimate extinction of a
race I"
Mr. Bancrofts style is rich in n,etaphorcal illus
trston, and his narrative intersperseu with ap-
propriate moral and philosophical remarks. The
chapter on English encroachmcnts commences thus
The moral world ls swaycd by general laws
They extend not over inanimate nature only, but
man and nations, over the policy of rulers and
the opinion OF masses. Event succeeds event &C
cOrdng TO their influence amidst the Jars OF pas
siOns and interests, amidst wars and alliances com
and conflicts, they form the guiding principle
of civilization, which marshals ncongruous Incl
dents into their Just places, and arranges checkered
groups in clear and harmonious order. Yet let moi
human arrogance assume to know ntuitiyely, with
out observation, the tendency of the ages Research
must be unwcarisd, and must be conducted with in
difference the student of natural history in ex
aiming even the humblest flower, seeks instru
without color and without distortion. For the his
toric inquirer TO swerve from exact observation
would be absurd as for astronomer to break
his telescopes, and compute the path of planet by
conjecture. OF success, too, there is a sure critic
ron for, every false statement contains a con
tradlcton, truth alone possesses harmony. Truth
also, and truth alone, is permanent. The selfish
passions of party are as evanescent the mater
al interests involved IN the transient conflict they
may deserve to be described; they inspire
and the narrative which takes from them It's bias
will hurry to oblivion rapidly as the hearts il, which
they kinded moulder TO ashes. But fact:
faithfully asceraned, and placed in proper ccntigu
ity, become OF themselves the firm links of bright
Iy FURNISHED chain, connecting events with theil
causes, and marking the line along which the cleo
trio power OF truth is conveyed from generation L
generation.
Events that are passed are beyond change, anC
where they merit to be known, can, in their genera
aspect, be known accurately. The constitution o
the human mind varies only in details its clement
are the same always and the multitude possess
ing but a combination of the powers and passions o
which each is conscious, subject to some law.
which control individuals. Humanity, also con
stantly enriched and cultivated by the truths IL dc
velopes and the inventions 1t amasses, has life
its own, and yet possesses element that is com
mon TO each OF It's members. by comparison OF docu
ment by an analysis of facts, and the references
each of them TO the laws of the human mind which
it illustrates; by separating the idea which inspires
combined action from the forms il assumes by com
pairing events with the great movement OF humani
". historic truth may establish itself as a science
and the principles which govern human affairs, ex
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