Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-01-10

at length the sun rises from our own seas, and in
our own seas sinks to rest We are spreading
our institutions, education, and Protestant chris
tianily over an undispnted doman four times
greuter in extent than Spain, France, and Great
Britain together.
Of this Inspiring and noble Lineage, gentlemen,
are we, who meet to &C lebraie Foreiathers Day,
in the city of New Amsterdam.
The remainder of the hour assigned to me- on
this occasion, how Gun better occupy, than by
directing your attention to some OF the principal
sources of the character and the progress, which
it has been our fortune MS people hus to present
TO the contemplation oil the historian ana tie IN
struction Of mankind.
IL is not fate nor accident which has made this
wide difference in the history o. the settlers Oh
these shores. The present condition aud glorious
prospects of our country nre the natural growth
of seeds early sown. They are the unforced de-
yclopemont of germs of success and greatness,
that were brought over with Smith and Winslow,
and Cotton and Hooker and Davenport. They
found here all they wanted, vital soil, pure mir,
and room TO grow.
Our expansion has been mainly from two cen
tres, Virginia and New England These print
tive settlements were equally English-oif shoots
from the same stock They drew their blood
from common ancestors. They brought over
common language. They possessed common
Inheritance in the literature and history Of the pa
rent country. They brought with them the same
feeling Of fal regard for the home they loved
and left beyond the sea. They were OF the sew
enteenlh century, and Of the reformed church.
And here the parallel ends.
The leading men in the two communities were
Of different ranks. The titled and the high born
for the most part went TO the South; the New
Engl0nd Colonists were nearly all of the middle
class of English society. They differed, also, in
the degree of reformation TO which they had gone
in religion The Church of England was repre-
sented in Virginia the Pilgrims were protesnnIs
of the protestanis. Their ideas of civil govern
ment were equally unlike. The former had no
antipatby to the Stuarts; the latter had strong
democratic sympaihes They emgraled for diff
erent ends the Virginian for wealth, or the love
of adventure, or the honor of Old England /; the
New Highlander for place TO enjoy his own rel-
gion in his own way. They took up their abode
in different attitudes and different soils
Both Virginia and New England have acted
conspicuous parts in our history. Both have pro-
duced great men in our public councils, aud in
every line of life Each has borne its part in the
new development OF humanity in the new world,
and each can afford to award TO the other its iuIl
need of praise.
But it can hardly be denied, that, of the H.
OOO,OOO OF people, who are now spreading them
selves over our 100000 square miles of terrific
ry, by far the greatest number are OF New Eng
her sons. They abound in the cities and places
OF business, in the schools and colleges, and pro-
iessions of the whole country.
The pecuarities of American character-our
distinctive national features, are New England.
The Nlrgnan belongs more to the Old World.
His solitary manor, his feudal hospitality, his
chyaIrous honor, his irankness, his lofty bearing,
his amusemeuts even, his hounds and his horses,
all associate him with the knights and cavaliers OF
England. The ashes of Raleigh and Smith sleep
in the bosom of their native Island but Their
high souls are reproduced still in the country OF
which one Of them said, Heaven and earth
seem never 10 have agreed better to frame n place
for mans commodous and delightful habiiaion
Nothing is more difficult than TO draw lines OF
distinction between portions of the same people
No where is it more difficult than among U.S. Oui
migratory habits, the easy and frequent inter-
course of all parts of The country, our common
institutions of government and education, are
constantly assimilating us TO zach other, and ten
ding always 10 the production OF common ma
tiona character.
Still, the cheerful industry, the hardy enterprise
the thrift, the ingenuity, the calculation, the self
reliance, which distinguish the accidental form Of
Saxon civilization, it must be confessed, huve
their seat and their source, chiefly, in the lane
of the Pilgrims. The traits by which we are
known abroad as peculiar people, are Yankee
traits.
The very offences and foibles of American
character are mostly of New England origin. IL
drive bargain, to ask questions, TO take liberties
with gentlemen, to whistle and white, are real,
Yankee traits. They are so because they origin.
ate in that same constitution OF the man, which
fits him to level the forest with his axe, TO cover
the rock with verdure, to ply every bay OF every
sea with his oar, to attack the whale in his own ell
ement aud 10 lead in many OF the moral en-
terprses Of the world. In the New England
gentleman there is as perfect self possession, u.
delicate and as honorable personal intercourse, a
adorns life any where. But men, instinct will
freedom vital in every part, are schooled TO com
posture and courtesy only by the stern discipline
of cultivated life. How much that refining disci
pile, is really enjoyed in New England, stranger
would be surprised 10 find, mot only in her cite:
and larger towns but in the SWEEP villages which
give an air of humanity TO her wild streams ant
her green mountains. These gross, little traits,
are the vulgar development OF that spirit of prog
ress, that love Of knowledge, that Impotence o
rest that liberty, which are the sure pledges, he
cause they are the real elements OF greatness
We may wish il were otherwise. One is reason
ably ashamed TO he awkward, though be only
because he does not know how to stand STILL /
is n pity that we ever violate the rules OF gooC
breeding, though it be in the iunoceucy of oul
hearts. Fur be il from me to justify the murder
of the kings English, albeit without malice alore
thought, or TO suggest an apology even for The
petty mschies perpeiraed with the penkniie
We confess to the charge. We bare our back:
10 the lash, happy if these are our chelesl sins
1t is q mercy they are SO harmless. ! recolec
but one instance Of any fatal consequence. Ant
that was the ever 10 be regretted misfortune of til,
eloquent and amiabe cousort of Kip Van Wrinkle
who, | think, is recorded TO have burst bloot
vessel in fit of passion nj a Yankee pedar
The character of our New England ancestor
may, without over refinement, be resolved int
two prncipes,--a peculiar sense of individually
and peculiar feeling of special relationship Il
God. These are indeed characteristic of Engisl
nmd--of free Christian mind every where. They
are peculiar in New England only they have
existed there in unusual simplicity and intensity
They have been developed there more freely. nnt
more larmouionsy lhan elsewhere There they
have been unchecked IN their natural action, un
incumbered by existing institutions. There ihel
have had to contend with no Evolutionary prejudi
| ccS no artificial state of society. Twin daughters