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

pics, and gave to America the best gift the new
world has ever received from the old, race of
great men.
The principal nations of Europe entered into n
contest for priority and pre-eminence in the now
found lands. And in little more than century,
the coast had been surveyed from Mount Raleigh,
THE cliffs whereof were orient as gold,) in the
North, to
"Where Magellan lifts his torch on high,
To light the meeting of the oceans"
considerable part of this seven thousand
miles Of coast was sprinked with settlements, aud
its forests ndented with smiling rays Of Europe
an cultivation.
The foremost in this new field were Spain,
France aud England, all leading nations at that
time, and in tie subsequent history of Europe.
To Spain, heroic, chivalrous, religious, already
consolidated, under Ferdinand and isabella, full
Of the energy which her original tribes had nc
quired among the hills OF Astoria aud the Pyren-
ees, aud fresh from the conquest of Grenada
which had Just crowned war of seven centuries
for the recovery OF their native land--to Spain,
then ut the head OF Europe, md the first to plant
Colonies in America, fell the vast territory which
stretches from the 43d degree ofNorh to the 37th
degree of South latitude, exceeding the Russian
Empire in size, possessing the utmost beauty OF
climate and scenery, esh vitality OF soil and in
eXhauslible mineral riches, and occupied by timd
natives, who Supplied by the dreadful energy of
European warfare yielded their treasures almost
try to mere handful of armed men.
The French alike ambitious of foreign domin-
IONS industrious, frugal Iuxurialing in the garden
of Europe, and yet easy of adaptation to the
exgencics Of lie and the accidents Of fortune, ca
pabc equally of profound science or exquisite re-
fnenent, prone always TO liberal sentiments and
grand achievements were The acknowledged pos
SCISSORS of the fairest portion of North America.
Ambitious Of the national honor aud stimulated
by christian charity her navga,ors and mSsiona-
ries had traced the Mississippi almost from its
fountains TO the Gulf and followed the St. Law
renee through its long chain of inland sens to
where, but an hands breadth of land, as it were,
separates the Falls Of ST. Anthony, the head OF
navigation on the Mississippi, from Lake Superior.
Never, surely, was so magnificent theatre of CO.
lonial enterprise presented. Over the immense
and fertile vallies waered 10y lhese vast streams,
private enterprise had caused the Lilies OF France
to nod IN peaceful supremacy but, alas, for the
successors OF the great Louis over which other
Lords were destined to have dominion.
10 England, besides precarious foothold in
the frozen north the right Of discovery had given
net quite all the coast from Halifax 10 Florida
the shore only OF a fraction Of the northern half
OF the continents narrow, irregular belt of land
between the mountains and the sea, which the
Virgin Queen, WHO was pleased 10 compliment
the solitude OF her maiden throne, by giving it u
name, were she now to revisit the scenes of her
wizard empire, might survey, IN its length aud
breadth, in scarcely more time than was taken mp
in her majesly's Progress" from Hampton Cour
TO Kenelworth Castle.
The record of the progress and results Of these
great Colonial enterprises is the most instructive
and the most exciting passage in history. 1t opens
the widest views OF the social capacities OF man
aud inspires the highest hopes Of the des!hes of
the race.
1t is now exactly three hundred years since
Spanish heroes, with incredible courage, and al
most miraculous success, completed the conquest
of the last (seven) great empires, which occupied
the Southern half of the continent mt the time OF
its discovery. The descendants of the Spanish
colonies do not, probably, nj this time fall short of
six millions. And whot have they done? What
important point have they gained? They inhab-
it the best wntered, the richest, IL" healthiesl,
and the most picturesque penins u on the
map of the world. They have enjoyed the lights
of modern knowledge and Christianity. They
inherited copious and cultivated language. They
have had access TO one of the great Llleraures OF
Europe. They had Introduced the art of print
ing before the Pilgrims arrived; aud in 100 had
published more than all the rest Of America. Yet
it hardly be said that they have, in three centu
ries,improved moraIs,o OF advanced The iyiliZaion
or in any material respect betlered the condition
of that fair but afflicted portion of the earth. The
| injustice and ferocity OF their warfare upon the
| natives is atoned for by no regulated Christian
| societies, sprngng up on the ruins OF ancient SUI
! perston, and gaddening the gloomy path Of
| conquest Treasure has been expended beyond
calculation human blood has been shed in riv
| ers but not one useful institution has been per-
| manenly established; not one new art invented
| not one new truth discovered And, as il in re-
tributon for The wrongs inflicted harmless
people, the mother country herself has been i'm
! poverished by the wealth of her possessions, de
| graded by the very instrument of her aggrandse
| ment, enfeebled by The accession of power.
France followed Spain in the of coloni
! cation. Settlements of French emigrants were
early made in Florida, at the mouth of the Mis-
sisspp and along its banks, and on its branches
J to The Lakes thence down the ST Lawrence Il
the ocean. Thus making continuous line o
hamets aud towns along those great waters, thro
the very heart of these wooded plans and ocear
savannas, from the Gulf of Mexico 10 the Gulfo
st. Lawrence. OF these settlements, suggested
originally by patriotism and religion and conduc
Il ted with comparative Justice and humanity, no
one maintains, at this distance of time, its origin
al French character. Throughout the continent
as in the far east and in Europe ITSELF power ha
been gradually and senslbly passing to the hand
of the Anglo Saxon race. The most unmixed
French populations this side the sea- lives, will
its unvarying aspect md unenterprizng cuva
ton on the shores ofthe 81. Lawrence from Que
bee to Montreal. Here in beautiful valley, frin
ged, on one side, by the yerdanl banks of this
bic river and, on The other, by primitive forests
that almost shade their meadows, this conteuiet
and inefficient people, with some oitle best bic OF
of Europe in their veins like the SONS of Abys
sinin, in the Happy Valley" pleased with eacI
other,dnd with themselves "iive without ambition
or achievement. Beyond the necessary toll for III,
f daily supply Of daily wants, they seem TO think o
nothing beter for themselves Than pipe and
fiddle aud nothing better for their children, thai
To divide The old farm between them, and live a
their fathers lived before Them.
Neither France, nor Spain has, ut present,
l. a iii.