New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-12-23
po,i,icar Eai.tory....N mo. va.

Iisa AND FRENCH CLAIMS TO NoRTH AMERIcA-FIRsT
sETrLEMENTs-LANDlsc ST THE PILeRiMs-IhEik
COMPACT OR OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF THE PILGRIMS
The principal object of these sketches, as origi-
nally proposed was to give brief view OF the
successive Presidential Elections since the adoption
of the Constitution, the policy of each administra-
ton, and some of the most important politica
events connected Herewith. To explain the cor
dtion and formation of parties, some alusion to
circumstances which had their origin during the
war of the American Revolution has been deemea
necessary. The Political history of the United
States cannot be well understood without some
knowledge also of the state of the country and the
opinions and conduct of the people, respecting
their civil rights while under Colonial Govern
msnt and prior to the Revolution We therefore
devate so far from our first intention to present
the following summary of the political state of the
North American Colonies, from their FIRST settle
ment until they finally became an Independent
nation. 1t will be seen that the unanimity of SEN
tiulent which prevailed in America against tbf
Stamp Act, and other measures for taxing the Col
onies, was bu. the expression of opinions on the
subject of popular rights inherited from our ances
tors who brought these ideas of liberty with them
on their emigration TO this country and cherished
and handed ,hem down to their pesterity.
It is sing uar fact noticed by historians that the
first discoveries Of this continent, we'll those
who early explored large portion of it, were Ita-
ians. Columbus, Americas Vespucius, the Cnbots
and Verazzano, were all natives of the commercial
cities of Italy. The trade and intercourse between
Europe and the East so long carried on BY the We
netians and other Italians, had extended geograph
ical knowledge and nautical skill among that peo
pie far in advance of their neighbors, which &C.
counts for the early enterprise of their navigator
and discoaeIers. These Adventures, however,
sailed in the employ Of Foreign Princes, and Spain
France and England pro6ted by the science of TIA
ly, acquiring vast possessions in America by the
right of discovery, which was recognized among
Europeans as the law of nations.
Although John Cabot and his son Sebastian, TN
der an English Commission, discovered and ex
plored the coast of North America as early as tn.
year 1897, in the reign of Henry VII and took
possession of the country in behalf Of the o.
England, no advantage was taken Of these discov
cries by the English for nearly century. The
Spaniaras discovered Florida in 1912, and ,hel.
the first attempt at settlement within the bounds
of the present United States was made by colon,
of French Protestants, in 1862. As Florida was
claimed by the Spaniards, by the right of prio,
discovery, the French Colony was broken up by
Spanish expedition, and the garrison mastered.
The French claims in North America, from disco
very, included Canada, Acadia or Nova Scotia and
afterwards Louisiana.
Do III ~ ocC
Humphrey Gilbert and Sir Walter Raleigh to es-
,ablish Colonies in North America, may re-
mark, that the first permanent English settlement,
was made at jamestown, in Virginia, in 1907, BY
Captain Smith and others, under the auspices o.
the London Company. King James 1. had divided
the coast claimed by the English Gall then called
Virginia) into two Colonies, the Northern and
Southern, and had established two Companies
the London Company, to establish Colonies il
South Virginia, the Plymouth Company, to TAX.
charge of North Virginia. A new charter was
granted to the Southern Company in 1863, with
extended powers, more definite limits, and witt
the addition of many adventures. BY this char
ter, the lands of the first Colony of Virginia ex.
tended 200 miles along the sea-coast and from
Sea to Sea, West and Northwest This gran,
was the foundation of the extensive claim after.
wards made by Virginia to the Western Lands
Under the grant to the North Virginia Colony
George Popham and Others to the number OF
about one hundred, in 1907, attempted settle
ment on an island at the mouth of Kennebec ri
yer since called Parker's Island, in the presen,
Stare of Maine. This colony was soon abandoned
and no farther attempts made to settle this
part of the country until 1920. The coast how,
ever was explored in l6l4, by Capt. John Smith;
ne presented map to Prince Charles afterwards
Nng Charles IL who gave English names to mos,
VI the places on The coast, and from that period
'n's part OF America was called New England In
tue meantime New-York had been discovered in
i6oS, by Hudson, in the EMPLOY of the Dp,cb r,s,
lnaa Company and settled by the Dutch in 1914.
lhe Hollanders Claimed all the country from the
Connecticut river on the east, to the river Della
ware on the south, including also the territory
of the latter river, now constituting the State ot
Delaware. This claim, having never been ac,,o,,-
lodged By the Eashsh, led to collisions ber rxss.
them aud the Dutch. and New-York was sn.,,.
surrendered TO the British crown in 1864.
..In the settlement ofthe diffeyentcolonies, three
forms of government were established. These
were usually denominatel Charter, Proprie,ar,
aud Royal Governments. This difference arose
from the different circumstances under which the
colonies wore settled as well as the different Oh
iec,s of the FIRST emsrants. The Charter govern
msnts were confined to New England. Religious