Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-06-27


same Importance as the Revolution itself
|! there was nothing of value in the principles Of
the American Revolution then there is nothing yau-
anie IN the battle OF Bunker Hill and its consequences
Dut u Tie Revolution era in the history Of
man favorable 10 human happiness-f il was an eyent
which marked the progress of man. all over The world
from despullsm 10 berty-then this mo nj is not
raised without cause. Then the butle of Bunker Hill
70 not an event undeservDg celebrations, eommemora-
TONS and rejoicngs.
What, then, is the true and peculiar principle Of tho
American Revolution, and Of the systems Of Govern.
ment which i. has confirmed and established, Now,
Tue truth is, that the American Revolution was not
caused oy The instantaneous discovery Of principles Of
Government before unheard Of, or tho practicable
adoption OF political ideas, such had never before en-
Tered INTO the minds of men 1t was but the full de-
veiopment of principles of Government, forms Of SO.
cety, and political sentiments, the origin Of all which
lay back two centuries in English and American his
tory.
The discovery OF America, its colonization by tho
nalons OF Europe, the history and progress Of the colo
MES, from their establishment to the time when the
principal OF them threw off their allegiance to the re-.
spective States which had planted them and founded
Governments OF their own, constitute one of the most
interesting trains OF events in human annals. These
events occupied three hundred years, during which
PERIOD CIVILIZATION and knowledge made steady progress
IN the Old World: SO that Europe, at the commence.
ment OF The nineteenth century, had become greatly
changed from that Europe which began the colonization
OF America at the commencement of the fifteenth
And wha. IS mos. material to my present purpose is
that IN the progress Of the first of these centuries that
is TO say from the discovery of America to the set.
Elements Of Virginia and Massachusetts, political and
religious events took place which most materially af-
fected the state of society, and the sentiments OF man.
KIND, especially IN England and parts Of continental
Europe. Ailer few feeble and unsuccessful efforts
by England, under Henry the Seventh to plant colo
MES 10 America, no designs OF that kind were prose
cnted for long period, either by the English Co
vernment or any Of its subjects. Without inqurng
into the causes Of this long delay, its consciousness
are sufficiently clear and striking England, in this
lapse OF century, unknown to herself but under the
providence of God and the influence of events was
fitting herself for the work Of coonizng North Anne
rca on such principles and by such men should
spread the English name, and English blood in time
over great portion of the Western hemisphere. The
commercial spirit was greatly encouraged by several
laws passed in Henry the Seventies reIgn and in the
same reign encouragement was given 10 arts and ma
nufactures in the Eastern countries and some not
unimportant notifications of the feudal system, by
allowing The breaking of entails These and other
measures, and other occurrences making way for
new class OF society to emerge and show itself in
military and feudal oge-a middle class, neither
barons great landholders the one side nor the
mere retainers of the Crown, nor barons, nor mere
agricultural laborers the other. With the rise and
growth OF this new class of society, not only did
merce and the arts increase, but better education,
greater degree OF knowledge iusier notions Of the
true ends ot Government, and sentiments favora-
BILE tn civil liberty began to spread abroad, and
become more and more common. But the plants
sprnging from these seeds were Of slow growth
The character of English society had indeed be-
gun TO undergo change; but changes of national char
ter ordinarily the work Of time. Operative causes
were, however, evidently in existence, and to
produce ultimately their proper effect From the
cession of Henry the Seventh to the breaking out of
the civil wars, England enjoyed much exemption
from war, foreign and domestic, than for long period
before and during the controversy between the houses
of York and Lancaster These years Of peace were ia
vorable to commerce and the arts Commerce and the
arts augmented general and individual knowledge and
knowledge is the only first fountain both of the love
and the principles Of human liberty. Other powerful
causes soon came into active play The reforma-
ton of Luther broke out kndling up the minds of
men afresh, leading to new habits of thought and
awakening in individuals energies before unknown,
even to themselves The religious controversies Of
this period changed society well as religion in
deed it would be easy to prove, if this occasion were
proper for it, that they changed society to consdera
BILE extent where they did not change the religion Of the
State. The spirit Of commercial and foreign adven-
ture, therefore, on the hand which had gained so
much strength and influence since the time of the dis
covery of America and the other the assertion and
maintenance of regious berty-having their source
indeed in the reformation, but continued diversified,
and continually strengthened by the subsequent dvi-
sons Of sentiment and opinion among the reformers
themselves and this love Of religious liberty drawing
after them, or bringing along with them, as they al
ways do, ardent devotion to the principles Of civil
liberty elso-were the powerful influences under which
character formed and trained for the great work
of introducing English civilization, English law, and,
what is more than ALL Anglo Saxon blood, into the will
derness Of North America. Raleigh and his companions
may be considered The creatures principally of the
fret of these causes High spirited full Of the love of
personal adventure excited too in degree by the
hopes of sudden riches from the discovery Of mines Of
the precious metals and not unwilling 10 diversity the
labors of settling colony with occasional cruising
against The Spaniards in the West India seas, they
dam fhaN
surprises when consider The state Of navigation,
and which evnces most daring spirit. The other
cause peoped New England. The MayHower sought
shores under high wrought spirit of commercial
adventure, no love Of gold, mixture of purpose,
warlke or hostile, 10 any human being Like The dove
from the ark, she put forth only TO find rest. Solemn
prayers from the shores Of the in Holland had in
voked for her at her departure the blessings of Prov-
dence The stars which guided her the unobscnred
consultations OF civil and religious liberty Her deck
the altar of the living God Feryent prayers from
Bonded knees mingled morning and evening with the
voices Of ocean and the signing Of the winds in her
sbrouds. Every prosperous breeze, which, gently
swelling her sails he ped the Pilgrims onward in their
course, awoke anthems TO praise, and when the
elements were wrought into fury, neither The tempest
tossing their fragile bark like feather, the dark
and bowling of the midnight storm, ever disturbed
in man woman, the firm and settled purpose of
their souls undergo all and 10 do all that the meekest
patience the bodest resolution, and the highest
in God could enable human beings to suffer or 10
perform.
Some differences may doubtless be traced at this day
between the descendants Of The early colonss Of Virgil
MIA and those Of New England, owing to the different
influences, and different circumstances under which
the respective settlements were made but only enough
TO create pleasing variety in the midst Of general
resemblance.
- "facias, omnibus una,
"Nec diversa tamen, qualem deceit sororem."
But the habits, sentiments, and objects of both soon
became modified by loca! causes growing out of their
condition in the New World and this condition
essentially alike in both, and both at adopted
the general rules and principles of English jurs-
prudence, these differences gradually diminished -
They gradually disappeared by the progress of time and
the influence Of intercourse. The necessity of some
degree Of union and cooperation 10 defend
against The savage tribes tended TO excite in them
tuo respec, and regard They fought together in the
wars against France. The great and common cause
of the Revolution bound them together by new links of
brotherhood; and finally, fortunately, happily, aud glo
rously, the present form Of Government united them
to form the great Republic of the world and bound up
their interest and fortunes, till the whole earth sees
,b.yfh 10 them M eocion