Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-06-30

mnisraon of the colonies exclusively by natives of
old SPAN, thus cutting off forever all hopes Of honor
able pfeterment from every man born the western
hemisphere causes enough rise mp before at once,
to account fully for the subsequent history and char
acter of these provinces. The viceroys and provln-
cla governors Of Spain were never at home in their
governments in America they did not feel that they
were of the people whom they governed. Their Of
fetal character and employment have good resent
blance to those of the proconsuls of Rome in Asia,
| Sicily, and Gau, but obviously no resemblance to
those of Carver and Winthrop and very little those
of the governorso Virginia, after that colony had
tablished popular house Of burgesses.
The English coloniss in America generally speak
ing, were men who were seeking new homes in a
new world. They brought with them their families
and all that was most dear to them This was espe-
cclaly the case with the colonsts of Plymouth and
| Massachusetts,. Many of them were educated men,
and all possessed their full share according to their
social condition. of the knowledge and aranmon,s of
that age. The distinctive characteristic of their set
temen is the introduction of the civilization of Europe
into wilderness without bringing with it the polit-
cal institution of Europe. The arts sciences and lit
era,ure of England came with the settlers. That
great portion of the common law which RET ulates The
social and personal relations and conduct Of men,
came also. The jury came the habeas corpus came;
the testamentary power came, and the law of lnhcrl
lance and descent came also, except that part of It
which recognized the rights Of primOgenture, which
either did not come al ALL or soon gave way 10 the
rule OF equal partition of estates among children. But
the monarchy did not come, nor the aristocracy, nor
the church as an estate of the realm. Political lns
adapted TO the state of things; but it could not be
doubtful what should be the nature and character of
these institutions. general social equality prevailed
among the settlers and an equality of political rights
aeemed the natural fnot the necessary consequences
After forty years of revolution violence and war, the
people of France have placed at the head of the fun
damenta instrument of their government, as the great
boon obtained by all their suierings and sacrifices
the declaration that all Frenchmen equal before
the law What France had reached only by the ex-
pendltures Of so much blood and treasure, and the
exhibition of SO much crime, the English colonlsts OBJ
tanned, by simply changing their place, carrying with
them the Intellectual and moral culture of Europe and
the personal and social relations to which they
accustomed, but leaving behind their political nsttn'
tons. 1t has been said, with much veracty that the
felicity OF the American colonsts consisted in their
escape from the past. This is true far respects
political establishments, but no further. They brought
with them full portion OF all the richest of the past
in science in art, in morals religion and literature
The Bible came with them; and it is not 10 be doubt
ed that to the free and universal reading of the Bible
il 10 be ascrbed in that age,ascribed in every age,
that men were much indebted for right views of civ
. il libertv
The bibeis a book of faith, and boo; of doctrine:
but It is also book, which teaches man his own IN
dlvdua responsibility, his dignity, and his equal
, ty with his fellow man. Bacon and Locks and
Milton andShakspenre also came with them. They
came TO form political systems but all that be-
longed to cultivated man, family, to neighborhood,
TO social relations accompanied them. In the Dorc
phrase of one of our own historians, "they 10
settle on bare creation' but their settlement in the
wilderness nevertheless, was not odgment of noni-
nal tribes, mere resting place of roaming savages.
1t was the beginning OF permanent community the
fixed residence oi a cultivated men. Not only was
English literature read, but English, good English.
, was spoken and written, before the had made
way to let in the upon the habtations and fields
ofthe settlers And whatever may be said to the
trary, correct of the English language is at this
day, more general throughout the United States than
it is throughout Eng land herself But another grand
characteristic is, that in the English colonies, potl.
cal affairs were lett to be managed by the coloniss
themselves There sanother fact wholly distinguish
ing them in character as it has distinguished them in
fortune, from the colonsts OF Spain. Here lies the
foundation of that experience in self government which
had preserved order, and security, and regularity
amidst the play Of popular institutions. Home gov
eminent the of the prosperity the Nort!
, American settlements. The more distinguished OF
the New-England colonies, with most remarkable
sagacty and long sighted reach into fuury, reiIs-
ed to 10 America, unless they could bring with
them charcre providing for the administration of their
affairs in this country. They from the first, the
evils Of being governed in the new world, by counses
held in the old. Acknowledging the general superb
: GRITTY Of the crown, they still insisted the right OF
passing local laws and ofloca administration. And
history teaches us the justice and the value of the de-
|, termination in the example of Virginia.
The attempts early TO settle that colony failed,
sometimes with the mos. melancholy and fatal con-
sequences from want of knowledge. care, and al
tention the part of those who had charge oil their
affairs in England; and was only after the issuing
of the third charter that its prosperity fairly COM
! menced, The cause that by that third charter
the people of Virginia for by this time they 50 de-
served TO be calle were allowed TO constitute and
establish the first popular representative assembly
which ever convened on this continent, the Virginia
House of Burgesses.
! Here then, the great elements of political
system originally introduced, early IN operation, and
ready to be developed more and the progress
OF events should justify or demand.
Escape from the existing political system OF Europe
but the continued enjoyment of its sciences and arts
its literature, and lis manners; wha series of inn
provements upon its religions and moral sentiments
and habits; home governments, or the power Of pas
sing local laws, with local administration.
Equality of rights.
Representative systems.
Free forms of government, founded on popular rep
resentaon.
Few topics are more inviting, or more fit for phi
losoppica discussion, than the action and nhueuce Of
the new world upon the old or the contributions Of
Z America to Europe.
u Her obligations to Europe for science and nrt laws
literature and manners America acknowledges as
she ought with respect and gratitude. And the peo-
pie of the United States descendants of The English
stock grateful for the treasures OF knowledge derived
from their English ance Stors, acknowledge also with
thanks and flia regard that among those ancestors
under the culture Of Hampton and Sydney, and 9th
er assduous friends, that seed of popular liberty frs
terminated, which on our soil has shot up its full
!, height, until its branches overshadow all the land.
, But America has not failed TO make returns. Il
she has not cancelled the obligation or equaled by
others of like weight she has at least, made respec
u table advances, and some approaches towards equar
~. And she admits, that standing in the midst o
civilized nations, and in civilized age-a nation
J, among natons-here is high part which she is ey
pected 10 act for the general advance OF human in
i terests and human welfare.
, American mines have filled the mints Of Europe
, with the precious metals. The productions 81 th'
Il American soil and climate have poured out the
abundance of luNues for ike tables of the rch and
necessares for the of the poor. Birds and
animals Of beauty and value have been added 10 The
I European stocks; and transplanlalions from The
: transcendsnt aud uneQuallcd riches of our forest
u have mingled themselves prousely with the ems and
' ashes, and druidcal oaks of England.
d America has made contribution far more vast
Who can estimate the amount or the value, of the
: augmentation of the commerce ofthe world, that has
I resulted from American Who can imagine TO him
e self what would be the shock to the Eastern CONT
: nent if the Atlantic no longer traversable, oil
there were no longer American productions, OF Amer
lean markets
d But America exercises influences or holds ont eS
o ampes for the consideration of the old world of
Il much higher, because they ola moral and political
o character.
: America has furnished to Europe proof of the fac
that popular institutions, founded on equality and
the principle of representation, are capable of main