Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-07-06

we add TO this, the established usage Of filing i'm
porlant posts in the administration Of the colonies
exclusively by natives Of Old Spain. thus cutting
oil forever all hopes of honorable prefrrment from
every man born in tue Western hemisphere
causes enough rise up before at once to account,
fully for the subsequent history and character of
these provinces. The Viceroys and Provincial
Governors OF Spain were never at home i'm their
Governments in America. They did not feel tina,
they were Of the people whom they governed.-
Their official character and employment have a
good deal of resemblance to those Of the Pro.
consuls of Rome, in Asia, Sicily, aud Gaul; but
obviously no resemblance to those of Carver and
w inthrop. aud very lire to those Of the Cover
nors of Virginia after that colony had established
popular house Of Burgesses.
The English cOloHisis in America, generally
speaking, were men who Were seeking new homes
in IA new world. They brough, with them their
tan'iIies, and all that Was most dear to them
ihiSwas especially The case " iih the coloniss 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 attainnents of that age. The
distinctive characteristic OF their settlement is the
introduction of the civilization of Europe into a
wilderness, without bringing with it the po-
htical institutions of Europe. The arts, sci-
ences, and literature Of England, came over
with the settlers. That great portion of the
common law, which regulates the social and per.
Sona relations and coRduct of inen, came also
The jury camc-ihe habeas corpus camc--,hp
'estaitenlary power camc-and the law of inhpri-
tdncs and descent Game also, except that part OF
IL whI"h recognizes the rights of primousniiure
which either did not come at all. or suon gave
way to the rule oi equal partition of estates IL
mong children. But the monarchy did not come
nor the arstorracy, nor the church, as an estate
OF The realm. Political institutions were to b..
framed anew, such should he adapt d 10 the
M III Ian, ,L,t.,i
what should be the nature and character of these
Institutions. general social equality prevailed
among the s. ttlerS, and an equality of political
rights see med the natural, il not the necessary
cons qurnrc. After fniiy years of revolution.
violence, and war, the people OF France have
piaced at the head of the Fundamental :ns,ra,menl
OF their Government, as the great boon obtained
oy all iheir suffering and sacrifices, the declara
iion That all frenchuen are equal before the law.
w hat France had reached only by the cxpendi-
'ure OF so much blood and treasure. and the exhi-
lion l so much crime, the English colonists oh.
tdlned ny simply changing I'll, ir place, CARRYING
with them the intellectual and moral culture OF
Europe, and the personal and sucial relations Il,
which they Were accustomed, hut leaving behind
III ir political institutions. II has been said,
with much veracitv tina, the felicity of the Amer
lean colonistS consisted in their escape from the
past This is true, far as respects political
establishments. hut no further. They BROUGHT
with them full portion OF all The riches Of tn,
past IN science, IN art, in morals. religion, and
literature. The Bible came with them And il
is not to be doubted. that TO the Tree and univcr-
sal reading Of the Bible is 10 BE- ascrib,d in that,
a2r--aScr,hrd III every age--,ha' men were much
Indebted Tor right views OF civil liberty. The Ri
bic Is book Of Gath, and book of doctrine
out II is also book vi ich teaches man his ow II
Individual responsibility, his own dignity, and
his equality with his tlow-man. Bacon, and
Locke and Milton, and Shakespeare, also came
Win 'h'H They came to form new political
systems; hut all that bel ngcd TO cultivated man.
10 family, To neighbohood to social relations. ac.
companed them. In the Doric phrase of one of
our own historians. "thPy cane TO settle on bare
crrail"n'-but their settlement in the wilderness
nevertheless, was not a lodgment of nun,ade
tf'o's, mere resting place al roaming savages
IL was the beginning of permanent community
tho fixed residence o! cultivated men, Not
only was English literature read, but English
good English, was spoken and written. before the
axe had made way to let in the sun upou the hab-
itdtions and fields of the settlers. And " iatrvpr
may be said TO the contrary. correct use of The
English language is al this day more general
throughout the United Stat S, than i, is Though.
out England herself. But another grand charac.
tetIsiic Is that in the English colonies political
affairs were leii TO be managed by the colonis,s
themselves. There is another fici, wholly dis
tingu'' hing them in character, as il has disiin-
guiShed them in fortune from the roionists of
Spain. Here lies the foundation of that exteri
tnce In seli-government, which had preserved Of
der and security and regularity amidst the play Of
popular institutions. Home government was the
secret ot the prosperity Of the North American
settlements. The more distinguished of The New
England coionists, with most remarkable saua-
cry, and long sighted reach into fuluriiy. rei-
sea 10 come to America, unless they could bring
with them charters providing for the admnstra-
ion oil theft affairs in this country. They saw
from the first. the evils of being governed in The
New World by counseis held in the Old. Ac-
knowIedglng the general superiority of the
Crown. they still insisted the right of passnu
local laws, and of local administration And
history teaches us The justice and the value of
lhls determination IN The example of Virginia.
The attempts early to settle that colony failed
SOM fumes with the most melancholy and fatal CON
sequences, from Want OF know ledge, care and
attention on the part of those who.had the cbaroe
OF their affairs in England-and il was only after
me issuing The iliTd charter tina; ia prosperity
fairly commenced. The cause was thai bv tia,
taiTd charter the people Of Virgina-lur. BY this
tine, they so deserved to be- call.d-were allow
rfpr sentative Assembly which ever convened on
This continrnl--ihe Virginia House of Burgrsses
Here, thru, the great elements of our poIjl-
zeal system originally introduced early in opera
iion and ready to be- developed, more and more.
as lie progress Of events should justify or de-
mand:
Escape from the existing political systems Of
Europe-hut the Continued enjoyment of lis sci
ences and arts, It's literature, and its manners
with series Of improvements upon its religious
and moral sentiments and habits home govern
menis--of the power OF passing local laws with
local Administrations,