Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-07-01

people. Every Wnere tue law reaches
to the highest,and reaches to the lowest.
10 protect him in his rights, and to res.
train him from wrong; and over all no
vers liberty, that liberty which our ia
theirs fought and fell for, on this very
SPOT, with her eye ever watchful,and her
eGgle wing ever wide out spread
The colonies Of Spain. from their origin to the
end, we've subject To the sovereign authority Of the
kingdom. Their government, as well as their com.
meree, was a strict home monopoly. II We add to
ihIs the established usage Of filling important posts
ia the administration OF the Colonies exclusively by
natives Of old Spain. thus cutting of forever all
h'Pes OF honorable prelerment from every man born
IN the Western hemisphere. causes enough rise up
before us at once to account fully for the subsequent
history and character Of these provinces The
NIceroys and Provincial Governors of Spain were
never at home in their governments in America
they did not feel thai thoy were Of the people
whom they governed Their official character and
employment have gosd deal of resemblance To
those OF the PrUconsuls Oi Rome IN ASA Sicily and
Gaul bat Obvious no resemblance TO those of
Carver aud Winthrop, and very ule TO those of the
Governors OF Virginia after That Colony had esrab
lIshed popular house nf Burgessss.
The English ColonIsts of America, genera lly
speaking, were men. who were Sc, king new homes
IN new world. They brought with them their
families and oil that must dear TO them. This was
especially the case with the culonists Of Plymouth
and Massachusetts. Many ofIhem were educated
men, aud all possessed their full share, according
to their social condition, OF the knowledge and
attainment Of that age. The distinctive chnracter-
isc OF their settlement, Is the introduction Of the
civilization Of Europe into a wilderness. without
bringing with the political institutions Of Europe
/ he arts, sciences and literature of England came
with the settlers. That great portion Of the
common law. which regulates the social and person
al relations and conduct Of men, came also. The
Jury came; the habeas corpus came; the esameniary
power came, and the law Of inheritance and descent
came also, and except that part of l.which recog-
nises the rights primOgenure, which either did not
come al ALL or soon gave way to the rule Of equal
partition Of estates among children. But the Mon,
archy did not come, nor the ar.stocracy, nor the
church as an estate Of the realm. Political instu-
tons were TO be framed anew, such should be
adapted TO the stale cf things. Bu il could not be
doubtful, what should be The nature and character
of these institutions. general social sqzality
prevailed among the settlers, and equality Of
political rights seemed the NATURAL il not tho neces-
sIry consequence.
After forty years Of volution, violence and war;
the people ofFunee have placed at the head ofihe
fundamental instruments of their government as the
great boon obtained by oil their suiIerings and
sacrifices. the deca ra7n, that all Frenchmen are
equal before the law. What France had reached
only by The expenditure Of SD much blood and
treasure, and the exhibition OF so much crime. the
English coOnists obtained. by simply changing
their place. carrying with them the intellectual and
moral culture OF Europe aud the personal and social
relations to which they were accustomed. bu leav-
ing behind their political institutions. 1t has been
sud with much veracIty, that the felicity of the
American coionisis consisted IN their escape from
The past. TINS Is true So far respects political
establishments, but no farther. They brought wIh
them full portion Of ell the riches of the past, in
science, in arls in morals. religion and literature
The Bible came with them. And IL IS not 10 De
doubted, that to the ee and universal reading Of
the Bible IS TO be ascrbed in that age, as uscrioed
IN every age, men were much indebted for right
VIogys Of civil liberty. The Bible Is a hook Of faith
and q book Of doctrine; but il is also book which
teaches man his own individual responsibility his
own dignity, and his equality with his fellow man.
Bacon, and Locke, and Milton and Shakespeare
also came with them. They came TO form new
political systems, but all that belonged TO cultivated
man. 10 family. 10 neighbOrhOod sucial relations
accompanied Them. In the dorc phrase Of one Of
our own historians "Ihey came 10 settle on bare
CREATION but their settlement in tho wilderness
nevertheless was not a lodgmCnt Of nominal tribes
3 mere resting place of roaming savsges. IL was
The begIanIug Of permanent community the fixed
residence Of cultivated men. Not only was English
literature rend, hut Eng ish. good English was spo
Ken and written betnre the had made way to
let IN the sun upon the hablaiOns and fields Of the
settlers And Whatever may he said 10 the contrary
correct use efhe English language is, at this day
more general throughout The United States, than it
IS throughout England herself But another grand
characteristic IS, that in the English colonies poti
cal affairs left 10 be managed by the colonisis
themselves. Here Is another fact wholly dstin.
gushing them "a character u has distinguished
them IN fortune from the cuonists Of Spain Here
lies the foundation Of that experience in self gov
eminent, which had preserved order and security,
and regularity amidst the play Of populr institutions
Home government was the secret Of the prosperIty
Of the North American settlements.
The more distinguished Of the New England
colonlsis, with more remarkable sagaciIy. and
long sighted reach ~ 10 futuriiv refused 10 come 10
America unless they could bring with them char
ers prov ding the administration Of their affans IN
thus country, They from the first, the evils Of
being governed in the Rew world by coGnsels held
va the old Acknow led ging Inc general superiority
OF The crown they still insisted the right OF pas
sing local laws. and Of local administration And
history teaches US the justice and the value of hs
determination, Ca the example OF Virginia The only
attempt 70 settle that colony failed sometimes with
the most melancholy and fatal consegusnces, from
want Ut knowledge. care and attention. on the mart
81 hose who had The charge Of their affairs 10 Fog.
land; and q was only after the issuing Of the IN ird
charter. thar ils prosperity fairly commenced The
cause Wis that BY tiat third charter the People ol
Virginia ti0r ny this time they so deserve 20 be
caiedl were allowed 10 constitute and establish
/ the 6fst popular representative Assembly, which
ever convened on ths continent. the Virginia House
/ q Bugessef
Here theu are the great elements Of our political
system originally introduced. early IA operation. and
ready 60 be developed more aud more as he progress
Of events SHOULD justly or demand
Escaps from the eEisiing political systems Of
Europe bod che c0nuuued enjoyment of ,ts sciences
tad aris ns literature. and its manasrs; with Sc