Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-07-06
( Ne 4s

4 ern cHuGteS, ana several laws, DasSed
/ in his time, hisl made some not nm
important amendments oi the feuJal con.
stltution. OF this class were the laws
which permitted breaches OF entail, and
which had an immediate and beneficial
effect upon the country. These and
other causes had produced new class
Of society. They had caused to emerge
from the bosom Of The ftudal system, and
to show itself for The first time, the CON-
mercial Or middle class, composed neI-
Their Of the ieudal barons or the great
iandaolders. nor of their mere retaIners.
but class offree, industrious, CONNER
ca and educated citizens.
This class produced change in the
face of Europe, although gradual one;
the seeds were then planted, which were
from that tiiae growing, and, though of
slow progress, were sure in the end to
produce their effect. There were other
operative causes in existence, which
FASTENED these changes. From the time
of Henry VII to the civil wars, there
was more peace in England, and greater
security to property, than during the
wars of York and Lancaster. Causes
Of another description came into play.
The Reformation of Luther broke out,
kindlins up mems minds afresh, forming
new habits Of thought and discussion in
the public, and awakening energies In
individuals unknown before wholly to
themselves. Society as we'll as religion
was changed, and it would be easy to
prove that society was changed where
religion was not. The spirit of foreign
adventure followed the impulse given to
commerce and the arts; and this spirit
gained so much strength, advancing
with religious liberty aud society in its
reformed state, that it carried. with it
devotion to civil liberty which Influenced
the characters which were formed in in
Producing English colonies into North
America.
Sir Walter Raleigh and his associates
settled Virginia, which was a colony
created by The first Of these principles
the hope Of adventure. mixed with the
hope Of gain, and with the expectation Of
the mines Of great wealth in North
America; not unwilling to diversity its
proceedings with occasional cruises
against the Spanish in 6sss1,s .lui ssarss
Urged by such motives, they crossed
and re-crossed the ocean with u rapidity
and daring which, in. that day, might
we'll excite surprise.
The other cause was most active in
the settlement of New England. When
tie Mayfluwer sought our shores. she
carried no 'high-wrought hopes of COM
;aercial saIn-there was the love Of
home, though new and strange home
she bore nopurpnse of warlike or hostile
enterprise-solemn prayers, on her de-
partuie from the seacoast of Holland.
had invoked for her the blessings OF
Heaven. She put forth like the dove
from the ark. in pursuit only Of rest
The stars that guided her. course were
the consultations of Religion and Liber-
tv; her deck was the altar Of the Living
God, and prayers mingled with the
voices of the ocean and the signing of
the winds
If prosperous 'breezes filled her sails,
and carried the pilgrims forward 10 their
unknown homes in distant land, they
awakened anew anthems of praise: if the
elements were wrought into fury-if the
sea tossed their fragile barque from bill
low to bllow, like a reed, a feather.
not all the powers of the tempest--not
all the darkness Of the bowling midnight
could shake, in man or woman. the firm
purpose of their soul, to undergo all.
and to do all, which the meekest pa
tience, boldest resolution, and The steadi-
est reliance on Heaven could enable hu.
man beings TO perform For they knew
that, while they had peri!ous duties to
perform, and unknown destinies to en-
counter, the power Of an Almighty God
was always over them, and living orsdy-
ing-on. the sea. or on Ike. land-they
were always encompassed in the arms OF
everlasting love. ~nss:-
ome.differeaces may be trace
the history and circumstances of'Hxv
'ginia and New England. 1t is H.
pleasing variety between The members
OF large family (Cheers.
g -facies non omnibus una,
Nee diyersa ,tamen, qnaIem deceit esse soro,
rum"
The differences Of habit have been
modified by local causes; and they have
had throughout the same sentiments and
objects in view: they alike adopted the
principles Of English jurisdiction, and
what at first might have separated them
disappeared in the progress Of time and
intercourse, with The necessity OF some
| degree Of cooperation. till 1t gave way
to mutual respect and regard. They
fought together against France in the CO.
ionial times: the Revolution forged new
links to unite them; and. fortunately
land happily, the present form Of gov
eminent has baund them more closely
together; while we have alike, whatever
our origin. whatever our native soil,