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

the American revolution, then there is nothing valu-
able in the ba tie of Bunker Hill and its consequent
ces. But if the revolution was an era in the history
OF man. favorable to human happiness-if it was All
event which marked tho progress of man, all over
the world, from despotsm to lberty-then this mon
ument is not raised without cause. Then, the battle
OF Bunker Hill is not an event undeservng ccebra-
tons, commemoratlons and rejolcings.
What then is the true and peculiar principle OF the
American revolution and of the systems of govern
ment which il has confirmed and established? Now
the truth is, that the American revolution was not
caused by the instantaneous discovery of principles
of government before unheard of, or the practicable
adoption of political IDEAS such as had never before
entered into the minds of men. 1t was but the full
Development of principles OF government, forms Of
society, and political sentiments the origin of all
which lay back two centuries in English and Ameri-
can history.
| The discovery of America its colonization BY the
nations of Europe, the history and progress Of the
| colonies from their establishment to the time when
the principal of them threw off their allegiance to the
respective states which had planted them, and foun-
ded governments of their own, constitute one o! 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 word so that Europe, at the COM
menceinent OF the nineteenth century, had become
greatly changed from that Europe which began the
colonization of America at the commencement of the
fifteenth And what is most material to my present
purpose u.s. that in the progress of the first of these
centuries that is TO say, from the discovery Of Amer
ca 10 the settlements of Virginia and Massachusetts,
| political and religious events took place which most
materially affected the state of society and the senti-
ments ofmankind especially in England, and in parts
of continental Europe. After few feeble and unsuc-
cessful efforts by England under Henry the Seventh,
to plant colonies In America, designs of that kind
were prosecuted for long period, either by the En-
gllsh government or any of its subjects. Withou,
inqurng into the of this long delay, its
quences 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 herselffor the work Of colonizng
North America on the principles, and by such men,
as should spread the English name and English blood
| in time, over portion Of the western henisphe'e-
| The commercial spirit greatly encouraged by
several laws passed in Henry the Seventh's reign
and in the same reign encouragement given to
arts and manufactures in the eastern countries, and
some not unimportant notifications of the feuda
system, by allowing the breaking of entails. These
and other measures and other occurrences, were
making way for a new class of society to emerge and
show itself IN military and feudal age-a middle
class, neither barons nor great landholders on the
one SIDE nor the mere realners of the crown nor
mere agricultural laborer on the other With the rise
and growth of this new class of society, only did
commerce and the arts increase, but better education
greater degree Of KNOWLEDGE, juster notions of the
true ends OF government ane sentiments favorable to
CIVIL liberty. began 10 spread abroad and become
more and more common. But the plants springing
from theselseeds were of slow growth. The charac.
ter Of English society had indeed begun to undergo
change but changes OF national character are ordlna.
|
ever evidently in existence, and TO produce, u
mately, their proper effect. From the accession OIL
Henry the Seventh to the breaking out Of the civil
wars England enjoyed much more exemption from
war, foreign and domestic, than for long period be-
fore and during the controversy between the houses
| of York and Lancaster.
These years Of peace were favourable TO commerce
genera and individual knowledge; and knowledge il
the only first onntain both of the love- and the prn
cipes OF human liberty. Other powerful causes soon
came into active play. The reformation of Luther
broke out, kndling up the minds of men afresh lead
ing to new habits OF thought, and awakening in in.
dlvldua!s energies before unknown even
The religious controversies Of this period changcc
society as well as religion; indeed, il would be easy
to prove this occasion were proper for it, that they
changed society 10 considerable extent, where they
did not change the religion of the state The spirit
commercial and foreign adventure therefore, on the
one hand which had gained so much strength and in.
nuence since the time of the discovery of America
and, on the other the assertion and maintenance OF
religious liberty, having their source indeed in the re-
forma ton, but continued diversified, and continually
strengthened by the subsequent divisions Of sent.
meni and opinion among the reformers themselves
and this love of religious liberty drawing after them
or bringing along with them, as they always do an
ardent devotion 10 the principle of civil liberty also
were the powerful influences, under which character
was formed, and men trained for The great work OIL
introducing English. civilization, English law, and
what's more than all, Anglo-Saxon blood, into the
wilderness of North America. Raleigh and his com.
pam,o"s may oe CONSIDERED as me creatures primer
Em y. ot tne hlst Oh tnese causes. Hgh spirited
snme donroo o't 81 auventre eXctea 100 IN
so,e ueg1ee py the hopes OF sudden riches from the
discovery OF mines of the precious metals and no,
unwilling to diversity the labors of settling colony
with occasional cruising against the Spnnards in The
Mcsl inaiah seas, they crossed and recrossed the
oceni'i win req'ency when suppress us, when we
cohsluer lhe sln!e OF nnVlsaon' and which evnces
NOS harln e. spl,1t. Inc other cause peoped New
nhbsahu, mne May flower sought our shores under
no nis Midugn' SPIT. OF rommerclll adventure nc
,G n OF eoa' no mixture OF purpose w1rlike or hos
uIe' 70 any human oehg. Like me dove from the
ark, she nau PUT i9rth only TO md rest, Solemn
p.ayeIs rom .le shores OF the sea IN Holland hac
rsonsu dof nsr, az her departure the blessings o
rIoxluence' Inc Stars whicn guided her were The
unopscured considerations OF civil and RELIGIOUS lber
~. her deck was the altar OF the living God. Fer
ven' PRAYERS rom pended knees mingled morning
ana evening, WIN the voices OF ocean, and the signing
o. me wnd IN her shrouds. Every prosperou:
nreeIe; whcn gently swelling her sails, helped the
me rnsrms onward IN their course, awoke new an
mems OF praise; ana when the elements were
wrought INTO Jury, neither the tempest tossing the
,ragre oare ike feather, nor the darkness ant
moving OF the midnight storm ever disturbed in mar
OF woman me hrm ana settled purpose OF Their souls
10 unue!So All ana 10 40 all that the meekest pa
tence Inc ooidest resolution and the highest trust